In brief: Mobility Act clears Senate, PBMs lock in, Reliable Medical buys, AAH surveys
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:49 AM CDT, Fri October 2, 2026
WASHINGTON – The Choices for Increased Mobility Act, H.R. 1703, passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on Sept. 30, clearing its final legislative hurdle.
The bill, which will create separate HCPCS codes for manual wheelchair bases made with titanium or carbon fiber and those made without those materials, now heads to the president for his signature, according to AAHomecare.
"This is a tremendous win for Medicare beneficiaries who rely on lightweight mobility technology," said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. “Getting here took sustained, relentless advocacy from providers, manufacturers, clinicians, and mobility stakeholders who refused to give up. This legislation will change lives, and I’m excited to see it finally pass the finish line."
Passage in the Senate is the cumulation of more than six years of advocacy by AAHomecare, VGM, NCART, complex rehab technology (CRT) stakeholders, and patient advocacy partners, including the ITEM Coalition.
A companion bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 1703, passed by voice vote in July, following unanimous approval by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May.
AMA analysis: PBM market concentration continues to rise
CHICAGO – A small number of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) account for an increasingly large share of the national market, according to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) annual analysis.
The top four PBMs collectively had 75% share of the national-level PBM market in 2024, an increase from 70% in 2022, according to the analysis.
“Competitive PBM and prescription drug plan markets help patients get the medications they need at a fair price,” said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. “But our analysis shows that a small number of PBMs account for a growing share of the market, while most local PBM markets remain highly concentrated and most prescription drug benefits are managed by vertically integrated insurers and PBMs. These trends warrant closer scrutiny, greater transparency and stronger accountability to ensure PBM markets serve patients rather than reinforce the market power of large healthcare companies.”
Key findings from the analysis include:
- In 2024, the four largest PBMs by national market share were OptumRx (23%), Express Scripts (23%), CVS/Caremark (18%) and Prime Therapeutics (11%).
- In 2022, the top four were CVS/Caremark (21%), OptumRx (21%), Express Scripts (17%) and Prime Therapeutics (10%).
- Among these companies, Express Scripts had the largest increase, rising from 17% in 2022 to 23% in 2024. CVS/Caremark had the largest decrease, shrinking from 21% in 2022 to 18% in 2024.
- Locally, 94% (32) of PBM markets were highly concentrated in 2024 according to thresholds set by federal antitrust guidelines, an increase from 82% (28) in 2022.
The analysis also found significant vertical integration, with each of the 10 largest PBMs sharing ownership with health insurers.
- Nationally in 2024, 69% of people with commercial or Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage were enrolled with an insurer that was vertically integrated with a PBM.
- The vertically integrated share was higher in Part D than in commercial insurance (73% vs. 67%).
- Locally in 2024, an average of 67% of people with prescription drug insurance were covered by an insurer that shared ownership with a PBM.
- There was wide variation among local regions with some having little vertical integration between insurers and PBMs, while others are almost entirely vertically integrated.
The AMA findings add to recent research indicating the acquisition of PBMs by health insurers can harm consumers by increasing costs, limiting competition and creating incentives to favor the insurer's own interests. Insurer acquisition of PBMs was shown to be associated with higher premiums for competing health plans, with no evidence that savings from the acquisition were passed through to enrollees as lower premiums. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also raised concerns about how PBM concentration and vertical integration can affect independent pharmacies and patients’ access to prescription drugs.
Read the analysis here.
AAHomecare launches surveys on state licensure, Humana audits
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare is launching a nationwide supplier survey to assess the ability of DMEPOS suppliers to access state licensure requirements. The National Provider Enrollment (NPE) contractors are updating their licensure databases with significant updates on state licensure requirements. Why it’s urgent, AAHomecare says: Licensure requirements vary by location and product category, and suppliers planning to bid in Round 2028 must be appropriately licensed in the product category they are bidding. The association will use the information to engage the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and legislators. With the bidding window expected to open soon, now is the time for suppliers to share any challenges in preparing for Round 2028, AAHomecare says. Responses are due Oct. 15. Take the survey.
