In brief: ACU-Serve buys TANYR, NY providers see relief, study links OSA & global warming 

AKRON, Ohio – ACU-Serve has acquired TANYR, a provider of revenue cycle management services to the infusion industry. 

ACU-Serve says TANYR’s infusion-focused capabilities are a natural complement to its comprehensive RCM solutions, enhancing its ability to deliver results across the continuum of post-acute care. 

“We are thrilled to welcome the TANYR team into the ACU-Serve family,” said Jim Knight, CEO of ACU-Serve. “(The company has) built an outstanding reputation in infusion RCM, and this partnership is a significant step toward our goal of becoming the leading RCM provider in the post-acute market.” 

Last fall, ACU-Serve hired Heather Randel to build out an Infusion Division in a move that allowed the company to increase its services to specialty providers. The company also added a home health expert earlier this year. 

ACU-Serve says TANYR’s leadership and staff will remain in place, continuing to offer the same trusted, high-touch service their clients value – now backed by its advanced technology. 

“We chose ACU-Serve for their experience and proven infrastructure,” said Rodney Wright, owner of TANYR. “Their strong reputation in the DME space ensures our team has the support and tools to deliver an even greater impact. They’re the right fit for our next chapter.” 

TANYR is the second acquisition that ACU-Serve has made since a private equity investment in October 2023. The first: Beyond HME, a company that provides live calling services for CPAP resupply. 

Stakeholders get parity bill passed in NY 

ALBANY – The New York Senate passed long-sought Medicaid rate floor legislation, S1616, with a unanimous vote on June 12, AAHomecare and the Northeast Medical Equipment Providers Association (NEMEP) report. 

Earlier in the week, the State Assembly affirmed companion legislation, A2520, also by a unanimous vote. 

The legislation requires Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to reimburse DME providers at no less than 100% of the state’s established Medicaid durable medical equipment and complex rehab technology fee schedule.  

“By providing parity, this will ensure access when beneficiaries transfer from one MCO plan to another and prevent multiple reimbursement rates for the same item and service,” said John Quinlan, president of Quinlan’s Home Medical and chairman of NEMEP. “Setting rate parity will help protect access to care for NY Medicaid beneficiaries and support NY businesses who provide these valuable services.” 

Currently, some MCOs reimburse DME providers at less than half of the Medicaid fee-for-service fee schedule for identical devices and supplies, the associations say. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has until Dec. 31 to sign the measure into law. 

“NEMEP, AAHomecare, VGM and other stakeholders advocated tirelessly for fair reimbursement that allows us to better support patients and reduce the time they spend in clinical or institutional settings,” Quinlan said. “These sustained efforts ultimately paid off with unanimous support for rate floor legislation in both the Assembly and the Senate.” 

Invacare America partnership creates ‘on-chair’ solution  

ELYRIA, Ohio, and EDISON, N.J. – Invacare America has announced a partnership that will combine the customer wheelchair expertise of Freedom Designs with the advanced seating technology of Matrx, by Motion Concepts, to create what it calls a premier “on-chair” solution. “When crafting wheelchairs, the goal is not only to provide solutions to people with mobility challenges – it is to enhance their lives,” said Gavriela Guerrero, managing director of Freedom Designs. “Through this partnership, we can more effectively get products to customers that help empower individuals to move freely and comfortably in their daily lives.” Freedom Designs and Matrx, by Motion Concepts, are both divisions of Invacare. As a result of the partnership, a streamlined ordering process will relieve clinicians of the burden of ordering various parts through separate transactions, enabling the use of a single order form, one purchase order, one invoice and one delivery day — simplifying workflows and improving efficiency, Invacare says. “This collaboration reinforces our commitment to delivering advanced, comprehensive mobility solutions that place users’ needs first,” said Judy Rowley, vice president of Matrx. “By increasing access to our innovative products, we can reach and support even more people who could benefit from these products.” 

Darby releases Version 3.0 

BOSTON – Darby, a provider of AI-powered automation for the home medical equipment industry, launched Version 3.0 of its flagship platform at the Heartland Conference in June. The company says the new release represents a significant leap forward in its mission to transform how HME companies manage their operations, from initial patient intake through payer qualification and compliance reporting. "Version 3.0 delivers a complete transformation of the HME intake workflow," said Robin Y. Smith, CEO of Darby. "With fully automated fax processing, improved AI accuracy for payer qualification, and headless EMR uploads for qualified orders, we've eliminated many manual touchpoints in these workflows from referral to patient setup." Key capabilities in Version 3.0 include: 

• Fully automated fax intake process: The platform automatically processes incoming faxes without manual intervention, sorting and labeling patient orders by product type 
• Improved payer qualification processing: Enhanced AI reviews qualification criteria against specific payer rulesets, including Medicare and commercial insurance guidelines, with superior accuracy 
• Headless EMR upload for qualified orders: Fully automatic and native integrations to EMR and fax systems enable upload of qualified orders directly to EMR systems without requiring staff intervention 
• Enhanced AI accuracy: Improved machine learning algorithms deliver more precise document processing and qualification determination 

Related: What’s next chapter in HME data? 

