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In brief: CareCentrix modifies CPAP policy, Numotion partners with Paralympian

In brief: CareCentrix modifies CPAP policy, Numotion partners with Paralympian

WASHINGTON - CareCentrix has told AAHomecare it plans to modify its new co-pay collections policy for PAP patients with balances of more than 180 days.

According to AAHomecare, CareCentrix plans to modify the policy as follows:

  • If a patient's account is not suspended prior to the initial rental of PAP equipment, then rental, PAP repair and PAP replacement payments will not be interrupted. CareCentrix requests providers temporarily suspend PAP supplies until patients establish payment arrangements, and it will not provide authorization for these supplies.
  • The suspension policy will not affect patients who are on other life sustaining services, such as oxygen.
  • Notification of suspension will be shared through the HomeBridge provider portal. Effective March 17, providers will be notified during the authorization process in real time if the patient is in a suspension state now or in the past. Effective in April, real time notification during the authorization process will be expanded to include patients with a future suspension date. Additionally, providers can download a list of patients flagged for suspension with suspension dates at least 60 days in the future through HomeBridge.

The modifications were made in response to concerns from AAHomecare and HME providers.

CareCentrix began requesting earlier this year that providers temporarily pause PAP equipment/supplies to patients with out-of-pocket balances of more than 180 days old, until it sets up payment arrangements with those patients.

Lifeway Mobility makes investment

HARTFORD, Conn. - Lifeway Mobility has invested in Twin City Stairlifts/Ability Solutions in Burnsville, Minn., expanding its product offerings, service capacity and coverage area.

Twin City Stairlifts/Ability Solutions is a licensed dealer of stairlifts, wheelchair lifts, residential elevators, ramps, step-in tubs and overhead lifts. It also offers bath safety and other home modifications.

“Twin City Stairlifts/Ability Solutions brings a level of customer care and expertise that complements Lifeway Mobility's presence in the region,” said Paul Bergantino, president of Lifeway Mobility.

Lifeway Mobility will now serve Minnesota and western Wisconsin from the Twin City Stairlifts/Ability Solutions location in Burnsville and its own location in Minneapolis.

Bruce Stevenson, the founder of Twin City Stairlifts/Ability Solutions, will remain a shareholder in the company, and he and his team will continue in their current roles.

“We're excited to have the opportunity to join Lifeway's team,” he said. “Their robust marketing program, integrated operating system and capital resources will enable us to enhance our customer experience, as we accelerate our growth.”

Lifeway Mobility serves Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

In 2018, the company received a “major investment” from Cleveland-based Rockwood Equity Partners.

Numotion partners with Paralympian

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Paralympian McKenzie Coan will join Numotion as a spokesperson, creating content for the company's social channels. Coan is a three-time gold medalist swimmer and World Champion who was diagnosed at a young age with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. As a Paralympian, she has been able to share her story of resilience and determination with aspiring swimmers. “Numotion is honored to have McKenzie Coan align with Numotion and our efforts to raise the general public's awareness of our industry,” said Bret Barczak CMO. “McKenzie's high profile, especially over the next year, will help bring more attention to CRT and the customers we serve, spreading the word about the work we do at Numotion and in the disability community at large.”

AIROS registers trademark

AUDUBON, Pa. - AIROS, a medical device manufacturer specializing in compression therapy, has received trademark registration from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its company and brand name, "AIROS.” It designs and manufactures two sequential compression device and garment systems, the AIROS 6 and AIROS 8, that help patients with lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and other venous disorders. "We believe that this trademark will further strengthen our brand amongst the patients, clinicians, and durable medical equipment suppliers that we collaborate with every day,” said Gerald Makoid, CEO and president. AIROS received FDA clearance to market its devices in 2018; it received FDA clearance for its updated AIROS 8, AIROS 6, and Arm Plus garments earlier this month.

CAIRE technology to support global initiative

BALL GROUND, Ga. - Two oxygen therapy products from CAIRE have been selected for a new global health initiative aimed at reducing newborn deaths in sub-Saharan Africa by 50%. The NewLife Intensity 10 stationary oxygen concentrator and the SureFlow oxygen flow station will be included in a package of newborn essential solutions and technologies designed to support NEST360°. Prior to the launch of the initiative in 2019, a team of representatives from the Rice 360° Institute for Global Health traveled to CAIRE's corporate headquarters and Respiratory Center of Excellence here to receive training from the company's technical service team in advance of their travels to Africa. The representatives will train healthcare workers overseas to use these technologies, and further explore and design additional solutions to help address ongoing global health challenges.

QS/1 enhances delivery services

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - QS/1 has launched a new interface for its SystemOne and Point-of-Sale software solutions that seamlessly connects to Integra DeliveryTrack 6.1. This interface gives community pharmacists visibility and Rx-level validation of their delivery process, including proof of delivery in real time and integration with national carriers. “Community pharmacies have unique opportunities to stand out when compared with their competition,” said Kevin Welch, president. “This new QS/1 interface with DeliveryTrack allows any pharmacy to offer delivery services and maintain the compliance and safety required.” The interface also allows pharmacies to structure reports to manage drivers, keep track of delivery volumes and take care of reconciliation and inventory updates.