AAHomecare is also conducting a survey to determine the impact of Humana’s recently announced large-scale Special Investigations Unit (SIU) audits of DMEPOS providers in multiple states. Several AAHomecare members have reported receiving a significant volume of audit requests beginning in mid-August. This survey will help the association determine the impact of these audits across the country as it engages Humana and CMS on the issue. Providers should check Availity to see whether you have been affected by these audits. Responses are due oct. 15. Take the survey.
Henry Schein marks 25 years of caring
MELVILLE, N.Y. – Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein’s global corporate citizenship program, is celebrating a quarter century of bringing together Team Schein members, customers, supplier partners, health care professionals, nonprofit organizations and communities to help make the world healthier. Henry Schein Cares reflects the company’s broader approach to corporate citizenship through five interconnected pillars:
- Catalyzing healthcare access;
- Advancing policies, solutions & innovations;
- Relationship building for change;
- Empowering Team Schein; and
- Sustaining the planet.
Since its formal launch in 2001, Henry Schein Cares has contributed more than $285 million in cash and donated products, collaborated with more than 5,000 charitable partners worldwide, delivered over 100,000 hygiene kits through its We Care Global Challenge, supported more than 75,000 students globally through its Back to School program, and much more.
“Helping health happen has been at the core of our purpose since Henry and Esther Schein founded the Company more than 94 years ago,” said Fred Lowery, CEO of Henry Schein. “For the past 25 years, Henry Schein Cares formally brought the philosophy of ‘doing well by doing good’ to life, harnessing the power of partnerships to strengthen healthcare and communities around the world. As we look to the next 25 years and beyond, together we will continue to build on that legacy to help create a healthier future for all.”
To learn more about the impact of Henry Schein Cares, signature programs, partnerships and sustainability initiatives, visit the 2025 Cares Report and the Henry Schein Cares 25-Year Rewind.
Mobility City welcomes two new franchises
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Mobility City Holdings in September announced the opening of Mobility City of Acton, Mass., and Mobility City of Murray, Ky., expanding the company's ability to serve seniors, veterans, caregivers and people with disabilities throughout both regions. Mobility City currently serves customers through more than 68 locations nationwide and has established a long-term vision of expanding its footprint to approximately 300 territories across the United States. “Our goal is simple: wherever people depend on mobility equipment, we want a Mobility City close enough to help,” said Diane Baratta, CEO of Mobility City Holdings. “Every new showroom closes another gap in our national coverage while giving customers something very important. Now they will have a knowledgeable local owner and technician they can turn to when they need help with mobility equipment repair.” Mobility City of Acton is owned by Clem and Gordon, who bring more than four decades of combined experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Mobility City of Murray is owned and operated by David and Elise Kohl.
sovaSage upgrades Jeannie with agentic AI
PITTSBURGH – sovaSage has advanced its agentic AI strategy with the latest evolution of Jeanie, its AI-powered patient management platform for sleep therapy. Following a successful controlled market release, Jeanie can now handle incoming and outgoing patient calls and schedule virtual appointments, marking the next phase in a long-term development strategy aimed at improving patient engagement and access to support, the company says. “Agentic AI has always been part of where we believed intelligent patient management needed to go,” said CEO William Kaigler. “But our vision has never been about removing people from patient care. It is about using intelligence to make support more immediate, personalized and accessible, while making it easier to bring human expertise into the journey when it is needed." sovaSage plans to continue expanding Jeanie’s agentic AI capabilities through a phased development and validation process.
- Related: sovaSage launched Jeannie in 2023.
Ottobock pays settlement fee to Cranial Technology to resolve litigation
AUSTIN, Texas – Ottobock has announced that it has resolved its intellectural property (IP) litigation with Cranial Technologies through an agreement that includes a confidential settlement fee. Ottobock has also removed the MyCRO Band cranial helmet product from its U.S. portfolio and has agreed not to produce such devices in the U.S., including 3D printed cranial orthotic devices. Ottobock says the settlement does not constitute, and should not be construed as, an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company. Ottobock says it remains committed to serving clinicians and patients through innovative prosthetic and orthotic solutions aligned with its long-term strategic priorities.
