In brief: DASCO preferred by MetroHealth, Tennr investigates costs, Permobil promotes

CLEVELAND – Under a new agreement DASCO Home Medical Equipment is the preferred provider of durable medical equipment (DME) and related post-discharge services for MetroHealth System patients across Northeast Ohio.  

As part of the agreement, effective Oct. 1, DASCO will work closely with MetroHealth’s clinical teams to ensure patients leaving the hospital receive essential DME such as oxygen therapy, PAP devices and mobility aids quickly and reliably. The company will also offer 24/7 patient support, on-site staff and tailored education to help patients and caregivers safely manage care at home.  

DASCO has opened a new branch office in Brecksville, Ohio, to serve MetroHealth patients. 

“We’re excited to partner with a health system that shares our commitment to high-quality, patient-first service,” said Jason Seeley, CEO of DASCO. “Our teams are aligned in the mission to reduce readmissions, improve satisfaction, and eliminate the common roadblocks patients face when transitioning to home-based care.” 

Related: 

• DASCO recently formed a joint venture with Nashville-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to operate Carefluent Connect, VUMC’s durable medical equipment company. 

• The provider has also expanded to the Northeast, with a new location in Wilmington, Mass. 

Tennr report: Early paperwork problems are costly for independent providers 

NEW YORK – Independent health care providers lose more than 10% (or $2.2 million) every year due to claim denials that inevitably happen while managing their backlog of patient referrals, according to Tennr’s first Healthcare Provider Benchmark Report. 

The report analyzed data from health care organizations using Tennr’s platform to process tens of millions of patients and examined why insurance claims get denied, tracing those denials back to specific paperwork problems that happen early in the process. The report compared performance before and after using Tennr's platform, while adjusting for organizational differences, such as size, types of insurance, services provided and location. 

Tennr's key findings: 

• 10% (or $2.2 million) of revenue lost annually: Independent providers lose this amount in revenue each year when intake paperwork is missing the information that insurers require to approve a patient's treatment.  

• Half of all referrals disappear: The health care industry faces a significant "leakage" problem where referrals simply fall through the cracks. On average, only 54% of faxed referrals actually turn into orders or scheduled care, according to industry estimates. Providers using Tennr to process their referrals and streamline the intake process convert 68% or more patients, the company says. 

• Productivity varies widely: The report reveals massive differences in how much patient intake and processing teams can handle. Traditional manual processing averages fewer than 100 orders per full-time employee weekly 

The 'hidden loss fallacy' 

Tennr says it levels the playing field by giving independents enterprise-grade tools to compete, keep their doors open and preserve competition, which benefits both patients and pricing. 

"Most providers are dealing with what we call the 'hidden loss fallacy,' where they're pouring time and money into fixing billing issues after the fact, when the real opportunity is catching mistakes and missed patients earlier in the referral process," said Trey Holterman, co-founder and CEO of Tennr. "Our data shows that the majority of costly claim denials are conceived during the initial referral intake process, not during billing." 

Permobil taps Cody Verrett for top sales role in Americas 

LEBANON, Tenn. – Permobil has named Cody Verrett as vice president of sales for the Americas region. With nearly three decades of industry experience, including roles on both the provider and manufacturer sides, Verrett brings a deep understanding of the market and strong credibility with clinicians, customers and partners, the company says. “Cody brings a wealth of industry expertise and a proven track record of delivering results at Permobil,” says Todd Walling, president, Permobil Americas. “More importantly, he understands what it takes to position us as the go-to resource for our customers, users and partners. With Cody at the helm of our sales organization, we will deepen relationships, simplify the buying experience, and set the standard for speed and service across power, manual and seating.” Since joining Permobil in 2021 as vice president and general manager of Permobil Americas, Verrett has played a pivotal role in driving innovation and product development – most notably leading the creation of two ultralight manual wheelchairs, the TiLite X and TiLite Z, the company says. Together with the launch of the Permobil Store – a web-based system that enables customers to configure with real-time 3D visualization, quote, and order the TiLite X and Z – these achievements have quickly gained traction, it says. “I’m humbled but honored to step into this role and lead such a passionate and talented sales and clinical education team,” said Verrett. “Our success at Permobil is built on collaboration, and our shared purpose to create a future free from mobility limitations. I’m excited to work alongside this incredible group to strengthen our partnerships, elevate the customer experience, and continue setting new standards across the industry.” Verrett succeeds Walling, who was recently appointed president of Permobil Americas. 

