In brief: New bid delay effort, new CCS pilot, new Heartland rate 

WASHINGTON – Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is spearheading a congressional sign-on letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to delay the competitive bidding program (CBP) for ostomy and urological supplies, AAHomecare reports. 

Among the concerns with including these products in the CBP is the importance of proper fitting and individual support, the letter states: 

“Wound, ostomy, and continence clinicians across the country emphasize that these products cannot be managed with a 'one-size-fits-all' assumption. The precise fit and clinical appropriateness of these devices are matters of life and death.” 

The letter also shares the following concerns: 

• The abbreviated timeline, given these supplies have never been included in the CBP before. 

• The potential lack of significant cost savings. 

• The resulting preventable hospitalizations and complications. 

AAHomecare is asking durable medical equipment (DME) companies that provide these supplies to ask their representatives to join the sign-on letter. The association is asking them to share the link below (note:  you will not be able to open the link, but congressional staff can): 

https://quill.senate.gov/letters/letter/32069/opt-in/view/a5839a84-f078-42d4-a7ca-5ee6a0201d34/ 

The letter is expected to close Feb. 20. 

Related reading: 

• From October 2025: Efforts to exclude medical supplies from the next round of Medicare competitive bidding are gaining steam as lawmakers and patient advocacy groups join industry stakeholders in pulling at some of the many weak threads of the program.   

• From September 2025: Reps. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., and Greg Murphy, R-N.C., are leading a sign-on letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) not to move forward with expanding the competitive bidding program to include ostomy, urological and tracheostomy supplies. 

CMS provides clarity on extended telehealth flexibilities 

WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a new FAQ on telehealth flexibilities to its website, following the decision by Congress to extend these services through the end of 2027 as part of a recently passed federal funding bill. 

The FAQ, according to VGM & Associates, provides clarity on what the extension means for both providers and patients. 

"The FAQ outlines how telehealth services will continue operating under these extended rules – confirming that beneficiaries may keep accessing many telehealth services from their homes and that expanded prior and service allowances remain in place through 2027,” VGM stated in an email bulletin. 

Questions answered in the FAQ include: 

• Do Medicare beneficiaries need to be located in a rural area and in a medical facility in order to receive Medicare telehealth services? 

• Are there any restrictions on the types of practitioners who can furnish Medicare telehealth services? 

• Can outpatient therapy, diabetes self-management training and medical nutrition therapy services be furnished remotely by hospital staff to beneficiaries in their homes? 

• How does CMS make payment for telehealth services? 

Read the FAQ, posted Feb. 4, here.  

CCS, SweetSpot partner to expand access to care for people with diabetes  

Collaboration will power proactive diabetes management with seamless, at-home technology and virtual support from diabetes educators between in-office care  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – CCS and SweetSpot, a remote diabetes management company, are launching a new pilot program across select U.S. markets designed to expand access to remote care, improve clinical outcomes and support providers with scalable, preventive diabetes care solutions.  

By integrating SweetSpot’s monitoring tools and team of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCESs) directly into existing clinical workflows, the partnership aims to enhance both the patient and provider experience. 

“Diabetes care doesn’t stop when patients leave the clinic, but most practices lack the tools and bandwidth to proactively monitor who needs help and take action between in-office visits,” said Tony Vahedian, CEO of CCS. “By combining our trusted provider relationships and SweetSpot’s ability to support clinics in extending their capacity for remote care, we can help more people manage their diabetes in real time – without adding burden to clinicians.” 

CCS says the pilot, which will roll out in early 2026 and will focus on endocrinology clinics, represents a key step in its evolution from a traditional distributor to a next-generation chronic care partner. 

By partnering with SweetSpot, CCS will offer a more holistic way to monitor patients remotely, identify issues earlier, and support adherence between visits. SweetSpot will provide continuous glucose data review, personalized feedback, and virtual diabetes education between appointments, helping clinicians stay connected to patients. 

“SweetSpot empowers providers to give patients better care and continuous support in a scalable way,” said Stephen Von Rump, CEO of SweetSpot. “Partnering with CCS allows us to deliver even greater impact and address one of the biggest gaps in chronic disease management: what happens between appointments.” 

VERTESS: ‘We look forward to more wins in 2026’ 

Recent transactions include Gammie HomeCare to AdaptHealth 

FORT WORTH, Texas – VERTESS closed four sell-side advisory transactions in December 2025 and January 2026, underscoring continued momentum across the health care services and medical equipment sectors, it says. 

The transactions were: 

• Gammie HomeCare (https://gammie.com), a Hawaii-based durable medical equipment (DME) company, was acquired by AdaptHealth (https://adapthealth.com), a nationwide network of medical equipment providers. "It's important to stay the course when the transaction timeline is drawn out longer than anticipated,” said Managing Director and Partner Bradley Smith, who oversaw this transaction. “This closing demonstrates ongoing strategic expansion by national DME platforms seeking strong regional operators." 

