In brief: Coral ‘getting started,’ Access Infusion expanding, Medline piloting automation

NEW YORK – Coral, a health care automation platform built for durable medical equipment (DME) and other specialty providers, has announced a $12.5 million investment led by Lightspeed and Z47 to grow its team and enhance its products.

The platform connects to existing EHR systems, fax lines and payer portals and automates end-to-end administrative workflows.

“Every person in the health care system is being slowed down by the same thing: administrative work that was never built to scale,” said Ajay Shrihari, founder and CEO. “The coordinator chasing faxes. The patient waiting on a referral. The clinician buried in prior authorizations. When you automate the right things, all of them win at once. That is what Coral is building, and we are just getting started.”

Progress to date

Coral says its models have now reached 99.7% accuracy on handwritten fax forms, scanned insurance cards, prior authorization templates and payer portal screens. It says complete patient intakes now run in under five minutes.

The company says it has reached multiple millions in revenues and is targeting 4x growth before the end of the year, expanding further across existing verticals, while moving into radiology and additional specialty categories.

Ready to build

Following the investment, Coral is adding engineering talent to work alongside industry experts. The company is also building a tool that lets providers design and deploy their own administrative workflows without raising an IT ticket. Additionally, it is building a tool to surface intelligence from the data it already processes, including:

• Which payers have the highest denial rates and what the common rejection reasons are
• Where in the authorization process cases are stalling
• Which referral sources convert to completed intakes, and which do not
• Where revenue is being stopped by insurance claim rejections

Investor commentary

Rohil Bagga, investor at Lightspeed: “Health care is one of the hardest environments to automate, given legacy systems and fragmented workflows, yet Coral is delivering real outcomes at scale. Their product is already being used by some of the largest customers in the U.S. to dramatically reduce patient intake times and first-pass denials. At Lightspeed, we’ve had the privilege of being part of Coral’s journey since day one, and we’re excited to continue supporting the team as they transform the healthcare industry”

Ashwin KP, investor at Z47: “US health care admin carries over a trillion dollars in overhead each year, yet the back-office teams doing this work have been chronically underserved by technology. Our thesis is that the most compelling AI opportunities lie in workflow-heavy, tech-underserved categories that demand deep vertical expertise to crack. Ajay and Aniket are exceptionally customer-obsessed founders who embedded themselves with these teams, understood their pain at a granular level, and built a product their customers can’t live without. The rapid growth and the caliber of customers they’ve won in a short time only reinforced our conviction. We’re privileged to partner with them.”

Access Infusion Care grows in Delaware through partnership with Infusion Solutions of Delaware

GAYLORD, Mich. – Access Infusion Care (AIC), a community-based infusion network dedicated to expanding access to care in rural and underserved communities, has announced a partnership with Infusion Solutions of Delaware, a physician‑led rheumatology and infusion practice serving patients across the state from locations in Dover, Milford, and Newark.

With this partnership, AIC now operates in four states, Michigan, Montana, Mississippi and Delaware, with a growing network of community‑based infusion locations serving rural and underserved markets.

Infusion Solutions of Delaware specializes in biologic and infusion therapies for patients managing autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis, as well as osteoporosis and other chronic conditions.

Through this partnership, patients will continue to receive these physician‑directed treatments from the same clinical team, now supported by AIC’s operational infrastructure, pharmacy expertise, and growing national network.

“Infusion Solutions of Delaware has built exactly the kind of locally rooted, physician‑led practice that aligns with our model,” said Bruce Kutinsky, PharmD, CEO of AIC. “For twenty years, Infusion Solutions of Delaware has provided the kind of care that keeps patients out of the hospital and closer to the people who know them best. By combining their clinical expertise and community relationships with Access’s operational platform, we can strengthen that care and expand access to more patients.”

Patients and providers can expect a seamless transition, with services continuing without interruption. Infusion Solutions of Delaware will continue to operate with its existing leadership and team and maintain its commitment to delivering compassionate, high‑quality infusion care.

“We chose to partner with Access Infusion Care because their mission and company values closely align with our own,” said Chris Miller, RN, co-owner of Infusion Solutions of Delaware. “With additional resources and capital, we can accelerate our growth plans while continuing to uphold our standards of high-quality care.”

ISD was represented in the transaction by Paragon Ventures.

