Tag: Home Medical Equipment
Medtrade East: Change, champs and chicken
October 20, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
It was good to be back at Medtrade’s home base, the Georgia World Congress Center, and exciting (and a tad overwhelming at times) to connect in person. In deference to the Delta variant, fist bumps abounded. Masks, not so much, despite a requirement to wear them on the show floor and at sessions.
I guess we’re all just doing our best
The more things stay the same, the more they change
In speaking with people on the floor, there was a mix of “old school” providers,...
Walgreens investment ‘endorsement’ of CareCentrix model, CEO says
October 15, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
HARTFORD, Conn. – Walgreens’ investment in CareCentrix will accelerate the ongoing shift of health care to the home, says CareCentrix CEO John Driscoll.
Walgreens Boots Alliance announced Oct. 14 that it plans to acquire a majority share of CareCentrix, investing $330 million for a 55% stake, and is investing $5.2 billion in VillageMD, a primary care provider, to launch Walgreens Health.
“COVID has underscored for everyone that we need to...
Linda Rouse O’Neill on supply chain constraints: We need to expedite health care products
October 15, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Supply chain constraints have made transportation a health care issue, says Linda Rouse O’Neill of the Health Industry Distributors Association.
In September, when O’Neill was a guest on the HME News in 10 podcast, she said about 70 cargo ships were waiting off the coast of California, a 30% increase compared to last year.
“When you think about COVID and (the bottlenecks at) our West Coast ports...
In brief: SoClean sues Philips, Better Health gets investment, Movair launches ventilator
October 15, 2021HME News Staff
PETERBOROUGH, N.H. – SoClean Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Philips, alleging the company has sought to blame it for problems related to its recall of certain respiratory devices.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for Massachusetts, alleges Philips has misled the public and engaged in acts of deliberate misdirection, placing blame on SoClean to divert attention away from obvious design flaws, including a poor choice of sound abatement foam, which led to its recent...
Walgreens Boots Alliance to acquire majority stake in CareCentrix
October 14, 2021HME News Staff
HARTFORD, Conn. – Walgreens Boots Alliance is acquiring a majority share of CareCentrix, investing $330 million for a 55% stake.
The deal will boost Walgreens capabilities in post-acute and home care, in support of its launch of Walgreens Health, a customer-centric, technology-enabled care model powered by a nationally scaled, locally delivered health care platform.
“COVID-19 has made it clear that providing care in the home and community is the future of not only post-acute care,...
Sign-on letter closes with 95 signatures
October 14, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – A sign-on letter pressing CMS to finalize a DMEPOS proposed rule that would adjust payment rates received 95 signatures from members of the House of Representatives. The letter was spearheaded by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., a ranking member on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y. The proposed rule was published in October 2020.
Steve Ackerman to be honored at Medtrade East
October 14, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Provider Steve Ackerman has been named the 2021 Van Miller Homecare Champion.
Ackerman, president and CEO of Spectrum Medical in Silver Spring, Md., has held various leadership roles for AAHomecare, most recently as chairman of the board. He has spoken before Congress and CMS as an industry expert, and represented the HME industry as a champion for HME policy priorities.
The Van Miller Homecare Champion Award recognizes and honors AAHomecare members who reflect...
Regulatory: Verify, verify, verify
October 13, 2021Andrea Stark
Q. Can suppliers bill monthly rentals for Medicare patients with recalled Philips CPAP devices?
A. Yes, so long as the patient continues to use the device. Suppliers, however, should be increasingly diligent in their monthly verification procedures because the publicity surrounding the recall may persuade regular CPAP users to stop using their machines, even those produced by Philips’ competitors.
Remote monitoring is the easiest way to satisfy the requirement, but suppliers can also...
Distribution: Practice proactive, not reactive, purchasing
October 13, 2021Colton Mason
Q. Where did all the crutches go?
A. According to a recent poll conducted by HME News, providers say they’re increasing on-hand inventory levels to try and combat supply chain disruptions. So, when an item like adult crutches goes on backorder with a big-name brand, providers start ordering up and clearing out the warehouses of other manufacturers for fear that they may not be able to procure that item in the short-term, in many cases, doubling the amount of inventory they are carrying on...
HME Woman of the Year nominations open, but act fast
October 12, 2021HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – Nominations for the 2021 HME Woman of the Year Award are now open.
The sixth annual award, presented by VGM, recognizes a woman in the industry who has made increasingly significant contributions throughout her career to her company, community, and the home medical equipment industry.
“The HME Woman of the Year Award honors exceptional leaders in our industry,” said Clint Geffert, president of VGM & Associates. “Whether through advocacy, sharing...