In brief: Abbott’s spin-off, ABM’s raise, F&P’s cyber incident, GLP-1’s OSA impact
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:25 AM CDT, Fri October 23, 2026
ABBOTT PARK, Ill. – Abbott plans to separate its nutrition business into an independent, publicly traded company with approximately $8.5 billion in annual sales.
"As we continue to shape Abbott for the future, this separation will benefit both companies, setting each one up for maximum success in its respective market," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and CEO, Abbott. "Our Nutrition business has a unique opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for healthy nutrition, and it will be better positioned as an independent company to more effectively direct its strategic resources across its priorities. At the same time, Abbott's core higher-growth, innovation-driven portfolio of medical devices, diagnostics and established medicines has compelling growth opportunities to improve the health and lives of people around the world."
Nutrition: A leading healthy nutrition company
Abbott says with about 16,000 employees and 14 manufacturing sites, the nutrition company will have scale across developed and emerging markets and will be well positioned to capitalize on consumer health and nutrition trends, including metabolic health, prevention and wellness.
The company’s portfolio, which encompasses infant, pediatric, medical and adult nutrition, is anchored by category-leading brands, including Ensure, an adult nutrition supplement drink; PediaSure, a pediatric nutrition supplement; Glucerna, a diabetes management nutrition brand; and Similac, an infant formula brand.
Daniel Salvadori, executive vice president and group president, Established Pharmaceuticals and Nutritional Products, will become CEO of the new nutrition company.
Transaction details
Abbott intends to separate the nutrition business through a distribution of shares of the independent nutrition company to its shareholders. Upon completion of the separation, Abbott shareholders will own shares in both Abbott and the independent Nutrition company.
Abbott expects the combined dividend to be paid by Abbott and the new nutrition company to be equal to Abbott's dividend at the time of separation. The transaction is intended to qualify as a tax-free separation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Abbott expects to complete the transaction by the end of 2027.
ABM raises $20M, injecting capital & flexibility into growth strategy
EAGAN, Minn. – ABM Respiratory Care has obtained a $20 million growth capital commitment from Trinity Capital, an international alternative asset manager.
ABM says the financing will support its next phase of growth, with a focus on accelerating commercial expansion, strengthening its presence in existing and new markets, and advancing product innovation, clinical research and connected respiratory care technologies.
"This financing represents an important milestone in ABM Respiratory Care's continued growth," said Greg Miller, CEO of ABM Respiratory Care. "Our partnership with Trinity Capital provides additional capital and flexibility to expand our commercial reach, build on the momentum of our BiWaze platform, and invest in technologies that support the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers worldwide."
ABM's BiWaze platform includes two respiratory therapy systems cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that address distinct airway clearance needs, the company says. BiWaze Clear delivers oscillating lung expansion therapy designed to mobilize secretions and support airway clearance in the lower airways, while BiWaze Cough provides mechanical insufflation-exsufflation therapy to assist patients with an ineffective cough in clearing secretions. Both technologies are designed for use across hospital and home care settings.
"We are pleased to partner with ABM Respiratory Care as the company enters its next phase of growth," said Rob Lake, senior managing director, Healthcare & Life Sciences at Trinity Capital. "We believe in the company's technology and its vision for expanding access to respiratory care solutions."
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare reports cyber incident
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has been made aware of unauthorized and unlawful access to two employee email accounts and a subset of company files.
The company says it immediately activated its response protocols to contain the incident and investigate the nature and extent of the activity.
“There has been no impact to the company’s products, manufacturing operations or supply chain, and its ability to supply and support customers and patients continues uninterrupted,” the company stated. “There is no evidence that the unlawful activity compromised the company’s system that maintains patient data.”
Fisher & Paykel says some of the files accessed contained personally identifiable information and the company is in the process of notifying those affected. The company has also notified relevant authorities.
The company says it has identified no evidence of ransomware or malware. It believes the incident has been contained and does not expect any material impact on its financials or operations.
Survey: Medicaid recipients unprepared for work requirements
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Forty-four percent of Medicaid recipients are not prepared to submit the required documentation to meet new work requirements, according to a new survey from Aeroflow Health.
When these requirements take effect nationwide on Jan. 1, 2027, certain individuals will need to demonstrate their participation in "qualifying activities," such as employment, community service or work programs, to enroll in or maintain Medicaid coverage. The company says clear, individualized communication is paramount, with numerous populations exempt from the requirements.
"People should not lose Medicaid coverage because the reporting process was confusing, especially when they have met the requirements or qualify for an exemption," said Casey Hite, CEO of Aeroflow Health. "That is the risk our findings expose. Awareness is not readiness. Members need to know whether the rules apply to them, what information is required, and exactly how and when to submit it. One general notice will not be enough."
Aeroflow Health surveyed more than 1,000 Medicaid recipients and found:
- Nearly two-thirds (63%) were aware of the upcoming work requirements.
- Nearly half (46%) reported not receiving reminders about the work requirements.
- 42% said they had only received between one and three reminders.
Respondents identified Medicaid as the source they trust most to provide information about the requirements, citing text messages, emails and phone calls as the most helpful methods for receiving reminders.
