In brief: CMS lifts claims hold, Eli Lilly drafts Shaq, Menlo Ventures surveys AI adoption 

WASHINGTON – CMS has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to lift the claims hold and process claims with dates of service Oct. 1, 2025, and later for certain services impacted by select expired Medicare legislative payment provisions passed under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025. 

This includes claims paid under the: 

• Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 
• Ground ambulance transport 
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) 
• Telehealth for behavioral and mental health services 

CMS has directed all MACs to continue to temporarily hold claims for other telehealth services (i.e. those that CMS cannot confirm are definitively for behavioral and mental health services) and for acute Hospital Care at Home claims.   

Read more here. 

• Related reading: Earlier this month, CMS told the MACs to continue temporarily holding claims. 

Eli Lilly, O’Neal 'break through stigma’ of obstructive sleep apnea 

Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) was approved last year for the treatment of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity 

INDIANAPOLIS – Eli Lilly has a new partnership with NBA Hall of Famer and cultural icon Shaquille O’Neal to launch a nationwide campaign raising awareness about moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 

The campaign aims to educate the public about symptoms and potential health impacts of moderate-to-severe OSA, a serious but often overlooked health condition that impacts 24 million people in the U.S., many of whom are overweight or living with obesity, the company says. 

"Moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea is more than just snoring – it's a serious condition and it deserves serious attention," O'Neal said. "For years, I was tired all the time and didn't know why, but getting diagnosed made a real difference. I'm not always one to ask for help, and I know it can be difficult to speak up when something is impacting you. I'm here to say don't ignore moderate-to-severe OSA symptoms – talk to your doctor." 

Through a series of digital and media activations that build on Lilly's Don't Sleep on OSA campaign, O'Neal will encourage people to recognize the symptoms of moderate-to-severe OSA and take action by visiting DontSleepOnOSA.com and by talking to their health care provider. 

Late last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity to be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. 

"Moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea is a serious and often overlooked condition that affects millions of Americans," said Lina Polimeni, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, consumer, at Lilly. "By partnering with Shaquille O'Neal, someone who brings authenticity, relatability and cultural reach, we're aiming to break through the stigma and spark real conversations. This campaign, and the exciting work we're doing at Lilly, is about empowering people to recognize possible symptoms and take action." 

New report: Health care organizations are making AI a strategic priority 

For health systems, outpatient providers and payers, AI offers potential for improved efficiency, economics and outcomes 

MENLO PARK, Calif. – Health care is setting the pace for enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, according to “2025: The State of AI in Healthcare” from Menlo Ventures. 

• Twenty-two percent of health care organizations have implemented domain-specific AI tools, a 7x increase over 2024 and a 10x increase over 2023, the report states. 
• Health systems lead with 27% adoption, followed by outpatient providers at 18% and payers at 14%, it states. 

“What’s driving the urgency? Industry conditions and market dynamics have made AI a strategic priority,” the report states. “For providers, administrative overhead continues to erode margins and burn out clinicians, compounding post-pandemic labor shortages. Payers face rising medical costs and constrained premium growth. Pharma and biotech struggle with stagnant productivity, long R&D timelines and high costs. AI offers the potential for improved efficiency, economics, and outcomes.” 

By contrast, AI adoption across the broader economy lags behind. Fewer than one in 10 companies (9%) have implemented AI, and most rely on general tools like enterprise ChatGPT instead of purpose-built solutions, according to the report. 

To produce the report, Menlo Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests across AI, consumer, enterprise and health care technologies, drew on comprehensive surveys of more than 700 healthcare executives across the United States. 

Read the report here. 

BOC names Project Mend’s Dexter Moon as 2025 Certificant of the Year 

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has named Dexter Moon, CDME, COO of Project MEND, as 2025 Certificant of the Year Award for his exceptional leadership and commitment to service, innovation and outreach in durable medical equipment (DME). 

Dexter Moon’s purpose 

A BOC Certified Durable Medical Equipment Specialist (CDME), Moon is a member of the executive leadership team at Project MEND, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals living with disabilities and illness through the refurbishment, reuse and distribution of medical equipment and other assistive technology. 

"I am humbled to receive BOC's 2025 Certificant of the Year Award," said Moon. “My BOC certification has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to lead with purpose, but it’s our Project MEND team and partners who bring that purpose to life every day. Together, we’re breaking down barriers to care and helping people live with greater independence and improved quality of life.” 

