In brief: Fraud resource center returns, Aetna settles claims, REMSleep names new CEO
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:32 AM CDT, Fri March 13, 2026
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Government Relations has refreshed and reintroduced its Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA) Reporting Resource Center to help protect the integrity of the DMEPOS industry and reinforce its commitment to ethical, compliant care.
The enhanced online hub includes:
- Direct links to every state’s fraud reporting system
- CMS federal reporting tools and guidance
- Educational content to help suppliers identify, prevent and report suspected FWA
- Compliance resources for suppliers, partners and stakeholders
“As the current administration increases its focus on fraud prevention efforts, it is more important than ever for the DMEPOS industry to demonstrate leadership and partnership,” VGM stated. “By proactively supporting fraud prevention, we send an unmistakable message: Fraud, waste, and abuse have no place in home medical equipment, and we stand united in upholding the highest standards of patient care.”
Most recently, in late February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a six-month moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for DMEPOS suppliers in a move the agency says is needed to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in the program.
VGM says it has been working to prevent fraud and abuse in the DMEPOS industry for nearly 20 years by collaborating with CMS and lawmakers and participating in industry efforts like the Fraud Eradication Advisory Team (FEAT).
“Fraud prevention continues to be a top priority for federal agencies, and the durable medical equipment community understands the critical importance of transparency and accountability,” VGM stated. “While a small number of bad actors have drawn negative attention in recent years, the overwhelming majority of DME suppliers are highly ethical, mission-driven professionals who provide essential equipment and services to patients every single day. VGM remains committed to making that distinction clear to both policymakers and the public.”
- Visit the FWA Reporting Resource Center here.
Aetna agrees to $117.7M settlement to resolve False Claims Act allegations
WASHINGTON – Aetna has agreed to pay $117.7 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting or failing to withdraw inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis codes for its Medicare Advantage plan enrollees to increase its payments to Medicare, according to U.S. Department of Justice.
The government alleges that Aetna:
- Submitted inaccurate and untruthful patient diagnosis data to CMS to inflate the risk adjustment payments it received from CMS;
- Failed to withdraw the inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis data and repay CMS; and
- Falsely certified in writing to CMS that the data was accurate and truthful.
“The government pays private insurers over $530 billion each year to care for Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “We will continue to hold accountable insurers that knowingly submit inaccurate or unsupported diagnoses to improperly inflate reimbursement.”
According to the government:
For payment year 2015, Aetna operated a “chart review” program in which it paid diagnosis coders to review medical records (also known as “charts”) and identify all medical conditions that the charts supported. Aetna relied on the results of those chart reviews to submit additional diagnosis codes to CMS to obtain additional payments. However, Aetna’s chart reviews did not substantiate some diagnosis codes previously reported by Aetna to CMS. Aetna did not delete or withdraw those diagnosis codes, which would have required Aetna to reimburse CMS. The United States alleges that Aetna used the results of its chart reviews to identify instances where Aetna could seek additional payments from CMS while ignoring those same results when they indicated Aetna was overpaid.
The settlement also resolves further allegations that, for payment years 2018 to 2023, Aetna knowingly submitted or failed to delete or withdraw inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis codes for morbid obesity to increase the payments it received from CMS for beneficiaries enrolled in its MA plans. The medical records for individuals diagnosed as morbidly obese typically include one or more Body Mass Index (BMI) recordings. Aetna submitted or failed to delete inaccurate and untruthful diagnosis codes for morbid obesity for individuals whose recorded BMI was inconsistent with a diagnosis of morbid obesity, and these codes increased the payments made by CMS.
The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, a former Aetna risk-adjustment coding auditor, to receive a $2,012,500 share of the settlement amount.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
VA, DOJ expand legal authority to improve health care for veterans
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have signed a memo of understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for the government to improve care for veterans, the agencies say. The MOU gives the DOJ the authority to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys, giving them the legal authority to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings in cases where a legal decision-maker is required for post-acute transitions of care for veterans. “The Department of Justice is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support our nation's brave veterans by ensuring that they have the best legal resources available when it comes to making medical decisions and receiving timely care,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We owe our veterans a debt we can never fully repay – but we can give them the support they deserve.” Among other things, a legal guardian or conservator can help veterans avoid unwarranted continued hospitalization, protect their rights, and promote appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate. The Trump administration says this is the latest move it has made to improve benefits and services for veterans:
- It has completed 82,083,918 direct care appointments in FY2025, up 4.1% from FY2024.
