In brief: New issue brief on bid program, Viemed boost, AdvaMed support
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:43 AM CST, Fri November 7, 2025
SACRAMENTO – Proposed reforms to the next round of the competitive bidding program (CBP) for DMEPOS don’t go far enough to fix fundamental flaws, according to a new issue brief from the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the Pacific Research Institute, a nonpartisan, free market think tank.
“Medicare’s current broken bidding process drives up taxpayer costs, promotes the use of lower-quality equipment that doesn’t serve patients well, and results in shortages of wheelchairs, CPAP machines and prosthetics,” said Dr. Wayne Winegarden, director of the center and author of the brief. PRI says the broken bidding process is:
- Biased toward awarding contracts that deliver lower cost, lower quality medical equipment that can worsen health outcomes for patients; and
- Uses a median bid that encourages gamesmanship of firms offering lowball bids to hurt their competition.
The brief makes the case that if the goal is to improve patient outcomes while generating Medicare savings, a better bidding process would take a holistic approach, considering the additional health care costs that arise when patients use lower cost, lower quality equipment and experience poorer health outcomes. “It’s long past time for the federal government to reform the process so providers are paid appropriate prices while being held accountable to produce the equipment as promised – and patients have access to high quality durable medical equipment,” said Winegarden.
Viemed sees boost from Lehan’s in Q3
LAFAYETTE, La. – Viemed Healthcare reported revenue of $71.9 million for the third quarter 2025, a 24% increase compared to the previous quarter in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $16.1 million, a 15.5% increase.
During the quarter:
- Viemed repurchased and cancelled 1,706,380 common shares under its share repurchase program at a cost of $11.4 million, representing an average buyback price of $6.68 per share; and
- Closed on its acquisition of Lehan’s Medical Equipment.
"We delivered another outstanding quarter marked by strong execution and sustained expansion of our patient base across every major service line,” said Casey Hoyt, CEO. “Our disciplined approach to capital deployment was demonstrated through the full completion of our 2025 share repurchase program, while the acquisition of Lehan's Medical Equipment further enhanced our market presence and diversified our service capabilities. Both initiatives were accretive to earnings per share and reflect our unwavering commitment to creating long-term shareholder value while improving patient outcomes across the communities we serve."
Viemed increased its ventilator patient count to 12,372 as of the end of September, an increase of 8.8% over September 2024. It increased its PAP therapy patient count to 31,891, an increase of 63.7%.
The company is updating its financial guidance for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, as follows:
- Net revenue: Now expected to be in the range of $271 million to $273 million, compared to the previous guidance of $271 million to $277 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA: Now expected to be in the range of $60 million to $62 million, compared to the previous guidance of $59 million to $62 million.
Aeroflow to provide virtual nutrition services for UnitedHealthcare members
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Aeroflow Health has entered into a nationwide partnership with UnitedHealthcare to connect patients with virtual nutrition services provided by qualified dietitians. Through personalized virtual counseling sessions, patients have the opportunity to explore their comprehensive health profiles from the comfort and convenience of their own home. These sessions cover medical and nutrition history, sleep patterns, weight fluctuations and goals, stress management, hydration and physical activity. The program offers targeted solutions for populations who benefit most from dietary guidance, like individuals managing chronic illnesses, such as diabetes. “We are eager to join forces with UnitedHealthcare to make personalized nutrition care more accessible for patients across the country,” said Amanda Minimi, vice president of health solution marketing & operations at Aeroflow Health. “Nutrition has the power to transform lives, yet access to credible dietitians and nutrition support remains out of reach for many communities. Partnering with UnitedHealthcare allows us to flip that script by meeting patients where they are. We understand that every patient has a unique health story shaped by a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors. Aeroflow’s approach is guided by a holistic view of wellness to help make preventative care more attainable and capable of driving long-lasting health outcomes.”
GEM Sleep offers enhanced products to improve patient experience
MINNEAPOLIS — GEM Sleep, a provider of fully virtual sleep apnea care, has announced a set of new product enhancements that it says are designed to further simplify the patient journey, improve treatment adherence and make high-quality sleep care even more accessible.
Product enhancements include:
- Remote patient monitoring (RPM) software enhancements to improve patient CPAP outcomes and further personalize our robust coaching program
- Simplified sign-up using existing credentials like Google
- Faster appointment scheduling and insurance card uploads
- A redesigned website for smoother navigation and patient education
“Every enhancement we make is guided by one goal — helping people sleep better and live healthier,” said Brian Sauer, CEO at GEM Sleep. “By combining cutting-edge digital tools with compassionate clinical care, we're making it easier than ever for patients to get diagnosed, start therapy and stay successful with treatment.” Through the GEM Sleep platform, patients can take a sleep quiz to assess their likelihood of OSA. If at risk, they schedule a short telehealth visit and purchase a home sleep test kit delivered to their home. After using the home sleep test for one night, results are securely uploaded to GEM's licensed clinicians, who provide a diagnosis and treatment plan for mild, moderate, or severe OSA.
