In brief: Claims still on hold, Medline recognition, Soleo Health expansion

WASHINGTON – At press time, CMS has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to continue to temporarily hold claims with dates of service of Oct. 1, 2025, and later for services impacted by the expired Medicare legislative payment provisions passed under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025. This includes all claims paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport claims, and all Federally Qualified Health Center claims. Providers may continue to submit these claims, but payment will not be released until the hold is lifted. CMS has also told practitioners who choose to perform telehealth services that are not payable by Medicare on or after Oct. 1, 2025, may want to evaluate providing beneficiaries with an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN). FMI: https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/mln-connects-newsletter-october-15-2025. 

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First Quality’s Mongillo publishes caregiving guide 

GREAT NECK, N.Y. – Michele Mongillo, MSN, BSN, RN, clinical director at First Quality, has published “Caring with Dignity: A Caregiver’s Guide to Incontinence,” a book offering compassionate, practical and easy-to-understand advice for making incontinence more manageable at home. The book draws on Mongillo’s three decades in the nursing profession, including 20 years as clinical director at First Quality. “By writing this book, I hope to make hidden conversations more visible and help caregivers gain confidence in their ability to provide dignified care,” said Mongillo. “Caregiving can feel overwhelming and isolating, but no one has to go on this journey alone.” The book is for anyone serving as a caregiver, whether they are providing care for an aging parent, a child with special needs, a partner or even themselves. It can also be a helpful resource for professional caregivers who want to gain a deeper understanding of incontinence care. The book is availale in paperback and e-book formats through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the publisher’s website, with bulk pricing available upon request. Learn more at www.firstquality.com/caringwithdignity. 

VGM seeks Heartland speaker proposals 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM is now accepting proposals from prospective speakers for its annual Heartland Conference, taking place June 8-10, 2026, at the Waterloo Convention Center. The Heartland Conference committee is looking for speakers to offer their knowledge on a variety of topics related to the HME industry, including billing and compliance, business operations, complex rehab technology, leadership and people strategy, respiratory, sales, marketing, retail, technology and security, and integrated health and policy. “We are excited to share that the application period for speakers at the Heartland Conference 2026 is now open until Dec. 15, 2025,” said Arienne Martinez, Heartland education chair. “We are pleased to continue offering educational tracks that better reflect the changing dynamics of the industry. Being able to offer pertinent educational material is of the utmost importance to the Heartland Conference committee to ensure that all attendees have the opportunity to receive the latest and greatest knowledge to bring back to their businesses and thrive in the industry.” Speakers will be able to share their insight and knowledge with more than 1,000 attendees from across the country from the HME, respiratory and complex rehab space. Speaker proposals for Heartland Conference are due Dec. 15, 2025. To submit your proposal, visit events.vgm.com/heartland/speak and complete the online form. 

HME Home Health makes multiple promotions 

RICHMOND, B.C. – HME Home Health will cap off a successful fiscal year on Oct. 31, 2025, with the promotion of multiple team members. “When we started the company in 2012, we had six staff members,” said Robert Boscacci, CEO and co-founder. “Over the last 13 years, we’ve expanded to over 130 staff. As part of this growth, we have promoted over 20 managers in the last 10 years, and five senior leaders. HME is committed to growing our team and providing exceptional career opportunities.” The following team members have been promoted:  

• Bharti Gounder to administration manager  
• Minoo Arani to HR supervisor  
• Ali Lowe to intermediate sales team member  
• Charlotte Ketchen to intermediate sales team member  
• Rich Boyd to intermediate purchaser 
• Reggie Ramirez to intermediate technician  
• Connor Plunkett to intermediate technician  
• Sofia Del Carmen to intermediate administrative assistant  

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Medline recognized by HealthTrust for efficient distribution 

Northfield, Ill. – Medline received the Medical-Surgical Supplier of the Year Award from HealthTrust Performance Group (HealthTrust) during the recent HealthTrust University Conference in San Antonio, Texas. This annual award recognizes a HealthTrust partner for its continued excellence in providing quality products, efficient distribution and significant value to help HealthTrust members optimize their supply chains and improve patient outcomes. “We are honored to receive this award,” said Medline CEO Jim Boyle. “We’ve worked with HealthTrust for many years to help drive down costs and improve supply chain reliability for their members. This award is a reflection on our Medline team and the culture we’ve built, where our focus on the customer is at the heart of everything we do.” Formed in 1999, HealthTrust serves about 1,800 hospitals and health systems in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and more than 70,000 non-acute sites of care, including ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, long-term care and alternate care sites. Medline services HealthTrust members with negotiated pricing on medical-surgical supplies. 