Leading tech companies support use of prior auths
WASHINGTON – Five leading employers – Amazon, Axon Enterprise, Google, Meta and Oracle – have signed a statement of support to make the technical improvements and other capabilities being developed through the 2025 Prior Authorization Pledge available to employers that sponsor self-funded health plans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Prior authorization should help patients get the right care, not trap doctors and families in administrative delays,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Under President Trump, HHS is cutting unnecessary bureaucracy, modernizing how health plans make coverage decisions, and expanding these reforms to millions of Americans in self-funded plans. I thank these employers for helping us move faster toward a healthcare system that puts patients and doctors first.” HHS says the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to expand the benefits of prior authorization reform to the self-funded market. DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) works directly with the employer-sponsored benefits community, including self-funded health plans. HHS says this new employer commitment builds on the Trump Administration’s work to reduce administrative burden and modernize prior authorization across the health care system. In June 2025, CMS secured voluntary commitments from major health plans to standardize electronic prior authorization, reduce the volume of services subject to prior authorization, improve transparency and increase real-time responses. CMS’s Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule also requires certain impacted payers to implement electronic prior authorization capabilities for medical items and services beginning Jan. 1, 2027, while the Health Tech Ecosystem’s Electronic Prior Authorization Acceleration initiative brings together providers, health systems, electronic health record developers, health information exchanges, and other organizations to address real-world implementation challenges.
Study: Retatrutide decreases AHI in adults with sleep apnea
BOSTON – Retatrutide, an investigational triple agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucagon receptors, may be useful for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “In adults with OSA and obesity or overweight with or without Type 2 diabetes, retatrutide resulted in significantly greater decreases in the AHI than placebo,” researchers concluded. A total of 243 participants underwent randomization in TRIUMPH-1-OSA and 448 in TRIUMPH-2-OSA. The baseline mean AHI was 58.6 and 55.9 events per hour, respectively, and the mean body weight was 119.6 and 115.9 kg. At 80 weeks, the mean changes in the AHI (hybrid-treatment estimand) with retatrutide in TRIUMPH-1-OSA were −22.9 (4 mg), −34.3 (9 mg), and −31.7 (12 mg) events per hour, versus −9.9 with placebo (difference vs. placebo, −13.0 [95% confidence interval {CI}, −23.0 to −3.0], −24.4 [95% CI, −34.1 to −14.7], and −21.9 [95% CI, −32.2 to −11.5], respectively). Read more about the methods and results here.
iNRRTS launches partnership program for DIRECTIONS journal
LUBBOCK, Texas – iNRRTS has launched the DIRECTIONS Partnership Initiative, a new way for companies in the complex rehab technology (CRT) community to support and appear in the organization’s journal. Kicking off with the February 2027 issue, companies that commit to all six issues of DIRECTIONS: The Journal of Complex Rehab Technology next year may choose from three levels:
- Founding Partner (premier placement): full-page placement in every issue, a coordinated social feature for each issue, a standing banner in the weekly iNRRTS email, and an elevated Founding Partner recognition icon.
- Advocate Partner (signature placement): half-page placement in every issue and a social post for each issue.
- Supporting Partner (essential placement): quarter-page placement in every issue
“DIRECTIONS isn’t a general-interest publication competing for attention,” said Andrea Madsen, ATP, executive director of iNRRTS. “It’s the journal of the CRT industry, and the organizations that appear in it are aligning with the standard that iNRRTS exists to uphold. We’re inviting partners, not advertisers, who believe in that mission.”
Each level is limited to three partners for 2027.
Study: Dexcom G7 improves A1C in Type 2 diabetes
SAN DIEGO – Dexcom G7 users experienced an average 1.6% A1C reduction from a mean baseline of 8.8%, a 0.9% greater reduction compared with routine care, according to the results from the CONNECT randomized controlled trial published The New England Journal of Medicine. Dexcom G7 users also spent approximately five additional hours per day in the glucose target range of 70–180 mg/dL compared with those receiving routine care. “Publication of CONNECT in The New England Journal of Medicine represents a significant moment for the CGM category,” said Jake Leach, president and CEO of Dexcom. “Nearly two decades after NEJM last published clinical data on real-time CGM, we now have compelling evidence demonstrating the impact this technology can have for the millions of people with Type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin. Dexcom has spent more than 25 years building the CGM category, and today the evidence is undeniable. We’re calling on physicians, payors and health care leaders to recognize the meaningful impact CGM can have for this population and help bring the benefits of this technology to millions more people around the world." The CONNECT study screened 440 participants across 22 primary care sites in the United States. The benefit of CGM use was observed across a broad range of baseline characteristics, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, body mass index, diabetes duration, income, education, health insurance and glucose-lowering medications. Among participants using GLP-1 therapies, wearing Dexcom G7 resulted in an additional 0.9% A1C reduction compared with routine care, based on the CONNECT trial.
Aeroflow Breastpumps expands makeover contest
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Aeroflow Breastpumps has announced the return of its Pumping Room Makeover, a program designed to help workplaces and community organizations create welcoming, functional spaces for breastfeeding moms. Since launching in 2018, the initiative has transformed pumping spaces in offices, schools, neonatal intensive care units and homes across the country. This year, Aeroflow Breastpumps is expanding the campaign to reach more families and organizations through five mini-makeover giveaways and an Asheville-area pumping room transformation with a total combined makeover value of $20,000. “We launched Pumping Room Makeover because we heard from moms who were committed to continuing their breastfeeding journeys but didn't always have access to spaces that supported their needs," said Jennifer Jordan, executive vice president of Aeroflow Breastpumps. "Years later, too many moms are still facing those same challenges, especially when returning to work. Every mom deserves a safe, comfortable space where she feels respected and supported. Through this initiative, we're partnering with organizations to remove barriers, create more supportive environments, and make a lasting difference for moms who are balancing breastfeeding with work and everyday life."
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