• Related: The shaping of Cody Verrett 

VGM Group celebrates Prometheus Award finalists 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Group is proud to announce two of its leaders have been named finalists for the 20th annual Prometheus Awards. Ryan Wood, chief information security officer (CISO), has been nominated for CISO of the Year, and VGM HOMELINK's Provider Portal has been recognized for Outstanding UX/CX Achievement of the Year. “Our two finalists represent the core of our technology and security initiatives at VGM Group,” said VGM Group CIO Jeremy Kauten. "We’re committed to continuous improvement and innovation, while maintaining the highest security standards for our industry. It all comes down to doing what’s right for the customer, and Ryan Wood and the VGM HOMELINK team are a testament to that." More about the awards: 

• The CISO of the Year award celebrates an exceptional CISO or equivalent executive role within the Iowa technology industry who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in cybersecurity. Wood joined VGM in 2024 and has been instrumental in evolving the company’s already high standards for security and compliance, it says. 

• The Outstanding UX/CX Achievement of the Year award is dedicated to companies/organizations who have developed outstanding solutions or applications that significantly enhance how users and customers interact with technology. VGM HOMELINK's Provider Portal has been recognized for revolutionizing the way providers interact with VGM HOMELINK, offering a seamless and intuitive interface that has greatly improved efficiency and satisfaction. The portal was developed in collaboration with Lean Techniques, a trusted development partner whose agile approach and deep technical expertise helped bring the vision to life. 

“VGM Group has been a leader in the healthcare space for nearly 40 years,” said VGM Group CEO Jeremy Stolz. "It’s a constantly evolving industry and one of the largest targets for cyberattacks. Ryan and HOMELINK being named Prometheus Award finalists exemplifies VGM Group’s commitment to advancing the healthcare industry and positively impacting the quality of life of patients.” Winners will be announced at the 20th Annual Prometheus Awards on Nov. 6, at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines. 

Lifeway Mobility expands into Wisconsin 

MILWAUKEE, Ill. – Lifeway Mobility is opening a new location in Milwaukee, its first in Wisconsin, to serve the greater Milwaukee and Madison metro areas, as well as the surrounding areas in southeastern Wisconsin. “We’re thrilled to officially expand our coverage in southeastern Wisconsin and offer our full range of accessibility solutions, while providing an outstanding customer experience,” said Jim Winski, general manager at Lifeway Mobility. “Our expansion in the state continues the company’s commitment to helping individuals and families with their mobility needs. Our local team is eager to help families across the Milwaukee & Madison metro areas improve their independence, safety, and quality of life at home.” Product offerings at the Milwaukee location will include stair lifts, wheelchair ramps and lifts, home elevators, transfer aids and bathroom safety solutions. 

• Related: Lifeway Mobility stretches along I-95 corridor  

NSM sponsors ADA accessible platforms at music festival  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Seating & Mobility (NSM) served as the official ADA sponsor of the 2025 Pilgrimage Music & Culture Festival in Franklin, Tenn., on Sept. 27-28. The company’s sponsorship included ADA accessible viewing platforms for attendees with disabilities. “Accessibility is at the heart of what we do, and the Pilgrimage Festival gives us a chance to bring that mission to life right here in our community,” said Crispin Teufel, NSM CEO. “We’re grateful to support an event that reflects the joy and inclusivity music should always inspire.” The platforms provided unobstructed views of the festival’s two main stages. NSM team members volunteered throughout the weekend to welcome and assist attendees at each platform. The company’s sponsorship also included event signage and exposure on the festival’s website, app and social media channels. It’s the sixth year that NSM has been a sponsor of the festival. 

WellSky launches next-generation intake solution enhanced with AI 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – WellSky has launched the next-generation WellSky CarePort Referral Intake solution. Building on its CarePort and Curaspan solutions, this new platform unites their most valued features with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered capabilities to streamline intake workflows and generate document summaries to enable faster referral response times, the company says. “In today’s fast-paced health care landscape, post-acute providers must move quickly and decisively to stay ahead,” said WellSky chairman and CEO Bill Miller. “That’s why we built the WellSky CarePort Referral Intake solution—to give providers a competitive edge that helps them grow their organizations while delivering better outcomes for the patients they serve.” The WellSky CarePort Referral Intake solution leverages WellSky Summarize, a WellSky SkySense AI tool that scans each referral packet, pulls out key patient information and turns it into a concise, easy-to-read summary within seconds, helping providers quickly assess patient needs and respond faster, the company says. Advanced analytics reveal engagement trends and conversion rates across referral partners, helping organizations identify patterns and refine strategies, it says. Beyond improving referral response speed, the WellSky CarePort Referral Intake solution streamlines intake from multiple referral sources, including eFax and other hospital care transition systems in addition to WellSky, ensuring flexibility and interoperability across workflows, it says.