- It has offered veterans more than 2.2 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening and weekend appointments are giving veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
- It has opened 33 new health care clinics during the second Trump Administration, expanding health care access for veterans around the country.
- It has reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for VA benefits by 64% (vs. 24% during the Biden Administration).
Honest Medical donates mobility equipment, incontinence supplies
OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Honest Medical has donated $15,000 worth of rollators, wheelchairs, walkers and more to Interfaith Community Services in Escondido, Calif. The company has also contributed $8,000 in adult incontinence supplies to the San Diego Food Bank. "As a company rooted in community health, nothing is more fulfilling than seeing these essential healthcare products go directly into the hands of those who need them most,” said CEO Mike Greenan. “Donating equipment and supplies to local nonprofits not only strengthens the organizations doing this vital work, it reminds our team of why we do what we do – to improve quality of life, support caregivers, and make healthcare essentials accessible in the places we call home." Through these recent donations, as well as it ongoing work with non-profits that serve local communities, Honest Medical is demonstrating continued commitment to providing access to essential medical products and equipment that improve quality of life for everyone, especially those in need, it says. The company has made donations to both organizations in the past. In late 2025, it donated more than $10,000 in disposable diapers for both infants and adults to the San Diego Food Bank.
NHIA releases state of home infusion report
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has released its latest report on the home and alternate site infusion industry’s market position based on claims data from a three-year timeframe. Infusion Industry Trends shows the industry’s evolution across therapy categories and payer environments, as well as provides insight into emerging market dynamics, operations pressures and strategic opportunities, the NHIA says. “Home and alternate site infusion continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability amid the evolving demands of care delivery,” said NHIA CEO and President Connie Sullivan. “With a growing pipeline of complex infused therapies and continued emphasis on value, home infusion is playing a more central role in improving access, quality and system efficiency. At the same time, the report findings underscore meaningful opportunities to better align policy with the realities of modern infusion care – particularly with Medicare.” The report groups therapies offered by providers into five categories: anti-infectives, home enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, specialty infusion, and immune globulin. It also uses data to draw out the differences in reimbursement between commercial payers and Medicare, and highlights the areas in which Medicare coverage is fragmented and incomplete. The report is available for free to NHIA members and can be purchased by non-members at nhia.org/trends.
HME360, Harmony AI partner to reduce risk of consignment closets
HOUSTON – HME360, an inventory optimization platform for home medical equipment (HME) providers, has announced a strategic collaboration with Harmony AI, an agentic workflow automation platform, to redefine how consignment closets operate. Despite advances across health care, many consignment closets still rely on paper processes, delayed documentation, and manual data entry, leading to inventory discrepancies, write-off risk, and an administrative burden for providers and clinical partners alike, the company says. “Consignment closets have historically been a necessary but problematic strategy – often a blind spot within an increasingly sophisticated and rapidly evolving HME workflow environment,” said John Skoro, co-founder of HME360. “As the industry modernizes, providers need these access points to operate with the same intelligence, accountability, and real-time precision as the rest of their business. This initiative is about elevating consignment closets to that standard.” The HME360 and Harmony AI collaboration introduces an AI-enabled approach that replaces fragmented workflows with a modern digital experience that improves visibility, accountability and operational control, the company says. Harmony reads faxed referrals, verifies patient benefits and qualifies orders to streamline intake. “Manual intake has been one of the biggest barriers to efficient consignment workflows,” said Siddharth Jindal, CEO of Harmony. “By automating intake, from reading faxed referrals to verifying benefits and qualifying orders in minutes, we unlock HME360's fully digital consignment workflow, enabling insurance-aware, revenue-ready deliveries in near real time.” The first implementation is launching with Independent Medical, an existing HME360 customer operating multiple consignment closets. The rollout begins with an initial hospital location, with plans to expand across additional sites.
Robooter launches DTC website for two power wheelchairs
WILMINGTON, Del. – Robooter, a global mobility technology company with customers in more than 65 countries, has officially launched a direct-to-consumer website in the U.S., giving customers here direct access to the company’s FDA-cleared power wheelchairs, along with customer support, warranty coverage and resources all in one place. Two models are immediately available for purchase on the site:
- The Robooter E80 Carbon Fiber Power Wheelchair; and
- The Robooter E60 Pro A All Terrain Power Wheelchair.