NCART names Legislators of the Year 

WASHINGTON – NCART has named Kansas state Reps. David Buehler, R-District 40, and Angela Stiens, R-District 39, as the NCART 2025 Legislators of the Year. Both Buehler and Stiens were instrumental in getting repair and complex rehab technology (CRT) legislation passed this year in the state legislature. “NCART salutes their commitment to taking care of individuals who utilize complex rehab equipment,” the organization stated in a bulletin. “On behalf of the consumers that we serve, we say thank you!” Buehler’s committee assignments include the Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight and the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. Stiens was an occupation therapy practitioner for 28 years. 

Soleo Health expands to DC-metro area with new AIC 

FRISCO, Texas – Soleo Health, a national provider of complex specialty pharmacy services, has opened a new state-of-the-art pharmacy and ambulatory infusion center in Herndon, Va. This expansion strengthens Soleo Health's ability to serve patients with complex conditions throughout the Mid-Atlantic corridor. "Soleo Health's strategically placed Herndon location allows us to extend our reach to a broader patient population throughout the Mid-Atlantic area," said Craig Vollmer, chief commercial officer for Soleo Health. "With over 5.4 million residents in the Washington, D.C., metro area, we are committed to delivering exceptional care through our infusion center, as well as convenient home infusion and specialty pharmacy services." Soleo Health Washington, D.C., will offer a comprehensive range of specialty pharmacy and infusion services to patients in the Washington, D.C. metro area, including Virginia (Herndon, Richmond, Alexandria and Arlington) and Maryland (Baltimore and Columbia).  

California becomes latest state to cap insulin costs 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 40 to cap insulin costs at $35 for a 30-day supply for Californians on private state-regulated health plans. In California, approximately 3.5 million adults have diagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and while not all use insulin, those who do rely on it to survive. “For far too long, many Americans with diabetes have made the difficult decision to ration this lifesaving medication to pay for other necessities, such as groceries or rent,” said Christine Fallabel, MPH, the ADA’s state government affairs director. “The ADA and our community of diabetes advocates continue to push for legislation across the nation to make insulin accessible for all who need it to live.” Effective Jan. 1, 2026, large group insurers will be required to cap insulin copayments at $35 for a 30-day supply and to ensure at least one insulin for a given drug type in all forms/concentrations be on the prescription drug formulary. Individual or small group health care insurers will need to cap copayments starting on Jan. 1, 2027. 

VGM & Associates names McClure SVP of corporate accounts 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates is excited to announce that Angie McClure has joined the corporate accounts team as senior vice president of corporate accounts. McClure’s 24-year career in the health care industry includes leadership roles in marketing, business development and sales strategy. Most recently, she served as senior director of marketing at Forbin, where she played a pivotal role in driving organizational growth through strategic planning and execution. “Angie’s track record and passion for serving health care providers stood out during the selection process,” said Barry Thwaits, executive vice president of customer success at VGM & Associates. “Her leadership will help us strengthen partnerships and deliver enhanced value to our members.” McClure will focus on fostering relationships and delivering tailored solutions that support member success. “I’m honored to take on this new role and continue my journey with VGM,” said McClure. “I look forward to collaborating with our members and partners to drive meaningful growth and create lasting value.” 

NCPA partners with HealthShifts to launch job board 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and HealthShifts are partnering to expand career and staffing support for community pharmacies. Through this partnership, NCPA will launch a national job board powered by HealthShifts, and members will gain access to a trusted staffing solution that supports pharmacies with flexible hiring and shift coverage. “Our members consistently ask for solutions that make staffing and recruitment easier,” said Mark Ey, NCPA’s COO. “This partnership with HealthShifts delivers a straightforward and practical tool that helps independent pharmacies hire, retain and manage staffing so they can focus on serving their patients.” The partnership includes: 

• National job board for pharmacy roles, powered by HealthShifts 
• Member access to a trusted staffing solution for shift coverage and hiring 
• Streamlined posting, applicant tracking and outreach support 
• Dedicated onboarding for NCPA members and employers 

The NCPA Job Board launched Oct. 14, 2025. NCPA members and employers can request onboarding at https://ncpa.healthshifts.ai/ or through NCPA member communications.