In brief: Indie provider’s role, Nonin’s milestone, Cardinal’s new chair
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:04 AM CDT, Fri March 27, 2026
YARMOUTH, Maine – MiraVista is hosting “The Once and Future Role of the Independent DME Supplier” on March 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET. The free webinar will bring together a cross-disciplinary panel of experts to discuss a regulatory environment that the company says increasingly and incorrectly brands small and independent DME suppliers as core causes of fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system. The company says the discussion is aimed at the broader narrative that consolidation and elimination of small suppliers is the practical answer to health care cost containment. “Independent suppliers are presented in CMS statements as if they are the sole source of the industry’s problems and consolidation is the obvious cure,” said MiraVista’s Operations Member Derrick Stark. “That framing ignores the value smaller companies bring to patients, referral sources and communities. We assembled a panel that could examine this issue from multiple angles and give the industry a more balanced conversation than the usual talking points.”
Panelists include:
- Jeffrey Baird, Brown & Fortunato (healthcare law)
- Andrea Stark, MiraVista (reimbursement policy)
- Heather Davis, Visionera (value-based care and insurance contracting)
- Susean Nichols, Millennium Management Services (DME accreditation)
- Dawn Clayton, Chapman RCM Group (DME medical billing)
- Derrick Stark, MiraVista (moderator)
MiraVista says this event is for DME owners, operators, managers, billers, and other industry leaders who want a more grounded discussion of where the market is heading and what is at stake for independent suppliers.
Registration for the free webinar is now open at:
https://miravistallc.com/product/the-once-and-future-role-of-the-independent-dme-supplier/
Cork Medical named best place to work
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Cork Medical, a provider of wound care solutions, has made the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work in Indiana list. These awards recognize and celebrate businesses for creating cultures that attract and retain employees. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Cork Medical has built a culture that cultivates employee growth and fosters opportunities for employees to have fulfilling careers centered around their mission of improving lives. This includes:
- The RISE Program: A new employee-focused personal and professional development platform consisting of six key pillars – mental health, physical health, financial health, skill building, career growth, and leadership – to support employees in their pursuit of discovering their best selves.
- Community Service Program that provides employees with eight hours of volunteer time off.
- Career growth opportunities: Currently, the company is hiring within the clinical and operational teams.
“This recognition is a direct reflection of the culture we are intentionally building,” says Mike Cates, Cork Medical president. “Culture does not happen by accident. It is shaped by the standards we set, the accountability we reinforce, the balance we model, and the compassion we demonstrate in daily interactions. While this milestone is worth celebrating, it also serves as motivation. We will continue listening, evolving, and strengthening our culture so it remains one where people can thrive and do their best work.”
The top companies in the state were selected by the Workforce Research Group after receiving employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys.
Nonin Medical marks 40 years in business
MINNEAPOLIS – Nonin Medical is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, marking four decades of offering patient monitoring solutions, including the first pulse oximeter, to clinicians, sleep specialists, home care providers, respiratory therapists, and OEM customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1986 by engineer and entrepreneur Phil Isaacson. “From the very beginning, our goal was to give clinicians data they could depend on without question,” said Isaacson. “Trust is earned through consistency, evidence and performance. For four decades, every product we have ever built starts and ends with those standards.” Isaacson serves as executive chairman of the board and will continue to serve as executive chairman and chief technology officer. In late 2025, the company named Todd Austin as CEO.
Incannex partners with AASM to sponsor research grant
MELBOURNE and NEW YORK – Incannex Healthcare has joined the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Foundation’s Corporate Recognition Program and will sponsor a Focused Projects Grant for Junior Investigators dedicated to the diagnosis, management and treatment of sleep apnea to be awarded in 2026. Incannex says the partnership reflects its commitment to the broader sleep medicine community as it continues to advance IHL-42X, its lead investigational oral fixed-dose combination of dronabinol and acetazolamide designed to target underlying mechanisms and act synergistically in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). “Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious, chronic condition that remains substantially undertreated – and for too many patients, existing options are simply not sufficient,” said Dr. Luigi Barbato, MD, chief medical officer. “IHL-42X is designed to address that unmet need, and this partnership with the AASM Foundation reflects our deep commitment to the broader scientific community working to change that. Supporting the next generation of sleep medicine researchers is something we are genuinely proud to do, and we look forward to contributing to the advancement of the field alongside our own clinical program.” Incannex says the past year has been one of the most productive in its history, marked by a series of meaningful milestones, including positive Phase 2 clinical trial results that demonstrated statistically significant improvements in OSA outcomes, providing strong validation of IHL-42X's therapeutic potential and setting a compelling foundation.