ADMEA seeks next executive director 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA) is accepting applications for a new executive director. “This is an exciting leadership opportunity for an individual with a passion for health care, industry advocacy and association management,” the associate stated in a press release. “This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of HME in Alabama, working closely with providers, legislators, and vendors to ensure patients have continued access to quality care and equipment.” Long-time Executive Director Michael Hamilton, who won this year’s Mal Mixon Legislative Advocate Award, is retiring. ADMEA says the ideal candidate will bring experience in event planning, stakeholder engagement and industry leadership. It also says candidates with a background in HME sales, operations or vendor relations are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to admearesumes@gmail.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Venture Medical secures rights to ProgenaMatrix, revyve 

MISSOULA, Mont. – Venture Medical has acquired certain assets of ProgenaCare Global, a biotech company known for its innovative, keratin-based wound healing technologies, including ProgenaMatrix and intellectual property underlying an expected future product line. By integrating ProgenaCare's proprietary keratin platform, Venture Medical enhances its advanced therapy portfolio with regenerative technologies that accelerate healing and improve outcomes for patients with chronic and hard-to-heal wounds, the company says.  “Between their comprehensive product formulary and proprietary Venture OneView platform, they are positioned to become a nationwide leader in the wound care space," said Bert Jones, chairman of the board of ProgenaCare Global. "We are excited to see our mission continue with a company that shares our values and has the infrastructure to scale our impact." Howard Walthall, former CEO of ProgenaCare, has joined Venture Medical as senior vice president of product development. The acquisition includes full rights to ProgenaMatrix, the first and only keratin matrix cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for wound management, and contractual rights to distribute revyve, an advanced antimicrobial hydrogel. Both products are now available through Venture Medical's distribution network. 

New study finds potential link between global warming, OSA 

LONDON – A new study in Nature underscores the potential significant impact of increasing ambient temperatures on the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea globally. Without substantially greater policy change to slow global warming, the health and economic burdens associated with OSA may double by 2100, the study’s authors say. These results highlight the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, in alignment with the Paris Agreement, they say. The results also emphasize the immediate need for targeted measures to potentially minimize the health and economic impacts of the growing OSA prevalence associated with rising temperatures, they say. A few highlights from the study: 

• Globally, higher temperatures (99th vs. 25th; 27.3 vs. 6.4 °C) were associated with a 45% higher probability of having OSA on a given night (mean [95% confidence interval]; 1.45 [1.44, 1.47]). 
• Warming-related increase in OSA prevalence in 2023 was estimated to be associated with a loss of 788,198 (489,226, 1,087,170) healthy life years (in 29 countries) and a workplace productivity loss of 30 (21 to 40) billion United States dollars. 
• Scenarios with projected temperatures ≥1.8 °C above pre-industrial levels would incur a further 1.2 to 3-fold increase in OSA burden by 2100. 

Read the study here. 

Product launches: Avalon Stairlifts, Pride Mobility 

Avalon Stairlifts, based in North Carolina, has launched a line of stairlift solutions, including the flagship Avalon A300, specifically for the North American market. The company was founded by Kevin G. Stafford Price, who successfully led MediTek stairlifts in the U.K. for 30 years. Price, a sitting member on the A18.1 ASME board of advisors, has ensured that the Avalon A300 complies fully with stringent standards. “Our commitment to excellence is reflected in every aspect of our business, from design and manufacturing to customer service,” the company states. “We believe that mobility should be accessible to everyone, and our mission is to enhance the quality of life for our customers by providing stairlifts that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.” FMI: www.avalonstairlifts.com...Pride Mobility has introduced a new hard top canopy option that’s compatible with its Baja Wrangler 2, PX4 and Pursuit 2. The canopy features a rugged ABS plastic roof for durability and impact resistance, a large panoramic rearview mirror, a strong polycarbonate windshield and a durable, powdered coated steel frame. Tool clips, jumbo rear basket and weather cover are other optional accessories. FMI: www.pridemobility.com.