In brief: VGM’s state payer hub, CMS’s fraud war room, Drive Medical’s IQ
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:40 AM CDT, Fri July 31, 2026
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Government Relations has launched a State Payer Resources web page designed to give DMEPOS providers one place to find state-specific payer and regulatory information.
The centralized hub includes frequently used resources such as:
- Medicaid policy manuals
- Provider enrollment information
- DMEPOS licensure requirements
- State Medicaid contacts and websites
- Links to state DME associations
VGM says the web page is intended to help providers more quickly locate information needed for compliance, enrollment and day-to-day operations, particularly when working across multiple states. The hub also connects suppliers with state DME associations, providing access to local advocacy, education and networking opportunities.
Because Medicaid policies, manuals and regulations can change and may be interpreted differently by state agencies, managed care organizations, contractors and other stakeholders, VGM advises providers to verify requirements directly with the appropriate entity before making billing, enrollment, compliance or other business decisions.
Option Care Health reports ‘solid execution’ in Q2
BANNOCKBURN, Ill. – Option Care Health reported net revenue of $1.44 billion for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of 1.9% compared with the same period last year.
Second-quarter results included:
- GAAP net income of $53.9 million, up 6.7%
- GAAP diluted earnings per share of 35 cents, up 12.9%
- Adjusted EBITDA of $117.5 million, up 3%
- Adjusted diluted earnings per share of 45 cents, up 9.8%
- Cash provided by operating activities of $184 million
The company also repurchased $150 million of outstanding shares during the quarter.
“I’m proud of our team as we delivered strong second quarter results, reflecting solid operational execution and the positive impact of our 2026 strategic initiatives,” said John C. Rademacher, CEO.
For the full year, Option Care Health now expects:
- Net revenue of $5.68 billion to $5.78 billion
- Adjusted EBITDA of $480 million to $495 million
- Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.85 to $1.92
- Operating cash flow of at least $320 million
For the third quarter, Option Care Health anticipates sequential net revenue growth in the low- to mid-single digits and adjusted EBITDA growth in the mid-single digits.
Option Care Health provides home and alternate-site infusion services in all 50 states.
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CMS Medicaid fraud effort stops $203M in payments
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says its Medicaid Fraud War Room has stopped more than $203 million in potentially improper Medicaid payments during its first 88 days. Launched April 23, the initiative brings together CMS, the HHS Office of Inspector General, state Medicaid agencies and federal law enforcement partners to identify high-risk providers and coordinate enforcement actions. CMS says the effort uses advanced analytics to detect suspicious billing patterns and generate investigative leads. Since its launch, the Medicaid Fraud War Room has identified 50 unique providers connected to Medicaid payments made since Jan. 1, 2025.
Actions to date include:
- Forty-two federal notices of intent to exclude providers from federal health care programs, representing approximately $160.7 million in Medicaid payments.
- Fifteen state enforcement actions based on referrals from the Medicaid Fraud War Room, representing approximately $46.2 million in Medicaid payments.
“Every dollar lost to Medicaid fraud is a dollar taken away from vulnerable Americans who rely on it,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The Medicaid Fraud War Room was established in coordination with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and builds on CMS’s Medicare Fraud Defense Operations Center. CMS says the initiative is designed to help agencies act more quickly when data point to potentially improper billing or other program integrity concerns. For more information, visit: Medicaid Fraud War Room Fast Facts fact sheet.
Aeroflow study examines postpartum care gaps
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Aeroflow Health has released a white paper examining why new mothers miss the six-week postpartum visit and outlining steps health plans can take to improve follow-up care. “The Silent Gap: Why New Mothers Miss Postpartum Care” draws on an independent survey of more than 500 postpartum mothers, including those with commercial insurance, Medicaid, marketplace coverage and no insurance. Respondents cited childcare, transportation, scheduling difficulties, limited in-network access and a lack of awareness about appointments as barriers to completing postpartum care. Aeroflow identified telehealth as one way health plans can address those obstacles while improving maternal health outcomes and quality measures. “Virtual care that begins earlier in the prenatal period and continues through postpartum ensures mothers have access to quality care wherever they are,” said Casey Hite, CEO of Aeroflow Health. “This analysis provides health plans with the structural redesign of maternal care that can improve HEDIS scores, prevent maternal deaths, reduce the long-term burden of untreated postpartum depression, and elevate health leadership across the country.” The white paper recommends that health plans use virtual care to support:
- Social needs screening: By conducting screenings virtually and multiple times throughout the pregnancy, health plans can better identify needs and provide touchpoints, with warm handoffs to community resources, benefits navigation, and care coordination.
- Periodic mental health assessments: Mental health screening conducted virtually removes a significant participation barrier. Mothers who would not disclose depressive symptoms in a clinic waiting room are more likely to engage with a brief validated questionnaire delivered through a text message, app, or telehealth platform in the privacy of their own home.
- Proactive appointment scheduling with reminders: Telehealth provides proactive appointment reminders to improve attendance rates at the six-week postpartum visit. In Aeroflow’s survey, respondents identified reminders as the intervention most likely to have helped them attend their appointment and it represents the clearest, lowest-friction lever available to health plans.