PlayMaker promotes Gregg Boyle to CEO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - PlayMaker Health has performed a strategic reorganization that will better position the company to capitalize on the rapidly evolving post-acute health care landscape. John Griscavage, who has served as CEO since 2014, will become executive chairman, focused on driving organizational strategy and growth initiatives. Gregg Boyle, vice president of engineering, has been promoted to CEO; and Holly Miller, vice president of sales and marketing, has been promoted to chief revenue officer. “This announcement marks a significant acceleration of PlayMaker's growth trajectory,” Boyle said. “As market demand and competition grows in the post-acute space, PlayMaker is focused on strategically positioning our software and mobile-first CRM to deliver even greater impact on the sales and marketing performance of home health, hospice, HME and infusion providers.”

NSM buys DME Shoppe

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility has acquired DME Shoppe in Fort Myers, Fla., a complex rehab provider serving pediatric patients in the southwest region of the state. DME Shoppe also provides home accessibility services, which it recently expanded, and operates an online retail store. “With this acquisition, we're eager to play a role in expanding the services and solutions offered for both children and adults across southern Florida,” said Bill Mixon, CEO of NSM. The acquisition adds four industry professionals to NSM's growing team, including two ATPs and one RTS. DME Shoppe owners Dominic and Cindi Daniele will both remain with NSM, with Dominic serving as branch manager.

NSM makes high profile appointment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility and its private equity owner Cinven have appointed William H. Frist, M.D., the former U.S. Senate majority leader, as a special adviser to the company's board of directors. In this role, Frist will provide insight, counsel and strategic guidance on national and state policy affecting the complex rehab technology and home access industries. “Senator Frist has a deep knowledge of the health care marketplace and is well respected for his contributions to life-changing health policies,” said Bill Mixon, CEO of NSM. “His role as a special advisor to the NSM board will strengthen our industry's work to introduce constructive policy changes in support of individuals with mobility challenges.” Frist served as a senator from 1995-2007 and as majority leader from 2003-07. As a senator, he helped to shape national policy for individuals with disabilities as chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy. Currently, Frist serves as adjunct professor of cardiac surgery at Vanderbilt University.

VGM debuts State Leaders Summit

WATERLOO, Iowa - The VGM Government Relations team hosted more than 20 state and regional association leaders at its headquarters here in late January to network and strategize as part of an inaugural State Leaders Summit.

Among the key issues identified at the Summit: membership retention, Medicare rural reimbursement rates and Medicaid managed care organizations.

“We couldn't ask for a better group of folks,” said Clint Geffert, president of VGM & Associates. “There was so much optimism and enthusiasm for strengthening their association. I believe every attendee said they are taking back and implementing something they learned from the Summit.”

VGM plans to provide these leaders, who included association executive directors, presidents and board members, with additional resources going forward.

At the Summit, VGM also kicked off the “VGM Gov Club” to recognize key individuals who have a direct impact on the industry. All leaders who attended walked away with VGM Gov Club swag.

ResMed, ATS support research on remote monitoring for COPD patients

SAN DIEGO - ResMed and the ATS Foundation have awarded their third $100,000 research fellowship grant to Claude Farah, PhD, of the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, to study how remote monitoring can help improve the management of COPD patients. The aim of the study: to detect early changes in lung function from daily recordings and notify patients when to commence more intensive treatment or seek medical attention. In his application for the grant, Farah predicts, “This intervention will reduce the chance of patients needing hospitalization for these lung attacks.” “This grant is important as it tests how integration of technology that enables convenient at-home remote monitoring of patients' lung function helps with earlier detection and interventions of COPD exacerbations, aiming to prevent further deterioration in their condition,” said Mihaela Teodorescu, MD, MS, chair of the ATS Assembly on Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology. ResMed markedly increased its presence in the oxygen market in 2018, buying Propeller Health, a company that provides connected health solutions for people living with COPD and asthma, for $225 million, and launching its first portable oxygen concentrator, the Mobi.

Sunset Healthcare: Meet Zoey

CHICAGO - Sunset Healthcare Solutions now has a stake in the CPAP cleaning market. The company announced Feb. 1 that it is now manufacturing and selling the Zoey CPAP Cleaner exclusively through the HME provider channel. “Zoey marks our investment in manufacturing and developing Sunset products for the coming generation of sleep apnea patients,” said Greg Wood, chief business development officer. “This is just the start of it.” The Zoey uses activated oxygen to clean masks, headgear and tubing. Sunset Healthcare developed the Zoey with a minimalistic aesthetic, simple operation and premium packaging. “We want to provide a simple-to-use CPAP equipment maintenance option for use in the patient household, as well as something offered exclusively to providers,” Wood said. Sunset Healthcare will have the Zoey on-hand at the Medtrade Spring, March 3-5 in Las Vegas.

Short takes: MatrixCare/Brightree, Quality Biomedical

MatrixCare/Brightree's Home Health and Hospice EMR solution earned Best in KLAS honors with a score of 87.1 in this year's “Best in KLAS: Software & Services” report. The solution surpassed the average for home health and hospice EMR vendors by more than six points. “Best in KLAS” winners are determined annually through surveys and interviews with health care providers on the efficiency and quality of their health IT products. Vendors are evaluated on six key categories: culture, operations, product, relationship, value and loyalty. MatrixCare/Brightree saw a 12-point improvement in its score over the last two years…Quality Biomedical has expanded its facility in Cartersville, Ga., 300%, from 3,500 to 11,500 square feet. The facility supports Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, processing more than 2,000 pieces of equipment per month. The company, which specializes in warranty and non-warranty service and management of respiratory and infusion-related products, also opened its sixth facility in Allentown, Pa., in January.

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