• Foot Care Store, Inc. d/b/a Dia-Foot (https://dia-foot.com), a Florida-based diabetic shoe company, was acquired by Anodyne (https://www.anodyneshoes.com), a Wisconsin-based orthopedic footwear provider. This transaction was led by Managing Directors Bradley Smith and David Purinton. "With this merger, Dia-Foot will be able to expand its reach into new markets,” Smith said. “Anodyne has gained an established partner in the industry with a dedicated team in place." 

• RD Nutrition Consultants (https://www.rdnutritionconsultants.com), a nationwide nutrition consulting company, was acquired by Conscious Capital Growth (https://www.ccgro.com), a lower middle-market independent sponsor based in Arizona.  "I'm extremely pleased for both our client, Robert DeLair, and the buyer as this deal will allow the company to continue its impressive organic growth and better support its clients nationwide,” said Managing Director Gene Quigley. 

• Connecticut Mental Health Specialists (https://cmhsgroup.com), a Connecticut-based mental health services provider, was acquired by an individual buyer. "This deal reflects sustained demand for high-quality behavioral health platforms and founder-led practices,” said Managing Director David Purinton. “Dr. Cooper and his team have created an outstanding organization that will continue to provide essential services to its patients under new leadership." 

“VERTESS's deep sector expertise, active buyer relationships, and ability to achieve successful outcomes for clients is a testament to our exceptional team,” Managing Partner Vaughne Glennie said. “We are encouraged by the highly active market and look forward to more wins in 2026." 

McKesson reports flat revenues for Medical-Surgical segment 

Company advanced its spinoff of that segment by implementing transition service agreements 

IRVING, Texas – McKesson has reported $3 billion in revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 for its Medical-Surgical Solutions segment, a 1% increase, driven by higher volumes of specialty pharmaceuticals. 

For the segment, operating profit was $265 million, and adjusted segment operating profit was $265 million, a 10% decrease, driven by lower volumes across physician office settings and lower incidence of illness for the season. 

McKesson reported $106.2 billion in consolidated revenues, an 11% increase. 

Other financial results for the overall company: 

• Earnings per diluted share of $9.59 increased $2.64. 

• Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $9.34 increased 16%. 

• $1.2 billion of cash flow from operations and $1.1 billion of free cash flow. 

“McKesson delivered another strong quarter, extending the momentum we’ve built across the enterprise and demonstrating the impact of our disciplined execution,” said Brian Tyler, CEO. “Our results highlight the strength of our core distribution businesses and the meaningful progress we are making against our strategic priorities.”  

Among the company’s business highlights for the quarter: On Jan. 1, 2026, McKesson advanced its planned separation of the Medical-Surgical Solutions segment by implementing transition service agreements to support the business as it prepares to be an independent company. 

McKesson is raising and narrowing its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per diluted share guidance to $38.80 to $39.20 from the previous range of $38.35 to $38.85. 

VGM to offer special rate for Heartland Conference in honor of 25th anniversary 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its annual VGM Heartland Conference from June 8-10, in Waterloo, Iowa, and attendees can register for the event for a special, one-day anniversary rate of $225 on Feb. 25. This year’s agenda will feature more than 60 education sessions and panel discussions, with a "Heartland High” theme complete with class-reunion energy, school-spirit-inspired events and a celebration of 25 years of connection, education and industry pride. “Heartland has always been about community, and our 25th anniversary felt like the perfect time to return to our roots,” said Shanon Eckhardt, Heartland Conference Chair. “This year's ‘Heartland High’ theme brings a playful twist to the experience while keeping our mission front and center: bringing people together to learn, grow, solve challenges, and celebrate what makes serving this industry so rewarding.” After the opening‑day promotion on Feb. 25 of $225, standard registration pricing will resume on Feb. 26. 

• Heard at last year’s Heartland Conference: Sleep and tech experts at VGM & Associates, ACU-Serve and Synthpop told HME providers at the Heartland Conference in June that they have more communication tools at their disposal than ever for top-notch resupply programs.   

Convatec secures two contracts with Premier for ostomy solutions 

LONDON and BOSTON – Convatec has been awarded two group purchasing agreements (GPOs) in the enterostomal therapy products category with Premier effective April 1. 

• National agreement: The new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for enterostomal therapy products. 

• AscenDrive agreement: The AscenDrive program is designed to drive the highest-level commitment and savings for members through aggregated purchasing of high-quality products and services. By providing additional value to Premier contracted suppliers through volume and commitment, the program is expected to achieve best-in-market pricing. 

“At Convatec, our forever caring promise drives everything we do,” said Dan Yrigoyen, vice president for the U.S., Ostomy Care, at Convatec. “Through these new agreements with Premier, we’re making it easier for providers to access our trusted medical solutions for people living with an ostomy, including Convatec‘s dedicated me+ support program. Together, these agreements strengthen our focus on delivering high-quality ostomy solutions while providing Premier members with exceptional value and savings. We remain committed to helping people live confidently and improve health outcomes.” 

