In brief: Cyberattack bill, PE-backed acquisition, F&P guidance 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a member of the Senate Finance Committee and-chairman of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, has introduced legislation that would allow for advance and accelerated payments to health care providers in the event of a cyber incident, as long as they and their vendors meet minimum cybersecurity standards. 

“I’ve been sounding the alarm about cybersecurity in the health care sector for some time,” Warner said. “It was only a matter of time before we saw a major attack that disrupted the ability to care for patients nationwide. The recent hack of Change Healthcare is a reminder that the entire health care industry is vulnerable and needs to step up its game. This legislation would provide some important financial incentives for providers and vendors to do so.” 

The legislation, the “Health Care Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2024,” would modify the existing Medicare Hospital Accelerated Payment Program and the Medicare Part B Advance Payment Program by: 

• Requiring the secretary to determine if the need for payments results from a cyber incident; 

• If it does, requiring the health care provider receiving the payment to meet minimum cybersecurity standards, as determined by the secretary, to be eligible; and 

• If a provider’s intermediary was the target of the incident, the intermediary must also meet minimum cybersecurity standards, as determined by the secretary, for the provider to receive the payments. 

The provisions would go into effect two years from the date of enactment. 

In 2022, Warner authored “Cybersecurity is Patient Safety,” a policy options paper, outlining current cybersecurity threats facing health care providers and systems and offering for discussion a series of policy solutions to improve cybersecurity across the industry.  Since publishing, Sen. Warner has launched the Health Care Cybersecurity Working Group with a bipartisan group of colleagues to examine and propose potential legislative solutions to strengthen cybersecurity in the health care and public health sector. 

• A copy of the bill text is available here. 
• CMS on March 9 made available accelerated payments to Part A providers and advance payments to Part B providers experiencing claims disruptions from the Change Healthcare cyberattack. 

Best Life Brands buys Next Day Access 

TROY, Mich. – Best Life Brands, a private equity owned franchise organization with a portfolio of brands serving the senior care market, has acquired Next Day Access, a provider of residential and commercial home access solutions across the United States and Canada. 

By combining Next Day Access' operational excellence with Best Life Brands' extensive network and resources, including the support of Best Life Brands’ private equity owner, The Riverside Company, the companies will be better positioned to serve a broader range of clients and communities, they say. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Next Day Access to the Best Life Brands family as this strategic acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision of empowering aging individuals to live their best lives, regardless of mobility challenges," said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands. “As the population of older adults steadily rises and the desire to age in place remains prevalent, we’re positioned to enhance our ability to provide comprehensive accessibility solutions and support services to individuals and families across the nation and Canada." 

As part of the acquisition, the Next Day Access Brand President position was open and will be filled by franchise veteran, Michele Popelka. She brings more than 25 years of experience driving sales growth in the franchise industry, backed by her multifaceted expertise in sales, operations, marketing, coaching and advising.  

Best Life Brands is a holding company that includes ComForCare and At Your Side, home care providers; CarePatrol, a senior care solutions organization; Blue Moon Estate Sales, an estate sale service; and Boost Home Healthcare, an in-home nursing, therapy and home care services provider. Together, they include more than 600 franchise locations across the U.S. and Canada.   

Next Day Access has been steadily adding franchises, most recently in Birmingham, Ala. 

F&P Healthcare raises guidance 

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has raised its guidance for the financial year ending March 31, 2024, to $1.73 billion in operating revenue and $260 million to $265 million in net profit after tax. The guidance is slightly up from $1.7 billion in operating revenue and $250 million to $260 million in net profit after tax. “In OSA masks, we have continued to see strong performance from our Evora Full mask,” said Lewis Gradon, managing director and CEO. “We have received positive feedback on our revolutionary F&P Solo mask after the recent release in early markets, and we look forward to its introduction in more countries in the coming months.” F&P Healthcare also announced that it will soon start a scheduled valuation of its properties in East Tāmaki and Karaka, Auckland, and in Tijuana, Mexico. “In preliminary discussions we have been advised that the higher interest rate environment and current zoning status of our land in Karaka will likely have an adverse impact on the Karaka property valuation,” Gradon said. “Any reduction in the value of the Karaka land would be recognized as a non-cash accounting adjustment in the income statement and will impact our reported net profit after tax for the year. The quantum of any potential reduction in value is currently unknown, and our FY24 earnings guidance excludes this non-cash effect. Asset valuations will be undertaken by independent valuers, are subject to final audit and will be confirmed in the financial results for the year ending March 31, 2024, expected to be announced on May 29, 2024.”  

