In brief: Sleep tracker use, Medicare Advantage complaints, Amazon health assistant
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:27 AM CST, Wed January 28, 2026
DARIEN, Ill. - Nearly half of adults (48%) have used a sleep tracking device, such as a smartwatch or app, to monitor their sleep quality and duration – up from 35% in 2023, according to a new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
What’s more, the majority of adults (55%) are acting based on what they learn from a sleep tracker and changing their behaviors.
"We're seeing a significant shift in how Americans approach sleep health, and it's encouraging that so many people are investing time and energy into understanding their sleep habits," said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, AASM spokesperson and member of the Emerging Technology Committee. "Sleep trackers help people recognize that adequate duration of sleep and quality sleep are just as important as nutrition and exercise for overall health."
The survey reveals that men (56%) are more likely than women (40%) to use a sleep tracker and are more likely to change behavior based on what they have learned. Additionally, men (20%) are more likely than women (12%) to have spent between $200 to $500 on consumer sleep products (excluding money spent on a mattress).
However, an influx of daily sleep advice may create an unintended consequence. According to the survey, most adults (76%) have lost sleep due to worries about sleep problems. This worry, also referred to as “sleep anxiety” or “orthosomnia,” may be preventing individuals from getting the recommended seven or more hours of sleep each night, AASM says.
"Sleep trackers can be valuable tools for raising awareness about sleep health and motivating positive changes in sleep habits," said Paruthi. "However, it's important that tracking enhances sleep and doesn’t cause more stress about it. If you find yourself lying awake worrying about your sleep duration or quality, it may be time to step back and consult with a health care professional about your concerns."
When using a sleep tracker, the AASM recommends the following best practices:
- Wear or use the tracker consistently to establish an accurate baseline.
- Focus on the metrics that matter most, like sleep duration, consistent bedtime and wake times, and awakenings in the night.
- Make small adjustments to routines to see what works.
- Only check data in the morning – never at night, and don’t obsess over it.
FMI: https://aasm.org/about/newsroom/.
CMS outlines policies to improve payment accuracy, sustainability for Medicare Advantage
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed policies that are projected to result in a net average year-over-year payment increase of 0.09%, or more than $700 million, in Medicare Advantage payments to plans in calendar year 2027.
This expected increase includes consideration of the various elements that impact MA payments, such as growth rates of underlying costs, 2026 Star Ratings for 2027 quality bonus payments, and risk adjustment updates, the agency says.
“These proposed payment policies are about making sure Medicare Advantage works better for the people it serves,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “By strengthening payment accuracy and modernizing risk adjustment, CMS is helping ensure beneficiaries continue to have affordable plan choices and reliable benefits, while protecting taxpayers from unnecessary spending that is not oriented towards addressing real health needs.”
The policies are outlined in the recently released CY 2027 Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and MA and Part D Payment Policies.
Other highlights from the notice:
- As the agency considers opportunities for improving risk adjustment both in the 2027 Advance Notice and in the future, CMS is working towards a MA risk adjustment system guided by three principles:
- Simplicity to reduce day-to-day administrative burden for both plans and providers;
- Competition on creating value for patients where risk adjustment facilitates such competition equally for all varieties of plans irrespective of size or resources; and
- Payments that accurately reflect beneficiary health risk and facilitate the efficient use of health care resources, enhanced program integrity, and greater accountability.
- CMS is proposing to make updates to the MA risk adjustment model that reflect more current costs associated with various diseases, conditions, and demographic characteristics. In addition, CMS is proposing to exclude diagnosis information from unlinked Chart Review Records, which is diagnosis information not associated with a specific beneficiary encounter, from risk score calculation starting in CY 2027.
- CMS is also proposing updates to the Part D risk adjustment model that include accounting for Inflation Reduction Act changes to the Part D benefit for CY 2027, reflecting more current costs, aligning sources of diagnoses for use in risk adjustment to be consistent with similar policies proposed for MA (e.g., excluding diagnoses from unlinked Chart Review Records), and separately accounting for MA prescription drug plan and standalone prescription drug plan costs in order to improve the accuracy of Part D payments for these two segments of the Part D market.
The CY 2027 Advance Notice may be viewed at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2027-advance-notice.pdf.
To read the CMS fact sheet on the CY 2027 Advance Notice, visit: https://cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-advance-notice.
