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AMSTERDAM – Philips remains committed to its Sleep & Respiratory Care business, despite a tough year and a half, says CEO Roy Jakobs.  An analyst asked Jakobs whether Philips will retain the business as part of a new plan to restructure the company to create value, during a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year financial results on Jan. 30.  “We have refocused the portfolio and the portfolio we have, I think, is a very strong and compelling portfolio...

AMSTERDAM – Philips has announced it will reduce its workforce by another 6,000 roles globally by 2025 in a bid to simplify its operating model.  The company plans to eliminate 3,000 roles in 2023 and the other 3,000 in 2024-25.  “This change and these reductions will help make Philips more agile, more competitive and, ultimately, result in supporting better outcomes for our customers and a simpler, more productive and more engaged workplace for employees, motivated and...

WASHINGTON – With a new Congress in session, AAHomecare has begun the work of relationship building as the HME industry seeks to advance reimbursement relief and other priorities.  Despite a delay in getting the 118th Congress seated – on Jan. 7, instead of Jan. 3 – Jay Witter was able to connect with about 20 offices in early January, speaking directly with lawmakers that have either helped the industry already or could be helpful in the future, he said during a recent...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The home infusion community has longstanding partnerships with commercial payers, but there’s always room for improvement when it comes to providing high quality care at the lowest possible cost, says Connie Sullivan, president and CEO of the National Home Infusion Association.  The NHIA recently developed recommendations that it says will get a dialogue going between payers and providers.  “We started talking with our members about, ‘Where...

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has announced that the public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023.  Under the last declaration in January, the PHE was set to end on April 11.  “The advance notice goes beyond HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s previous guidance to health care stakeholders that the agency would provide at least 60 days advance notice before ending the PHE,” AAHomecare noted in a bulletin.  Knowing when the PHE will end gives industry...

WASHINGTON – Registration for this year’s 2023 Annual Conference is “booming,” says Jennifer Charron of the National Home Infusion Association, who says it really underscores the value of face-to-face meetings.  This year’s conference – the second in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic – will build in extra time for that social interaction, says Charron, COO.  “We saw last year how grateful people were to be together,” she...

Adam Miller doesn’t have a background in orthotics and prosthetics, but in his new role as president of VGM’s Orthotic and Prosthetic Group of America, he stands ready to support members in any way they need.  “They are the best in the world at providing expert clinical care to patients and doing it for the right reasons,” he said. “I can’t tell an orthotist or prosthetist how to better fit a patient, but I can sure help them when it comes to buying products...

LUBBOCK, Texas – NRRTS has a full slate of 24 live webinars scheduled for 2023 – and it’s still adding more.  Executive Director Weesie Walker said in late December that NRRTS was working on adding a webinar on the funding climate for complex rehab technology in Canada.  “If you’re talking postural support or seating and positioning, it doesn’t matter what side of the border you’re on,” she said. “Funding is the one that, if you’re...

YARMOUTH, Maine – Complex rehab stakeholders could start using a “basic order for repair” on Jan. 1 to meet Medicare’s requirement to show continued need.  Previously, Medicare required that providers show continued need in the medical record within 12 months of a repair.  “This is huge,” said Dan Fedor, director of reimbursement and education for U.S. Rehab, a division of The VGM Group. “This means an order covers repairs and continued need...

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Lifeway Mobility’s Baltimore team recently completed a stairlift installation that helped six families living in a condominium building here remain independent.  The team, led by Paul Bowen, regional operations manager, faced several challenges, including getting approvals from the building inspector, the City Permit Department and the local Fire Department. The Fire Marshall, for one, was concerned the stairlift would make exiting the building in an emergency...