VGM makes key leadership appointments  

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has named Krista McNurlen senior vice president, business operations, and promoted Mandi Rodgers to vice president, marketing. McNurlen was previously senior vice president, marketing, since April 2021. In her new role, she will be responsible for ensuring the collective focus of the team is on VGMA’s strategic objectives for the future. She will work to develop KPIs and scoreboards, milestones, communication and more. McNurlen first joined VGM in 2017 as director of marketing, key accounts and services. “We are extremely excited for Krista’s new role,” said Lindy Tentinger, president of VGM & Associates. “Krista continues to demonstrate a strong passion for strategic planning and execution of key business objectives, and her ability to work collaboratively across the entire VGM building will undoubtedly serve VGM for the greater good. We look forward to having Krista lead VGM & Associates into a new era.” Rodgers has been with VGM since 2017 and with VGM & Associates since 2019. In her new role, she will lead and guide the marketing team in creative standards, marketing and communications to simplify the VGM story, develop materials for the member success team, build on the strength and influence of the VGM brand, and more. "We are extremely excited for Mandi to step into this new role,” said Dave Lyman, senior vice president of sales. “Her extensive background and ability to forge meaningful connections align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering effective business solutions to our VGM members. Mandi’s new role will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of VGM & Associates." 

NHIA names groundbreaking products 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Home Infusion Association has announced the finalists for its 2024 Exhibitor Innovation Award: Avoset from Eitan Medical, Brightree Pharmacy Outcomes from Brightree, Eitan Insights from Eitan Medical and the Orchid Safety Release Valve from Linear Health Sciences. The award recognizes groundbreaking products or services that advance the home and alternate site infusion industry. “I would like to thank all of the companies who participated as well as all of the exhibitors at NHIA’s Annual Conference that supply our industry and enable us to provide our patients the best care possible,” said John Rademacher, chairman of NHIA’s board of directors. “I am continually impressed by the ways our supplier organizations are innovating to solve problems, from accurate and safe drug delivery to data analysis that allows us to improve care.” More than 135 companies exhibiting at the NHIA 2024 Annual Conference were invited to submit entries for the Innovation Award. The winner, selected by a panel of experts from NHIA provider member organizations with extensive industry experience, will be announced at the NHIA 2024 Tuesday General Session on March 26, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. 

CAIRE opens facility in China to serve APAC customers 

BALL GROUND, Ga. – CAIRE held a special ribbon cutting ceremony and opening celebration in March at the new state-of-the-art CAIRE Medical Technology (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. facility in the Sichuan Province of China. The newly constructed space offers 49,013 square feet of production, warehouse and office space for the 86 employees serving in a variety of roles, including human resources, finance, engineering, quality, supply chain, production, equipment, customer service, marketing and sales. In addition to the physical space, the adjoining technology park has a cafeteria, a large conference center, sports facilities, and more. “We are pleased to announce the move to this exceptional space in Chengdu, which represents our commitment to excellent service to our Asia-Pacific customers,” said Ken Hosako, CAIRE president and CEO. “We have been serving this unique audience for more than a decade with CAIRE’s complete portfolio of therapeutic oxygen devices, along with expanded offerings tailored to the specific needs of our customers in this region.” At the ceremony, Hosako was joined by CAIRE employees, key distributors and suppliers, and special guests for the opening’s festivities, which included remarks from company leadership and celebratory performances, including a Drum Dance of Prosperity and dragon and lion dances. 

AIC adds new drugs 

DALLAS – AIC, a division of AIS Healthcare, now offers GLASSIA and ARALAST NP, manufactured by Takeda, for the treatment of adult patients with clinically evident emphysema due to severe hereditary deficiency of Alpha1-PI (alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency). The nationally accredited home infusion teams at AIC collaborate closely with physicians to provide specialized infusion services to patients in their home or at an infusion suite setting. “We’re excited and proud to be able to add Takeda’s Alpha1 therapies to our growing portfolio of infusion therapies,” said Jud Hall, president at AIC. “The addition of GLASSIA and ARALAST NP can help us provide patients with more options to meet individual treatment needs.” Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 and 2002, respectively, GLASSIA and ARALAST NP are Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitors (Human) (Alpha1-PI) indicated for chronic augmentation therapy in adults with clinically evident emphysema due to severe hereditary deficiency of Alpha1-PI. Both GLASSIA and ARALAST NP are now available at all AIC locations (Valdosta, Ga., Birmingham, Ala., Panama City, Fla., and Dallas). AIC is dually accredited by URAC and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).