Amazon Medical launches agentic Health AI assistant
SEATTLE – Amazon One Medical has launched its Health AI assistant in the One Medical app. The company says the agentic assistant is an AI-forward feature that makes getting health care even simpler, more highly personalized and more actionable by answering health questions, booking appointments and managing medications.
“The U.S. health care experience is fragmented, with each provider seeing only parts of your health puzzle,” said Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services. “Health AI in the One Medical app brings together all the pieces of your personal health information to give you a more complete picture—helping you understand your health, and supporting you in getting the care you need to get and stay well. Health AI makes getting health care easier and more convenient, so patients can focus on what matters most: their health.”
Co-developed with One Medical's clinical leadership, the Health AI assistant provides 24/7 personalized health guidance grounded in each patient's unique medical history. And when clinical expertise is needed, the assistant seamlessly connects patients to their care team via messaging or by booking a same or next day appointment.
Health AI in the One Medical app can:
- Answer general and complex health questions by explaining your lab results, considering your unique health history, and explaining what this information means for you.
- Provide 24/7 health guidance on symptoms, conditions, potential treatments, and wellness questions.
- Help you choose the right care option based on your specific situation. This includes a virtual visit, an in-person appointment, or urgent care.
- Streamline your ongoing care tasks, including helping you book appointments with your One Medical provider, or renew medications, which you can choose to fill with Amazon Pharmacy.
Amazone One Medical says Health AI is designed to complement—not replace—the trusted relationship between patients and their health care providers.
“Even as AI capabilities expand, the patient-clinician relationship—built over time and rooted in shared humanity—remains crucially important and irreplaceable,” said Dr. Andrew Diamond, chief medical officer at One Medical. “Our Health AI enhances this relationship by helping members understand their health information and manage their routine health tasks, coaching them to stick to their health program, and quickly connecting them to their trusted providers when they need the care and expertise of a human clinician.”
A Health AI assistant has been available to select One Medical members in beta since early 2025.
CMS launches new complaint system for Medicare Advantage plans
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has notified Medicare Advantage organizations of a new system for managing and tracking provider complaints. The agency has implemented an online form on cms.gov for providers that need to report a complaint about an MA plan. Upon submission, these complaints will be sent to the Health Plan Management System (HPMS) Complaints Tracking Module (CTM). The process will work like this:
Go to cms.gov
- Select Medicare from the top left drop-down menu
- Select Health & drug plans from the left-hand navigation
- Select Report a provider complaint about an MA plan
- The online form will capture basic information about the complainant, beneficiary, provider and MA plan; provide a complaint summary and feature optional fields for date(s) of service and claim number.
Given these data will be captured by an online form, MA plans will no longer receive an attachment of the original provider complaint form.
Provider complaints will be placed into a queue in the CCTM, where CMS will review and tirage prior to assigning a contract number.
LiveWell Mobility & Home Modifications debuts in Austin, Texas
HOUSTON – LiveWell Mobility & Home Modifications, a family-owned company based here, has opened a location in Austin, Texas, bringing its full suite of mobility solutions, accessibility-focused construction and client-centered care to seniors, disabled and less-abled individuals, caregivers and homeowners in the central part of the state. “Austin has one of the fastest-growing populations of aging adults and individuals living with mobility challenges,” said Nate Davis, owner. “We are deeply committed to helping people remain safely in their homes – whether they are aging in place, living with a disability, or adapting after an injury or medical event. As a family-owned company, we treat every client with respect, compassion and personalized care.” LiveWell’s services include:
- Home elevators and vertical platform lifts
- Stairlifts for indoor and outdoor use
- Patient lifts and ceiling lift systems
- Wheelchair ramps (permanent and modular)
- Grab bars
- Bathroom safety modifications and fall prevention upgrades
- Whole-home accessibility and aging-in-place remodeling
LiveWell says it offers free in-home accessibility consultations, working collaboratively with homeowners, caregivers, therapists and health care providers to deliver turnkey remodeling solutions.