CQRC, industry stakeholders seek clarifications on vent policy

WASHINGTON, DC – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) joined stakeholder groups in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urgently calling for clarifying guidance for the continuing use criteria for both home mechanical ventilators (HMV) and respiratory assist devices (RAD) used by Medicare beneficiaries with chronic respiratory conditions.

April 2026 is the month in which the first group of patients prescribed the devices must meet continuing use criteria set out under the National Coverage Decision (NCD).

Without clarification of the RAD and HMV continuing use requirements, the letter states that more than 50% of beneficiaries who rely on these devices would need to discontinue therapy and return their devices, according to an informal survey of suppliers, even if their physicians believe the devices remain medically necessary.

The letter also cites data showing that patients with chronic respiratory conditions who receive HMV therapy experience fewer emergency department visits, fewer hospitalizations, and lower mortality. Yet, a lack of clarification on the continuing use criteria for RAD and HMV – and the absence of technology on certain devices to track and report usage – may jeopardize patient access to physician-directed care.

The clarifications encouraged in the letter prompt CMS to update the NCD policy to ensure that patients who may have narrowly missed Medicare’s requirement or have valid clinical reasons for falling short of the equipment usage threshold within the specific 30-day period can still access the life-sustaining care they need. If a patient does not meet adherence requirements, physicians are expected to discontinue therapy despite potential benefits, while Medicare bars suppliers from billing or leaving the device in place, creating an untenable situation for stakeholders.

“The clarifications we request would support the Administration’s intent to ensure that patients prescribed RADs and HMVs are using and benefiting from the devices in the medical opinion of their physician,” the letter reads. “We supported the Administration’s adoption of many of the recommendations that patient advocates, physicians, respiratory therapists, suppliers, and manufacturers had suggested in the final NCD. However, the continuing use criteria clarifications were not addressed at that time.”

The letter presents potential long-term solutions, including a multi-month rolling average  and further clarification on patient use of high-intensity settings for RAD Bi-level pressure capability, including whether sustained pressures greater than or equal to 15 cm H₂O during therapy are required to be documented or whether device settings configured to deliver pressures at or above this threshold are sufficient.

CQRC and its stakeholder partners urge the issuance of guidance that applies to all CMS audit contractors and clarifications to be issued before the end of April, so that patients can access medically required devices and benefit from them in the view of their physician.

Other groups signing the letter include the American Association for Respiratory Care, AAHomecare, COPD Foundation and VGM & Associates.

• Related: Stakeholders see hurdles, burdens in proposed decision on vents
• Related: CMS’s new vent guidelines spark provider adjustments

Study finds remote learning improves respiratory care for COPD patients

LOUISVILLE, Ky – Researchers from Humana Healthcare Research and University of Chicago Medicine found that Medicare Advantage members with COPD and low medication adherence significantly improved their inhaler technique after receiving guidance over the phone from pharmacists.

Researchers say the study, recently published in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, points to the promise of remote, pharmacist-led inhaler training as a way to help people with COPD better manage their condition and emphasizes the importance of continued research to develop tailored approves for individuals who may be more likely to struggle with proper inhaler use.

“Using a COPD inhaler can be challenging because it requires precise timing and coordination, as well as understanding the correct steps to ensure the medication is delivered effectively to the lungs,” said Humana’s Emily Thomas, a pharmacist who served as the program leader. “A phone-based education program offers a convenient way for patients to receive personalized guidance and support, helping them improve their inhaler technique and better manage their condition.”

Additional findings include:

• Of the nearly 2,000 participants included in the study nearly 40% were using their inhalers incorrectly at the start of the program, but after the first phone education session, misuse dropped to less than 7%, a dramatic improvement.
• Positive outcomes were observed across all types of inhaler devices and patient subgroups with ongoing, multi-session education playing a key role in helping patients maintain correct inhaler use over time.

As a subsidiary of Humana, Humana Healthcare Research collaborates with leading academic and industry partners to advance and shape innovation in care delivery and health policy for better outcomes.

Access the full study on the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation website here.