AdvaMed joins lawmakers in urging CMS to protect access to CGMs
WASHINGTON – AdvaMed has welcomed a letter from U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, urging CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz not to finalize a competitive bidding program (CBP) that could reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps.
U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., co-chairs of the U.S. House Diabetes Caucus, also joined the letter.
“AdvaMed is grateful for these legislators’ keen understanding of the critical role of medtech in helping millions of Americans manage their diabetes,” said Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed president and CEO. “Diabetes is an extremely complicated, serious condition. Senator Collins, Senator Shaheen, Representative DeGette and Representative Bilirakis are exactly right. Continuous glucose monitors and durable insulin pumps prevent complications that are not only devastating and sometimes fatal to patients, but also expensive to the health care system with hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Even under current policies, too many patients lack adequate access to the diabetes medtech that could improve their health. Any policies that undermine instead of increase access are the wrong direction.”
In its formal comments on the CMS proposed CBP, AdvaMed urged CMS to fix “serious flaws” in the proposal, citing risks to patient safety, fewer product choices for beneficiaries, and cost increases that would result if the rule stands.
- Related: Providers deconstruct CGM bid plan.
AASM releases new guidelines for management of OSA in hospitals
DARIEN, Ill. - In a new clinical practice guideline, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for the first time is providing recommendations for the management of obstructive sleep apnea in medically hospitalized adults. Available online as an accepted paper in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the guideline fills an existing gap in clinical practice and addresses an area of growing concern, the AASM says. The guidelines support:
- Inpatient screening of obstructive sleep apnea in high-risk patients as part of an integrated evaluation and management pathway
- Use of PAP therapy in those with moderate to severe sleep apnea who are currently untreated
- Sleep medicine consultation for those with increased risk of sleep apnea or established sleep apnea
- Discharge plans for management of sleep apnea with a goal to minimize loss to follow-up
Previously published data show that sleep-disordered breathing is associated with a 17% increased length of stay for nonsurgical, hospitalized patients, and a 67% increase in hospitalization costs. “The existing clinical paradigm for the diagnosis, management and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea has focused on the outpatient arena, so guidance for inpatients has been lacking,” said lead author Dr. Reena Mehra, chair of the AASM task force that developed the guideline and head of the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at University of Washington Medicine in Seattle. “While there will be marked variations in hospital and institutional resources to screen, diagnose and treat sleep apnea, these recommendations serve as a guide to move the field forward in prioritizing systematic approaches to manage sleep apnea in the inpatient setting.” All four clinical recommendations in the guideline are designated as “conditional,” meaning that they reflect a lower degree of certainty and require the clinician to use clinical judgment while considering the patient's values and preferences to determine the best course of action.
InfuSystem reports mixed Q3 results
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – InfuSystem Holdings reported revenues of $36.5 million for the third quarter of 2025, an increase of 3% vs. the prior year. Of that, Patient Services was $22.4 million, an increase of 8%, while device solutions was $14.1 million, a decrease of 3%. Gross profit was $20.8 million, an increase of 9%. “We continue to focus on driving value creation by prioritizing profitable growth and improving processes to lower our costs,” said CEO Carrie Lachance. “During the third quarter, we have advanced several initiatives with these goals in mind. Some of these are apparent in the current period’s results, which marked higher revenue, margins and cash flow, while others will benefit future periods.” Wound care revenue increased by 115% for the quarter, fueled in part by a new partnership with a supplier of pneumatic compression devices (PCDs) for treatment of lymphedema.
NCPA, USC launch pharmacy mapping tool
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and the University of Southern California (USC) have unveiled an interactive, user-friendly pharmacy shortage area mapping tool available to the general public. The tool reveals that approximately one in eight U.S. neighborhoods — representing millions of Americans — persistently lack convenient access to pharmacy services. In rural areas and underserved urban communities, the problem is far more severe, with some states and counties experiencing shortage rates approaching 50%.
The tool defines pharmacy shortage areas based on travel distance to the nearest pharmacy as defined below:
- More than 10 miles in rural areas
- More than 2 miles in suburban areas
- More than 1 mile in urban areas
- More than half a mile in low-income neighborhoods with low vehicle ownership
"Independent community pharmacies are the health care safety net in thousands of communities across America, yet they're being systematically squeezed out by payment policies that don't reflect the critical role they play," said Douglas Hoey, CEO of the NCPA. "We need leaders at every level to use this data to protect these lifeline pharmacies before more neighborhoods are in crisis. When you lose your local pharmacy, you lose more than a place to fill prescriptions — you lose a trusted health adviser, a medication safety expert, and often the most accessible health care provider in the community."
Comments