Related: Aeroflow buys Canopie to offer new moms full suite of products, services
Drive Medical launches tech-focused brand
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Drive Medical has launched Unbound IQ by Drive, a new brand of connected, digital health and technology-enabled solutions for the durable medical equipment (DME) market. The company says the platform is designed to help providers use clinically informed technology and data to identify changes earlier, support more proactive care and demonstrate outcomes beyond traditional equipment use. “The best care intervention is the one that happens before a crisis,” said Sidney Collin, clinical vice president of technology innovation. “Unbound IQ gives providers the tools to intervene earlier, demonstrate measurable impact and deliver care that truly improves lives.” The first products in the Unbound IQ portfolio are WalkWise and NexStride. WalkWise attaches to a user’s existing mobility aid and tracks activity levels, providing caregivers with real-time information through a smartphone app. Drive says changes in movement can offer early signs of functional decline, fall risk or emerging health concerns. NexStride is an assistive mobility device that uses visual and auditory cues to support more stable walking. It is compatible with most mobility aids and designed for people with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and similar conditions. Drive will host an introductory webinar Aug. 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET featuring the creators of WalkWise and NexStride. The session will cover clinical applications, provider use cases and business growth opportunities. Registration is available here.
Polaris launches virtual sleep clinic
BALTIMORE – Polaris has launched a virtual sleep clinic designed to help patients receive testing and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea without the lengthy delays associated with traditional sleep labs. “We designed Polaris to meet patients exactly where they are – whether they are shift workers, truck drivers, or anyone with a demanding schedule –providing rapid, high-quality care without the typical delays,” said Tina Garrett, care coordinator. The company ships home sleep testing devices directly to patients, who complete the study on their own schedule. Polaris says results are reviewed the following day, with specialists using telehealth to develop personalized treatment plans. The company aims to reduce wait times to less than one week. Polaris offers treatment options including CPAP therapy, oral appliances, positional therapy, FDA-approved hypoglossal nerve stimulators and health coaching. The company refers patients who need CPAP equipment to independent vendors, rather than supplying the devices itself. Patients also receive setup assistance and follow-up care at 30, 90 and 180 days. Polaris accepts insurance and offers cash-pay options. Polaris was launched through Healthworx Studio and is currently seeking patients in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, with plans for regional expansion.
RESNA updates training hours for ATP
ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA's Professional Standards Board (PSB) has updated the "in-service" training hours allowed for ATP renewal. Previously, ATPs could submit up to three in-service contact hours per year toward ATP renewals, for a total of six contact hours. That has now been increased to 10 in-service contact hours per renewal period. The ten hours may be earned at any point during the renewal period, RESNA says. "The PSB made this change due to the increasingly complex technology now included in many of today’s assistive technology products, including artificial intelligence, and the rapid pace of technology innovation," the organization stated. ATPs must complete 20 hours of continuing education in assistive technology every renewal cycle. Continuing education can be done through in-person or online courses, seminars and workshops. In-service training hours fall under continuing education credits (CEC) or contact hours. You can find an updated "in-service" training form on RESNA’s website.
FDA selects Dexcom for digital health pilot
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has selected Dexcom as the first participant in its Technology-Enabled Meaningful Patient Outcomes for Digital Health Devices Pilot, or TEMPO. The pilot, conducted in partnership with the CMS Innovation Center, is designed to evaluate how digital health technologies perform in real-world settings while expanding access to technology-enabled care for people with Medicare. The program is intended to help patients participating in CMS’s ACCESS Model, along with their health care professionals or caregivers, to monitor metabolic and nutritional status, receive tailored guidance and use real-time data and artificial intelligence insights to inform decisions and behavioral changes. “ACCESS provides a clear payment pathway that rewards measurable improvements in patient health rather than individual services, while TEMPO helps generate the real-world evidence needed to evaluate promising new technologies responsibly,” said Abe Sutton, CMS deputy administrator and director of the Innovation Center. Dexcom’s Glucose Health Program will continue to undergo FDA evaluation during the pilot. The program is intended to support screening for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes through integrated digital health metrics. It may also help improve glycemic control and lower HbA1c in people with prediabetes. Manufacturers participating in TEMPO will collect, monitor and report real-world data related to the intended uses of their devices. The FDA and CMS will use that information to assess patient outcomes, safety and the performance of digital health technologies in real-world settings. The ACCESS Model’s first cohort began in July 2026 and focuses on technology-supported care for chronic conditions, including cardio-kidney-metabolic, musculoskeletal and behavioral health conditions. The FDA plans to select up to approximately 10 TEMPO participants in each of four ACCESS clinical use areas.
Trace Medical joins RenalEdge GPO
WHITMORE LAKE, Mich. – RenalEdge GPO has added Trace Medical as a vendor partner, giving participating dialysis providers access to rental equipment, home medical equipment solutions and biomedical services. “The capital investment required for dialysis equipment can be significant, particularly for organizations focused on growth,” said Elliot Campbell, chief commercial officer of Trace Medical. “Our rental program offers a flexible, capital-efficient alternative that allows providers to scale operations while preserving balance sheet strength.” Through the partnership, RenalEdge members will be able to rent dialysis machines rather than purchase them outright, allowing providers to preserve capital while responding to changes in patient volume, geographic expansion and other operational needs. Trace Medical, founded in 2004, initially focused on ventilator rentals and later expanded its equipment and service offerings. The company entered the dialysis market in 2023 and now provides dialysis machine rentals and related biomedical support nationwide. Greg Apostolou, CEO of Trace Medical, says the partnership is intended to help local and regional dialysis providers access equipment and service at a cost structure more commonly available to larger national organizations.
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