“Launching Robooter.us marks a meaningful step in making our products more accessible to people across the United States,” said a company spokesperson. “We built this platform to make it easy for riders, caregivers, and families to find the right chair, get their questions answered, and feel confident in their purchase from the first click to long after delivery.”
Both wheelchairs are FDA cleared Class II medical devices, backed by a one-year limited warranty, with free shipping.
Looking ahead, Robooter plans to expand its U.S. product lineup in Q4 2026, with new models in development that are intended to incorporate advanced smart features, including assisted driving concepts.
- Related: Golden partners with Robooter.
REMSleep names new CEO
BLACKSHEAR, Ga. – REMSleep has announced the passing of its founder and CEO, Thomas Wood, and the appointment of its new CEO, Jeffrey Marshall. Wood, who founded REMSleep and served as chairman of the board and CEO, passed away on Feb. 26. "Tom was more than a founder, he was a visionary and patient advocate who believed that sleep apnea patients deserved better options," said Anita Michaels, who has been elected chairman of the board. "He spent years raising funding to build DeltaWave, complete the FDA clearance process and built REMSleep from the ground up. His legacy lives on in the DeltaWave technology and in our commitment to bringing this innovation to the patients who need it." Following Wood's passing, the board has been reconstituted to ensure continuity and strong governance:
- As Wood’s sister, COO and now the company’s majority shareholder, Michaels brings a deep understanding of REMSleep’s history, technology and mission. She became COO in 2025, working closely with Tom to strengthen the company’s infrastructure, assemble the right team, and position REMSleep for the successful launch of the DeltaWave Nasal Pillow System in the U.S. market.
- Marshall brings extensive industry experience in sales, marketing, business development and commercial strategy to lead REMSleep’s next phase of growth. He has served as a strategy consultant to REMSleep since September 2025 and has been a pivotal contributor to the company’s strategic plan.
- Alexander Johnson, board member, has been appointed as director. He has served as a strategic advisor to REMSleep and brings expertise in corporate restructuring, capital markets, and public company compliance.
"This transition is a pivotal moment for REMSleep," Marshall said. "Tom built the foundation achieving FDA clearance, Medicare approval, and a differentiated product. Now it's our job to execute the commercial opportunity he created. The DeltaWave technology is ready for market, our infrastructure is in place, and we're focused on revenue generation and sustainable growth."
Glooko integrates with Roche Accu-Chek CGM
GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Glooko has announced that the Glooko platform will integrate with the Roche Accu-Chek SmartGuide continuous glucose monitor (CGM) solution across select European countries, subject to local availability. The company says this integration will enable people using the Accu-Chek SmartGuide CGM to bring their data into Glooko, alongside data from other connected diabetes and health monitoring devices. It says this can reduce the administrative burden for health care teams, allow for the viewing of key insights in one place, and support effective collaboration between patient visits. “Diabetes data is only powerful when it’s accessible, connected and easy to act on,” said Mike Alvarez, CEO of Glooko. “By integrating Roche’s Accu-Chek SmartGuide CGM into the Glooko platform, we’re expanding choice for people with diabetes and clinicians. Now, they can bring Accu-Chek SmartGuide CGM data together with the rest of the patient’s health and medication therapy context, in a single experience designed to support better, more informed decisions.” Glooko is the first diabetes data management platform outside of Roche’s ecosystem that will integrate with the Accu-Chek SmartGuide CGM.
National Sleep Foundation, Tempur-Pedic collaborate on research
WASHINGTON – The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) will combine its nationally representative research with data from Tempur-Pedic’s Sleeptracker-AI to get at the root of what is keeping Americans from the sleep they need, it says. “Sleep disruption doesn’t have one face, it looks different depending on who you are, where you live, and how you sleep,” said John Lopos, NSF CEO. “These new data will contribute to a better look of what is getting between Americans and the healthy sleep they need.” In addition to the upcoming research, Tempur-Pedic is a Gold sponsor of National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week campaign (March 8-14). NSF’s annual campaign emphasizes the importance of sleep to health and well-being and encourages the public to prioritize getting enough of the quality sleep they need.
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