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Stakeholders to CMS: Acknowledge our concerns
October 15, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – A coalition of respiratory stakeholders, including the Council for Quality Respiratory Care, are again asking CMS to ensure that objective standards for prescribing home oxygen therapy are put in place to prevent payment issues for HME providers and access issues for patients.
In an Oct. 4 letter, the CQRC and 11 other organizations, including AAHomecare and VGM & Associates, asked CMS to eliminate...
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.
“COVID has underscored for everyone that we need to deliver more care in the home and we can,” he said. “We’ve been developing our business around the country and to have Walgreens endorse and embrace (our model) and expand our business is really exciting.”
Walgreens Boots Alliance...
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...
Wheelchair-accessible transportation goes on-demand
October 15, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
NEW YORK – It wasn’t until Chris Pangilinan was in college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and started using a wheelchair instead of crutches that he saw his interests in public transportation, which he was studying, and disabilities collide. Pangilinan, who has cerebral palsy and who is now the head of global policy, public transportation at Uber, recently joined the board of the United Spinal Association. He talked with HME News about advancements in wheelchair-accessible...
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.
NCPA names new president
October 14, 2021HME News Staff
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Pharmacist Michele Belcher was installed as 2021-22 president of the National Community Pharmacists Association at the organization’s 2021 Annual Convention, held Oct. 9-12.
Belcher, of Grants Pass Pharmacy in Grants Pass, Ore., is active in her state pharmacy coalition and state association and has served on task force groups for the board of pharmacy. She has been an adviser for the entrepreneurial academy at OSU College of Pharmacy and is active in state legislation,...
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...
Ira Katz named indy pharmacist of the year
October 14, 2021HME News Staff
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ira Katz was named the 2021 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year at the National Community Pharmacists Association 2021 Annual Convention, held Oct. 9-12.
The annual award, sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories, is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to community and commitment to independent pharmacy.
Katz is the owner of Little Five Points Pharmacy in Atlanta, which he opened 40 years ago. As a...