In brief: Industry’s lobbying push, COPD’s non-adherence problem, CPAP’s new reality star

WASHINGTON – Registration is open for AAHomecare’s Washington Legislative Conference, May 13–14 in Washington, D.C. The Washington Legislative Conference will include a networking reception and dinner at the Capitol Hill Club on the evening of May 13, followed by a strategy breakfast on May 14 at the Hilton Washington, D.C. Capitol and a full day of meetings with legislators. “When Congress hears consistent, unified messages from providers across the country, they gain clarity on what is important to constituents,” the association stated. “They understand the stakes. They see the impact behind the current programs and policies, and they are far more likely to act.” AAHomecare will partner with The Advocacy Associates to coordinate meetings for attendees, and provide resources, talking points and education to ensure every meeting on Capitol Hill is impactful. The conference is free for AAHomecare members and $129 for non-members. FMI and to register, go here.

Standout Stand Up

This year’s Stand Up for Homecare fundraiser, held at the Palma PHX in Phoenix as part of Medtrade, raised more than $50,000 to support DME patient groups who lend very credible and effective support to some of the industry most important policy priorities. The event, held March 3 at Medtrade, drew more than 350 attendees.

Studies: Medication affordability leads to nonadherence

MIAMI – Medication nonadherence among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a result of lack of affordability and lack of knowledge about medications, among other factors, according to two new studies published in the January 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation. This leads to increased exacerbations and faster lung function decline, researchers say.

In one of the new studies, researchers examined a group of 2,521 participants from the COPD Genetic Epidemiology (COPDGene) study, who completed social and economic surveys. Cost-related nonadherence was reported in 16.2% (408) of those participants. These individuals had either not filled a prescription or taken less medication because of expense or lack of coverage. Of those, 93.5% had some form of health insurance.

“There are a variety of factors that can cause medication nonadherence,” said Rajat Suri, M.D., M.S., of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at University of California San Diego and lead author of the study. “For people with COPD and other chronic lung diseases, cost is a significant factor. Many COPD treatments are brand-name inhalers with high out-of-pocket costs. Broader policy changes are needed to make these medications more affordable.”

In the other new study, researchers conducted interviews with a small cohort of participants from a single academic medical center in Chicago. Of the 17 participants, nearly half reported not taking their medications as prescribed or using their inhalers incorrectly. Participants cited forgetfulness, physical limitations, limited understanding of how or when to use inhalers, difficulty accessing care, stigma and cost as barriers.

“Medication nonadherence is common, but the reasons behind it are highly individual,” said Stephanie L. LaBedz, M.D., of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy at University of Illinois Chicago and lead author of the study. “Physicians need to understand the full range of barriers their patients face so they can provide better education and connect them with support to ensure medications are used correctly.”

Parachute Health announces collaboration initiative

PHOENIX – Parachute Health has launched a new initiative designed to strengthen collaboration between home medical equipment (HME) providers and health plans through a unified digital authorization workflow. Parachute's collaborative workflow brings authorization directly into the order management experience providers already use. "This is an industry shift," said David Gelbard, CEO. "Nearly a decade ago, e-prescribing helped HME providers get paid faster by ensuring clinicians submitted clean, structured orders. Today, we're extending that same principle to authorization." Instead of navigating external portals or relying on repeated phone follow-ups, HME providers can submit authorization requests digitally, track real-time status updates, and tie authorizations back to the original order – reducing preventable rework and improving payment visibility, Parachute says. The initiative builds on the company’s existing ePrescribing and AI Intake capabilities, which unify digital and fax-based orders into a single workflow.

• Related: Payers are sending signals about faxes.

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy receives URAC accreditation

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy has received full accreditation from URAC under the Specialty Pharmacy, version 5.0 program. This URAC accreditation is effective from Jan. 1, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2029. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy says it is proud to work with URAC for these accreditations as they demonstrate the company’s commitment to providing patients with quality care. It says accreditation is key to the success of specialty pharmacies as it is a process through which health care organizations demonstrate compliance with national specialty pharmacy standards. “URAC accreditations reflect our commitment to ensuring patients have access to the highest standards of specialty care,” said Rina Shah, ‌PharmD, senior vice president, Enterprise Specialty Pharmacy, Walgreens. “Our No. 1 goal is supporting patients with complex and chronic conditions consistent care that meets them where they are and how they want to receive care.”

Reality TV star Jordan Faeth partners with cpap.com to raise awareness

DENVER – Jordan Faeth, known for his participation in the Netflix original series “Love is Blind,” has partnered with cpap.com to bring awareness to sleep apnea, amplifying educational campaigns across platforms to empower Americans to recognize the signs of sleep apnea and seek out diagnosis and treatment. Faeth is using his platform to debunk common misconceptions about sleep apnea and the therapies that help manage it, including discussing his use of CPAP therapy. His open dialogue about living with sleep apnea and his use of a CPAP machine has already sparked meaningful conversations in mainstream media. "The AirSense 11 is my most precious possession," says Faeth, sharing a testament to the impact a CPAP machine can have on the lives of those living with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the second most common sleep disorder in the world, and yet it's estimated that 80 to 90% of cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed, says cpap.com.

HME Medical Distribution recognizes women leaders, reaffirms commitment to equity

RICHMOND, B.C. – HME Medical Distribution hosted a Women in Leadership event March 2, bringing together leaders from across the organization to celebrate achievements, share insights and foster mentorship and collaboration. Women represent a significant portion of HME’s senior leadership team, says the company. “The medical equipment industry has traditionally been male-dominated, but we have been intentional about shifting that dynamic,” said Cameron Fleming, co-founder and chief information officer. “Ensuring female representation at senior levels brings better decision-making, stronger governance and a culture where talent can thrive.” The company maintains a strong pay-equity framework, with compensation practices grounded in role accountability, experience and performance, and regularly reviews compensation structures to ensure alignment with industry best practices.

Complex rehab legend Dave McCausland passes away

WASHINGTON – The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) is saddened to report that Jonathan David “Dave” McCausland passed away on Feb. 13, 2026, at the age of 68. McCausland retired from ROHO as vice president of government affairs after a distinguished career spent advocating for better access to life-changing medical equipment, NCART says. His work helped drive legislative changes that expanded Medicare coverage, improving the lives of countless people who depend on specialized seating and mobility solutions, it says. “Dave was not only a ROHO legend, he was also an industry legend,” said Todd Walling, president of Permobil Americas, which acquired ROHO in 2015. “He worked tirelessly to expand access and improve lives, and much of what exists today in our space carries his fingerprints. More importantly, he was a genuinely good man. He will be missed in a very real way.” Beyond his professional achievements, McCausland was a gifted musician, a devoted family man, and someone who brought joy, humor, and kindness wherever he went, NCART says. He is survived by his wife Kim, their sons David and Douglas, and a large, loving extended family, it says.