Project MEND’s reach 

In 2024, Project MEND distributed more than 5,700 pieces of refurbished DME to more than 2,100 individuals in need across 46 counties in Texas, including veterans, surviving spouses and their dependents. Under Moon’s operational leadership, the organization has implemented forward-thinking strategies that optimize resources and enhance service delivery. 

BOC credits Moon and his Project MEND team for: 

• Implementing customer-centered processes that prioritize safety, efficiency and dignity while providing personalized support to assistive technology recipients. 
• Introducing cutting-edge technologies to the DME reuse sector, including FDA-authorized microbial-reduction robots and exploratory use of 3D printing for replacement parts. 
• Partnering with institutions like the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are advancing staff training and equipment reuse best practices. 
• Collaborating with organizations like Medical Bridges and the Christian Medical and Dental Association to direct donations of thousands of refurbished DME items to underserved children, including children with disabilities in Mexico. 

About the Certificant of the Year award 

The BOC Certificant of the Year Award recognizes a BOC-certified professional who has demonstrated outstanding service to patients, notable achievements in research, commitment to giving back to the community and outreach to developing countries or other underserved areas. Eligible certificants include those in good standing in any of BOC’s six certification areas: Durable Medical Equipment Specialist (CDME), Mastectomy Fitter (CMF), Orthotic Fitter (COF), Orthotist (BOCO), Pedorthist (BOCPD) or Prosthetist (BOCP). 

“We are incredibly proud to honor Dexter as our 2025 Certificant of the Year," said BOC President & CEO Judi Knott, MA, MBA, CAE. “His tireless dedication to improving access to care, uplifting patients and strengthening communities—both locally and globally—reflects the heart of this award. We are glad to recognize a professional whose compassion, innovation and service have improved the quality of so many lives.” 

Registration opens for inaugural event for complex rehab professionals 

LOS ANGELES – Early-bird registration is now open for the inaugural Abilities International Accessibility Conference on March 26-27, 2026, at the Long Beach Convention Center. Co-located with the Abilities Expo, the Abilities International Accessibility Conference is designed to unite complex rehab technology (CRT) professionals across disciplines, creating a hub to enhance professional practice and business through education, networking and thought leadership. Attendees have the opportunity to earn CEUs, network and collaborate. “We are thrilled to be launching the Abilities International Accessibility Conferences in 2026,” said Katy Roberts, managing director of Abilities Portfolio. “This is a very natural progression from our established success with the consumer Abilities Expos. We listened to industry partners and identified the need for idea-sharing across disciplines. The new conferences will allow for education, connection and collaboration.” The 2026 series will debut in Los Angeles, followed by conferences in New York Metro (April 30–May 1) and Chicago (June 11–12). The Abilities International Accessibility Conference, which also includes complementary access to the Abilities Expo, will deliver high-impact education and industry insights in partnership with such leading organizations as: 

• RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) 
• ISS (International Seating Symposium) 
• CTF (Clinician Task Force) 
• NCART (National Coalition of Assistive & Rehab Technology) 
• iNRRTS (International Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers) 
• U.S. Rehab, part of VGM & Associates 

Attendees can also participate in optional technical training workshops delivered by U.S. Rehab to gain hands-on experience and certification preparation for wheelchair repair technicians.  

Register here. 

• Related reading: Abilities Expo fills gap in education. 

ATA calls for short-term solution to lapsed telehealth flexibilities 

WASHINGTON – ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telehealth Association (ATA) is calling on Congress and the administration to quickly enact a short-term solution to what it says are escalating disruptions in patient care. “The expiration of Medicare telehealth flexibilities has an immediate and deeply concerning impact on patients and providers across the communities we serve,” said Sara Collins, assistant vice president, Professional Medical Affairs and Telehealth for Lifepoint Health, and a member of the ATA Policy Council. “Lifepoint hospitals and clinics operate in rural and underserved regions which depend on telehealth to connect patients with specialists, behavioral health providers, and hospital-level care that would otherwise be out of reach.” With the lapse of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities, there is growing uncertainty in the marketplace, and concern that commercial payers could soon follow suit if Congress and the Administration do not act quickly, the ATA says. While the ATA continues to push for a permanent solution, it urges Congress and the administration to enact a short-term solution to restore Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program during the current government shutdown. “President Trump wisely passed these flexibilities in 2020, at the outset of the pandemic,” said Kyle Zebley, executive director, ATA Action and senior vice president, public policy at the ATA. “The President and countless members of Congress, from both parties, have championed telehealth as an important part of a modernized healthcare delivery system, and for that we are grateful. Now is the time to, once again, set aside political differences and prioritize the health of Americans, including many of the most vulnerable, to ensure that patients have access to needed healthcare, where and when they need it.” 