Charlotte, N.C.-based Premier says it unites providers, suppliers and payers to make health care better with national scale, smarter with actionable intelligence and faster with novel technologies. Last year, the company entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Patient Square Capital in a transaction valued at $2.6 billion.   

Alex Orthopedic buys Essential Medical Supply 

ARLINGTON, Texas – Alex Orthopedic has completed its asset purchase of Essential Medical Supply, bringing together two established manufacturers and distributors of mobility, comfort and wellness products, it says. The purchase also strengthens Alex Orthopedic’s product offerings and enhances its service capabilities for customers nationwide, it says. “By combining the experience and resources of both organizations, Alex Orthopedic expands its portfolio, while maintaining the quality, reliability and customer support both companies are known for,” said Ebrahim Lavi, president of Alex Orthopedic. “Customers can expect a seamless transition and continued access to trusted products, now supported by a broader range of solutions.” Alex Orthopedic is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Its suite of solutions also includes Jobri, Sport Seat, Cane Stay and Hermell Products. 

Valere Health integrates with 1 True Health 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Valere Health has announced a strategic partnership with 1 True Health, a digital health company that offers chronic care management through an AI Longevity Platform and 24x7x365 available care coordination. Through this integration, home medical equipment (HME) providers can seamlessly offer care management services to their patient population, with 1 True Health handling all clinical operations, billing and compliance requirements, while Valere’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered automation utility ensures efficient data flow and workflow automation. “Health care providers shouldn’t have to choose between operational efficiency and expanding their care capabilities,” said Dewey Roof, CEO of Valere Health. “Our partnership with 1 True Health represents the future of post-acute care: seamlessly connected systems that automate complexity while enabling providers to deliver higher-quality, more comprehensive patient care. Together, we’re giving HME providers the infrastructure and revenue they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.” According to the company, the integrated solution allows providers to: 

• Generate new revenue streams through reimbursed RPM, RTM, CCM and behavioral health services (Medicare, managed Medicare, and other payer programs) 

• Enhance patient engagement with continuous monitoring and clinical support 

• Improve health outcomes through proactive intervention and care coordination 

• Reduce operational burden with fully managed clinical services and automated workflows 

• Obtain clinical results that unlock better payer rates by generating clinical outcome data that strengthens your position in payer rate and plan negotiations 

• Obtain better payer rates and plan negotiations by leveraging defensible clinical outcomes data that strengthens your position 

• Ensure compliance with all payer requirements and documentation standards 

The integrated Valere + 1 True Health solution is available to HME providers nationwide. 

Mackworth USA receives investment to shore up manufacturing in the US 

O’FALLON, Mo. - Mackworth USA, a manufacturer of safe patient handling equipment and mobility solutions, has received a significant strategic investment from U.K.-based Prism Healthcare Group. The investment will allow Mackworth USA to establish its own U.S. manufacturing operations, as well as deliver continued innovation across its product portfolio. “This investment represents a powerful moment for American manufacturing,” said Charley Wallace, CEO of Mackworth USA. “Mackworth USA has always believed in designing and building high quality products here in the United States, and this partnership gives us the momentum to scale, innovate and create new opportunities. Building on our shared Prism heritage, we’re proud to lead the next chapter of growth and deliver world-class solutions made in the USA.” The investment marks a major milestone to bolster growth across Mackworth USA’s facilities, enabling the company to progress from U.S.-based assembly operations toward the planned development of domestic manufacturing capability. This includes production facilities, building operational capacity and advancing product innovation across its ceiling lifts, gantry systems and patient handling products. “Investing In Mackworth USA allows us to deepen our commitment to US manufacturing and expand our ability to serve customers across North America,” said Jason Leek, CEO of Prism Healthcare Group. “This partnership positions Mackworth USA at the forefront of innovation and strongly aligns with our shared vision of delivering exceptional care solutions globally. The investment builds on the shared heritage between Mackworth USA and Prism Healthcare and creates new opportunities for innovation. Together, Mackworth USA’s US manufacturing strength and Prism Healthcare’s global expertise will drive the development of advanced solutions for hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools and home care environments.” 

Responsive Respiratory receives award for operational excellence 

ST. LOUIS – Responsive Respiratory has been honored by Estes Express, a large, privately-held freight transportation company in North America, with a Customer Excellence Award for its best-in-class operational performance during fiscal year 2025. “This honor reflects the dedication of our team and their daily commitment to exceeding the expectations of all of our stakeholders – both internal and external,” notes Steve Bannon, president. “Operational excellence is not a one-time achievement – it’s how we run the business every day. We are proud of the systems, processes and people that make this possible.” Responsive Respiratory says the award underscores its unwavering focus on reliability, precision and partnership. Responsive Respiratory recently added Todd Derickson to the executive team as director of sales.