Birmingham VA launches mobile unit for O&P services

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham VA Health Care System has launched the Mobile Orthotics & Prosthetics (MoPOC) program to make it easier for veterans living in rural areas to get specialty care. A new mobile unit staffed by a certified orthotist prosthetist will visit community outpatient clinics in Jasper, Guntersville and Childersburg to provide on-site evaluations, adjustments and fittings. “Veterans living in many of our rural communities have had limited access to orthotic and prosthetic care without traveling long distances,” said Adam McKinley, chief of prosthetics, Birmingham VA Health Care System. “The Mobile Orthotics & Prosthetics program allows us to bring that care closer to home — making it more convenient and ensuring we better meet the medical needs of the Veterans we serve.” The mobile unit offers:

• Prosthetic adjustments and amputee care
• Custom and off-the-shelf bracing
• Therapeutic shoes and foot orthotics
• Compression stockings and other supportive devices

NCPA hits Hill, asking lawmakers to address PBM practices in gov’t programs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Independent pharmacists visited nearly 300 offices for meetings with lawmakers and their staff during the National Community Pharmacist Association’s Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In on April 15-16. Their message: We appreciate the reforms to Medicare Part D contract terms that Congress passed earlier this year, and now we would urge them to address pharmacy benefit manager practices in government programs like Medicaid, Tricare, and the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program. “The PBM reform provisions signed into law this year were hard-fought, and they represented massive progress,” said Kristen Riddle, PharmD, the 2025-2026 NCPA president. “As grateful as we are, though, these reforms weren’t a silver-bullet solution that fixed all patient and pharmacy issues with PBMs. Given the nature of how these middlemen operate, there’s still more to do. Hundreds of independent pharmacists participated in NCPA’s fly-in again this year with hope and determination fueling our efforts. We’ve accomplished great things, and together, we’ll continue fighting to make real change for independent pharmacies and the communities they serve across the country.” The NCPA says the event was at maximum capacity for the third year in a row, drawing hundreds of independent pharmacists from 43 states and the District of Columbia. The next fly-in has been scheduled for April 7-8, 2027.

Philips issues correction for Trilogy Evo Platform ventilators

AMSTERDAN – Philips has issued a correction for Trilogy Evo Platform Ventilators, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company has identified issues related to the use of prohibited non-pneumatic nebulizers and the obstruction alarm timing. As of March 6, it has reported three serious injuries and no deaths associated with these issues. Philips has sent affected customers a letter recommending that they:

• Update all Trilogy Evo Platform ventilators with software version 1.05.15.00.
• Stop all use of non-pneumatic nebulizers with Trilogy Evo Platform ventilators.
• Review the latest version of the user manual addendum.

Durable medical equipment (DME) and home care customers in the U.S. with adverse reactions, quality problems, or questions about this recall should contact Philips at 1-800-345-6443, press option 2 for repair and then option 1.

Medline to pilot warehouse automation platform from Symbotic

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline has announced a strategic agreement to be the first health care company to implement next-generation warehouse automation from Symbotic as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the resiliency, efficiency and scalability of the health care supply chain. The company will pilot the technology in 2027 at one of its 45 distribution centers. “Our vertically integrated solution of manufacturing and distributing products to all points of care is unique among healthcare suppliers,” said Sean Halligan, chief supply chain officer at Medline. “Medline’s strategic investment in this technology will help us provide even more efficiency for our customers and help them meet their operational, clinical and financial goals.” The Symbotic System is an AI-powered platform that automates picking, storage and retrieval of items for distribution. Widely used across multiple complex industries, including large scale retail and consumer goods companies, the technology uses intelligent, autonomous robots to depalletize and singulate inbound full pallets, store and retrieve items, and build orders into smart outbound pallets mapped to the needs and layouts of downstream recipients, helping to drive faster and more efficient operations. Medline also has recently deployed a range of automation and packaging solutions, including its custom Pick Pack Pro technology, to modernize fulfillment operations and better serve customers across all points of care.

King Drug and Home Care expands in Owensboro with HME-exclusive location

OWENSBORO, Ky. – King Drug and Home Care has opened a second location in Owensboro, Ky., to better serve patients on the east side of the city, according to the Owensboro Times. “Coverage of the eastern part of Owensboro was needed for convenience to our customers,” said Bob Tarrants, director of HR and marketing, told the newspaper. “Proximity to Owensboro Regional Hospital allows for a much quicker response for those people needing oxygen or other medical equipment after leaving the hospital for home.” While some other locations include pharmacy, this new location – which will operate as King Home Care – will focus exclusively on HME, including oxygen concentrators, CPAP and BiPAP machines and power mobility devices. King Drug and Home Care also operates in Madisonville, Morgantown and Hartford. King Home Care also operates in Bowling Green.