In brief: Acquisition joins two 'strong providers,' Tricare to cover CPAP

GREENSBURG, Pa. - MedCare Equipment Company has purchased the assets of Somerset Med Services.

The 25-year-old Somerset Med Services is a provider of home medical equipment and respiratory therapy services based in Somerset, Pa.

“As our community ages, the need for home medical equipment and supplies will only continue to increase,” said Patricia Mastandrea, newly-appointed CEO. “The coming together of these two companies allows those needs to be addressed more effectively and efficiently by drawing on the experience of two strong and trusted providers with histories of successfully cultivating business and health care relationships that produce results.”

With the addition of Somerset Med Services, MedCare will have 13 locations, including retail stores in Greensburg, Altoona, Erie and Somerset, all in Pennsylvania, and Jamestown, N.Y., and distribution centers in Greensburg, Erie, Jamestown, Johnstown and Pittsburgh. 

MedCare is part of the Excela Health System.

Mastandrea named CEO

GREENSBURG, Pa. - Patricia Mastandrea has been appointed CEO of MedCare Equipment Co., after serving as acting CEO since April. Previously, she was MedCare's COO for 15 years and before that the company's director of operations. She is also a member of the Executive Advisory Board for Brightree. Mastandrea has worked closely with John Sphon, MedCare's former president, who was recently named CEO of Excela Health, which owns MedCare.

Tricare covers travel CPAP machines

WASHINGTON - Tricare will cover portable CPAP machines retroactive to Jan. 24, 2019, if certain conditions are met, Military.com reports. The health insurer for military members and their families will cover CPAP machines if a member has been diagnosed with OSA and is being deployed or travels on official business at least three days a month. Tricare has transitioned from an individual to a blanket waiver for these active-duty members at the request of service branches, an official from the insurer emailed Military.com. To be covered, additional conditions must be met: a member can't be retiring or separating from the military within the year, and the machine must have humidification and battery capability, it reported.

BOC announces board changes

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The BOC board of directors has elected its 2020 executive committee, including chairman L. Brad Watson, BOCO, BOCP, LPO, president of Clarksville Limb + Brace + Rehab in Clarksville, Tenn. The other recently elected committee members are: Mark Parris, vice chairman; David Regier, secretary; Daniel Griffis, treasurer; Diana Klunk, member at large; and Wayne Rosen, immediate past chairman. The board also named three new directors: Bill Chaudhry, CDME, owner and managing partner of BOC-accredited Freedom Medical and Mobility, DBA Medi Mart, in East Windsor, N.J.; Abel Guevara III, MHIM, CDME, RHIA, a senior consultant; and William Powers, MBA, LFACHE, previously a volunteer board officer and member. “BOC is proudly governed by a committed board of directors whose diverse professional backgrounds encompass the interests and needs of BOC's wide array of certified professionals and accredited businesses,” Watson said. “I am honored to lead this caring and dedicated group of knowledgeable professionals as we enter a new decade of continuing success for BOC.”

Invacare board members honored

ELYRIA, Ohio - Three members of Invacare's board of directors have been named to WomenInc. Magazine's list of 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors. The list, which includes Invacare's Susan Alexander, Petra Danielsohn-Weil and Diana Ferguson, will appear in the magazine's Winter 2019 issue. “Our organization benefits from the diversity in talent, experiences and personal characteristics, all of which make us better positioned to support our customers,” said Matthew Monaghan, chairman, president and CEO. “We are grateful to have such talented and dedicated women on our board.” The list is widely recognized as the most comprehensive directory of female executives, influencers and achievers contributing to corporate boards. Alexander currently serves as executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary of Biogen; Danielsohn-Weil was most recently regional vice president for Pfizer Essential Health-Europe; and Ferguson currently serves as CFO for Cleveland Avenue.