Read more on the ATA’s take on the current lapse in telehealth flexibilities here. 

Wound care solution company RestorixHealth expands footprint with hospitals 

METARIE, La. – RestorixHealth has successfully completed its acquisition of CūtisCare, a provider of multi-place hyperbaric medicine and hospital-based outpatient wound care center management services. By combining with CūtisCare’s hospitals, academic medical centers and hospitals systems – including top-tier partners like UCLA Medical Center, UC San Diego Health and Yale New Haven Health – RestorixHealth expands its footprint to nearly 300 partners across 41 states, offering a more stable, long-term management solution for providers. “Integrating CūtisCare and RestorixHealth’s hospital-based services positions us as the leading solution for partners of all sizes across all communities with our expertise spanning from rural hospitals to health care systems and teaching hospitals,” said RestorixHealth CEO Ben Dunford. “We are excited to grow with each of our centers and hospital partners and further expand our reach to get more patients the care they need for their hard-to-heal wounds.” The transaction does not include RegenQuest, a division of CūtisCare focused exclusively on office-based wound healing and hyperbaric programs, which will continue to operate as a separate entity. By uniting CūtisCare’s specialized hyperbaric medicine services with its comprehensive clinical, operational and financial expertise, RestorixHealth significantly expands its capabilities and enhances its ability to better serve the needs of its partners and support the pursuit of future growth opportunities, the company says. “This transaction strengthens RestorixHealth’s position as a national leader that is setting the standard of excellence in wound care management, enhancing our ability to expand access to high quality wound care services and deliver best-in-class patient outcomes,” said Jared Golub, chairman of the board of RestorixHealth and partner at Marblegate Asset Management, LLC, investment manager to RestorixHealth’s largest shareholder. 

BluHaven Health Infusion Center opens first location 

RALEIGH, N.C. – BluHaven Health Infusion Center, a company that began as a community pharmacy and expanded into home infusion, has opened its first location in Raleigh, N.C. The location, which is directly across from Duke Raleigh Hospital, is part of the Triangle’s thriving medical community and extensive health care network. “Our patients are not just a number in a computer to us,” says Will Holland, co-founder and director at BluHaven. “Health journeys can be stressful, overwhelming, and confusing. Our goal is to provide accessible care that makes patients’ lives easier, and this new location will help us get there. We strive to make receiving care simple and seamless, easing the burden on our patients so they can focus on their health and well-being.” BluHaven says it is redefining the infusion experience with a modern, patient-centered environment designed to feel welcoming, comfortable and supportive, creating a “home away from home” setting. The company offers a wide range of therapies, including rheumatology, ophthalmology, neurology, gastroenterology, allergy and immunology, and more. It also accepts most insurance plans. 

Samsung expands sleep apnea feature to Malaysia 

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – Samsung’s sleep apnea feature, through the Samsung Health Monitor app on its Galaxy Watch Series, is now available in Malaysia. The company says this availability follows the feature receiving the Medical Device Registration Certificate from the Medical Device Authority in Malaysia. “Recognizing the critical role of sleep in overall health, Samsung is committed to helping users improve sleep quality by understanding their sleep patterns, providing personalized sleep coaching and optimizing their sleep environments,” the company said. “With the Sleep Apnea feature, more users can now detect symptoms earlier – helping to prevent health issues associated with this common yet often undiagnosed condition. The Sleep Apnea feature reflects Samsung’s ongoing commitment to providing users with meaningful insights to support healthy sleep habits. By expanding access to this FDA-authorized feature globally, Samsung is empowering users worldwide to take proactive steps toward better sleep health.” The certification in Malaysia affirms that Samsung meets the Medical Device Authority’s health, safety and environmental protection standards, reinforcing its leadership in sleep technology. Additionally, the feature was also approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration and Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority. The milestone builds on Samsung’s groundbreaking De Novo authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the first of its kind for a wearable device to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The Sleep Apnea feature was also approved by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Brazil’s health regulatory agency ANVISA, and Health Canada.