Reliable Medical enters three new states
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Reliable Medical has acquired Action Seating & Mobility, a Tulsa, Okla.-based provider of complex rehab technology (CRT) with locations in Oklahoma, Colorado and Arkansas. The deal marks Reliable’s first foray into the three states. “(Action Seating & Mobility founder Mike Harris) has built something special in Action – a business people trust because of how it treats them, not just what it sells them,” said Charles Sergeant, CEO of Reliable. “Bringing that team into Reliable opens up real growth potential for us across Oklahoma, Arkansas and Colorado.” Reliable Medical partnered with Gauge Capital earlier this year to access growth capital and recapitalize the business. Founded in 2007, Action Seating & Mobility has grown into one of the leading CRT providers in the region, Reliable Medical says. “Since we started Action, our focus has always been on being responsive to the patients and referral partners who depend on us,” said Harris. “Reliable shares that same commitment to patients, and this partnership gives our team more resources to keep growing without losing what makes Action different.”
Mobility City to host franchise owners during event in October
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Mobility City will host its Owners Conference at the Opal Grand Resort in Del Ray Beach, Fla., Oct. 14-17, bringing together nearly 200 franchise owners, executives, suppliers and industry leaders. A highlight of the four-day conference will be a panel discussion with five franchise owners to discuss maximizing showroom sales while driving margins, engaging with the company’s agencies to optimize value and return on investment (ROI), hiring and retaining A-player employees, increasing conversions on the phone and in the showroom, and expanding beyond equipment to include rentals, repairs and extended warranties. The event will also feature a karaoke contest, a ballroom expo with 29 exhibitors and a Mobility City Village. Special guests will include Scott Meuser of Pride Mobility Products and Rich Golden of Golden Technologies.
MobilityWorks earns 'Greatest Workplaces' recognition
RICHFIELD, Ohio – MobilityWorks has been named one of Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces, its third time earning the recognition. Newsweek publishes its America's Greatest Workplaces list each year to spotlight organizations across many industries that lead the way in building strong, people-first cultures. Making the list again reflects the everyday care and commitment of the people who make MobilityWorks successful, the company says. "Awards like this are earned by people, not companies," said Bryan Everett, CEO. "Our team members live our mission in the way they treat our clients and each other, and that is what earned us this recognition." With more than 90 locations across the country, MobilityWorks continues to invest in team member growth and work-life balance. The company says that commitment is guided by its "LOVE IT" core values: Listen, Ownership, Value, Engagement, Integrity and Teamwork. "Great workplaces are never finished, they are always growing,” said Christine Schaefer, chief human resources officer. “We stay focused on listening to our team members and giving them the support they need to thrive.”
GreenLight Mobility expands into Chicagoland
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – GreenLight Mobility, a home-modification franchise, has expanded into the northern suburbs of Chicago, signing a U.S. Navy veteran as its newest franchisee. Whitney Booth, who lives in Libertyville, purchased a GreenLight Mobility franchise to capitalize on her health care experience as an operations officer of a multi-practitioner medical practice, where she oversaw day-to-day operations that included vendor relationships and patient experience. “I am passionate about serving individuals with mobility restrictions and believe deeply that every person deserves the freedom to live safely and independently in the home they love,” said Booth. “I want to be part of a solution that enables people to continue to lead the life they want to in a safe and supported fashion. My focus is on genuine care and making every client interaction matter.” GreenLight offers a health care-centric franchise model that blends clinical insight with home modification expertise, allowing franchisees to serve a growing number of seniors and individuals with limited mobility. Assessments are performed by or under the direction of a licensed health care professional, such as a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) or a physical therapist (PT) – not a salesperson. GreenLight Mobility Libertyville will serve the northern Chicago suburbs, including most of Lake County, and some Cook and McHenry County communities.
Alameda HME recognized by the Consumer Ratings Institute for customer satisfaction
ALAMEDA, Calif. – Bay Area Medical Supply has been named Medical Supply Store of the Year in Alameda by the Consumer Ratings Institute. Bay Area Medical Supply offers seniors, caregivers and families across Northern California home medical equipment that supports safer, more independent living. The store specializes in CPAP and sleep therapy devices, premium home medical beds, power wheelchairs and mobility scooters, portable oxygen concentrators and diabetes care supplies, including continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Beyond its product catalog, the team assists with equipment fitting and selection, rentals, delivery and setup, repairs, home safety assessments, and grab bar installation. Founded in 2020 by siblings Stephen Zimmerman and Lauren Zimmerman Cook, Bay Area Medical Supply grew out of a family legacy in senior living and more than 30 years of combined experience in senior living and home care.
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