Skip to Content

Archive: March 2019


News

In brief: Lincare has bought Southwest provider, Xealth receives investment from Philips, ResMed

March 29, 2019HME News Staff

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Lincare Holdings, a subsidiary of Linde Group of Germany, has acquired Preferred Homecare/Lifecare Solutions, a portfolio company of Beecken Petty O'Keefe of Chicago, according to PE Hub Healthcare. Preferred Homecare provides a full range of HME, including respiratory, complex rehab and NPWT products, from 22 locations, largely in Arizona, but also in Colorado, California and Nevada, according to its website. Beecken Petty O'Keefe, a healthcare-focused private equity...

Investment, Lincare, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Xealth


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Vendors

Belluscura readies to launch X-PLO2R

March 29, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor

PLANO, Texas - Belluscura, a U.K. company that licenses and develops proprietary healthcare technologies, plans to launch a portable oxygen concentrator named the X-PLO2R in the U.S. market in the back half of this year.In March, Belluscura, which is headquartered in Plano, Texas, was in the middle of trying to raise funds to complete the regulatory clearance process with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and launch the unit.“We've already raised $6 million, so it's not our only source...

Belluscura, New entrant, New product, Oxygen Therapy


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Specialty Providers

Mystery surrounds nat'l mail-order program for diabetes testing supplies

March 29, 2019Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor

WASHINGTON - With the national mail-order program for diabetes testing supplies on hold indefinitely, it's anybody's guess what will happen next.“We were all expecting another round—we still are,” said Mary Ellen Conway, chief compliance officer for Doral, Fla.-based US Med, one of nine companies holding a mail-order contract that expired Dec. 31, 2018. “We make the program work. The reimbursements are lousy, but there's strength in numbers.”CMS on March 7 announced...

Competitive Bidding, Diabetes Testing Supplies, Mail-Order


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Also Noted

Senators commend assistive technology professionals

March 29, 2019HME News Staff

WASHINGTON - Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., filed a resolution on March 11 to designate March 27 as “National Assistive Technology Awareness Day.” Senate Resolution 103 commends assistive technology specialists and program coordinators for their hard work and dedication to serving people with disabilities who are in need of finding the proper assistive technology to meet their individual needs; and professional organizations and researchers who are dedicated to facilitating...

Assistive Technology, Resolution


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

News

Road to Round 2021: New calculator highlights 'bid ceiling,' comparisons

March 29, 2019Liz Beaulieu, Editor

WASHINGTON - Stakeholders have updated an industry website dedicated to competitive bidding information with a calculator to help HME providers formulate their bids for the next round of the Medicare program. The calculator, which can be found at www.dmecbpeducation.com, is part of a larger effort by stakeholders to educate providers about Round 2021, an effort that will also include webinars. “Lead-item pricing can look simple, but it's not,” said Cara Bachenheimer, chair of...

Calculator, Competitive Bidding, Round 2021


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Also Noted

RESNA calls for nominations

March 29, 2019HME News Staff

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The RESNA board of directors seeks nominations for the annual RESNA Awards. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the field of assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering or their service to RESNA. “The response from RESNA's professional network is essential for our committee to identify those who have gone above and beyond promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing...

2019, Award, Nomination, RESNA


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Also Noted

Are you commonly owned or controlled?

March 29, 2019HME News Staff

WASHINGTON - The CBIC on March 26 asked providers to review their enrollment record in preparation for Round 2021 of national competitive bidding. Specifically, the CBIC asked providers to review if they are commonly owned (one or more providers has an ownership interest totaling at least 5% in the others) and/or commonly controlled (one or more providers are also an officer, director or partner of another provider). Commonly owned and/or commonly controlled providers are prohibited from competing...

Competitive Bidding, Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor CBIC, Prep


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Medtrade

Medtrade Spring preview: Don't get 'railroaded' by MCOs, says speaker Pam Colbert

March 29, 2019Tracy Orzel

LAS VEGAS - Now that Medicare and Medicaid are turning to managed care organizations (MCOs) more and more to cut costs, HME providers must be vigilant to make sure they get a fair deal, says Pam Colbert, an attorney with Brown & Fortunato. HME News recently spoke with Colbert, who is hosting two sessions at Medtrade Spring this year related to MCOs, about what providers need to know to play ball in this market and how to get paid.HME News: What are we dealing with here: How many Medicare and Medicaid...

Brown & Fortunato, Managed Care, Pam Colbert


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Vendors

Xealth receives investment from Philips, ResMed

March 29, 2019HME News Staff

SEATTLE - Xealth, a digital prescribing platform, has raised $11 million in a Series A financing round with new investments from healthcare companies like Philips, ResMed and McKesson. The company says the investment will “fuel the expansion of Xealth's platform, better connecting patients and doctors.” “With these new partners joining our existing investors and customers, Xealth will be serving virtually every sector of the healthcare industry—providers, payers,...

Electronic Health Record (EHR), Philips, ResMed, Xealth


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon

Specialty Providers

AOPA criticizes 'unscrupulous' providers

March 28, 2019HME News Staff

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association is “strongly opposed” to lead-generation marketing for orthoses, a business practice that it says is responsible for an increase in fraud and abuse, the association said in a statement today. Lead-generation marketing uses television, website and social media channels to encourage people to contact a call center that then provides “leads” to physician referral sources and medical equipment providers. People...

American Orthotic & Prosthetic Assoc (AOPA), Orthotics


Read Full Articlered right arrow icon