Cheelcare secures Medicare reimbursement for power assist device
MARKHAM, Ontario – Cheelcare has received Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) verification for its Companion power assist device, confirming reimbursement eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid under HCPCS code E0986. Historically, adoption of Companion has been primarily concentrated within Veterans Affairs (VA), vocational rehab and workers compensation programs. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement represents a significantly larger addressable market, and the company expects this approval to accelerate sales activity across its existing U.S. dealer footprint. "PDAC approval of a product is a critical step that most DME dealers require," said Allan Boyd, Cheelcare's vice president of growth. "This approval confirms that dealers may bill Medicare for Companion under HCPCS code E0986, which is expected to reduce financial barriers to providing medically necessary equipment for users who would otherwise be required to pay out of pocket. This makes our technology more accessible to end-users who need it and gives therapists the ability to prescribe it without funding-related constraints." Cheelcare currently is represented by a growing network of more than 300 authorized dealers throughout the United States. The company also noted recent commercial momentum for Companion, with record assisted-device sales achieved in November and December 2025, reflecting growing demand within the U.S. market ahead of broader Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement availability.
Rhythm Healthcare partners with Lake Court Medical Supplies for increased distribution
NEW YORK – Rhythm Healthcare has enhanced access to its expanding product portfolio to the home care provider network of Lake Court Medical Supplies through a new partnership. Rhythm Healthcare views the partnership as a force multiplier – one that will extend the reach of its respiratory and home care solutions, create new opportunities for both companies and support the growth of mutual customers nationwide. “We’re excited to partner with Lake Court,” said Vanessa Saltmarsh, chief commercial officer at Rhythm Healthcare. “They’ve built strong relationships with providers by delivering reliable service and dependable products. Expanding access to Rhythm’s portfolio through their distribution network allows more customers to experience the consistency and value that set our products apart.” Lake Court Medical Supplies, which distributes equipment and supplies from more than 80 manufacturers, has four regional distribution centers and a just-in-time delivery model. Rhythm Healthcare recently enhanced its Rhythm Resolve program and extended the warranty period for its most popular portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).
Unify Healthcare Services enters DME market with billing software
DALLAS – Unify Healthcare Services, a medical billing and revenue cycle management (RCM) company, has officially launched Medicraft, a new billing software designed to help durable medical equipment (DME) providers manage billing operations, claims and revenue workflows. The software features dedicated modules for supply management, ordering, accounts receivable (AR) management, billing, payment posting, reporting and account setup. “Medicraft has been shaped by years of operational experience managing DME billing for suppliers across the United States,” Unify Healthcare Services stated in an announcement. “The software is designed to align with payer documentation requirements, rental and purchase billing scenarios, and extended billing cycles common within the DME sector.” The launch of Medicraft marks a strategic expansion of Unify Healthcare Services’ tech offerings and complements its existing RCM and billing services. The company says it works with physician offices and hospitals “to streamline their revenue cycle and create insightful documentation,” according to its website.
GEMCO Medical to open new facility in Salt Lake City
HUDSON, Ohio – GEMCO Medical will open a new distribution center in Salt Lake City this summer to expand capacity, accelerate delivery times and enhance service levels for customers across the Western United States. Designed with advanced fulfillment capabilities, the site will receive, store and distribute a broad range of medical supplies, helping meet increasing customer demand while maintaining high standards for accuracy, reliability, and compliance, the company says. “This new distribution center represents a major investment in our customers and the future of GEMCO Medical,” said Matthew Edwards, CEO. “Building on the expansion of our headquarters distribution facility in 2021, this next phase of growth reflects our commitment to scaling our infrastructure alongside customer demand. Expanding our footprint in the Western U.S. enables faster deliveries, new service levels and a consistently better customer experience.” GEMCO says it picked Salt Lake City for its proximity to major transportation corridors and carrier hubs, as well as its central location relative to a rapidly expanding Western U.S. customer base. The center will operate as a fully licensed, NABP ADD-accredited fulfillment facility.
Curt Prewitt joins NCART board of directors
WASHINGTON – Curt Prewitt, director of education for Ki Mobility, part of Etac, has been elected to the board of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART). “Curt’s appointment is a testament to his expertise and education to the field of complex rehab,” the company stated in a post on LinkedIn. “With over 25 years in the industry (and just over a decade of that at Ki Mobility), Curt regularly presents at numerous continuing professional education courses across the U.S. and internationally.” The appointment further strengthens Etac’s ongoing support of NCART’s initiatives and its collaboration with partners working to advance complex rehab, the company says. Prewitt’s contribution will help shape policies and initiatives that improve access to vital assistive technology for people across the country, it says.
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