Massachusetts adopts resolution to raise awareness of sleep apnea
BOSTON – The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a resolution, introduced by State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, recognizing March as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month. Gov. Maura Healey also recently issued an official proclamation further acknowledging the holiday, supporting a larger Sleep Apnea Awareness Initiative. Together, these actions make Massachusetts the third state to join Daybreak's growing national movement to bring awareness to the 83.7 million Americans affected by one of the country’s most underdiagnosed health crises. “The Massachusetts House of Representatives’ recognition of Sleep Apnea Awareness Month helps shine a critical light on the importance of understanding, diagnosing, and treating sleep apnea,” said Gonzalez. California and Arizona also recently adopted resolutions. Daybreak, a provider of a non-CPAP treatment for OSA, is partnering with states, alongside community health partners Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero and SALEF. “Sleep apnea is one of the most serious undiagnosed health crises in America and today, Massachusetts acknowledged what millions of families experience daily,” said Wesley Lones, founder of Daybreak. “Our mission is clear: increase awareness, expand access to diagnosis and treatment, and ensure everyone affected gets the care they deserve. This resolution is another step forward, but there is still much more work to do.”
Cardinal Health names board chair
DUBLIN, Ohio – Cardinal Health has announced its board of directors has appointed Patricia A. Hemingway Hall to succeed Gregory B. Kenny, who is retiring, effective immediately. "On behalf of the board and our management team, we are deeply grateful to Greg for his leadership and lasting contributions to the company," said Jason Hollar, CEO. "We look forward to Pat's continuation of Greg's legacy as a steady, principled leader as we execute our strategic priorities with a focus on strong governance and long-term value creation." Hemingway Hall has served on the board since 2013, including as chair of the Governance and Sustainability Committee for nearly seven years. In addition to her knowledge of the company's business, governance framework and strategic priorities, she brings deep health care leadership experience as the former president and CEO of Health Care Service Corporation, the nation's largest mutual health insurer.
Doc sentenced in telemedicine scheme, ordered to pay restitution
BOSTON – An Alabama-based doctor has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for a $2.7 million telemedicine fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) and genetic testing primarily used to detect mutations in genes that could indicate a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers. Tommie Robinson, 44, was sentenced on March 20 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton in Boston. Robinson was also ordered to pay $2,784,733.49 in restitution. Between December 2018 and March 2021, Robinson worked with telemedicine companies to sign medical documentation, including doctor orders, for medically unnecessary DME and genetic testing. The orders Robinson signed were pre-populated based on telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries. Robinson generally did not contact the beneficiaries himself and had no provider-patient relationship with the beneficiaries. DME suppliers and laboratories ultimately submitted claims to Medicare for these signed orders. As a result of Robinson’s participation in this scheme, the suppliers and laboratories submitted more than $2.7 million in claims to Medicare for DME and genetic testing that were medically unnecessary and based on false documentation.
Apnimed receives $100M for joint venture
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Apnimed, a pharmaceutical company developing an oral drug product candidate, AD109, that is designed to address a root cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), today announced that Shionogi & Co. Ltd (Shionogi) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Apnimed's 50% ownership of Shionogi-Apnimed Sleep Science, LLC (SASS). SASS is a joint venture initially established in 2023, and upon the closing of this transaction, SASS will be wholly-owned by Shionogi. Under the terms of the agreement, Apnimed will receive a $100 million upfront cash payment, a $50 million cash payment upon the achievement of a development milestone related to SASS-002 (sulthiame) and tiered royalties on future commercial sales of any products arising from SASS intellectual property. "This transaction represents a strategic monetization of SASS assets to strengthen our balance sheet and enable us to further focus on the advancement and planned commercialization of our lead product candidate AD109 which has an expected NDA submission date to the FDA in the second quarter of 2026," said Larry Miller, MD, CEO of Apnimed. "We are proud of the valuable collaboration we have built with Shionogi over the past three years and are encouraged by the progress of the SASS programs. We look forward to their continued development under Shionogi's leadership." The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.
NGS to rebrand to Wellpoint Federal
WASHINGTON – National Government Services will begin operating as Wellpoint Federal effective April 1. During this transition, users may still see National Government Services referenced online or in existing printed materials. There are no immediate changes to provider portals, NGSConnex and NGSMedicare.com. “Together, we are committed to a seamless, well-coordinated transition, ensuring uninterrupted service, clear communication and continued operational excellence for our customers, providers, beneficiaries and teams,” the company said. National Government Services will provide updates as changes are introduced throughout the year.
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