In brief: WOY named, SBA listening session, CMS Medicaid expenditures

WATERLOO, Iowa — Lisa Wells has been named 2026 HME Woman of the Year.

Wells, senior vice president of Med-South, was honored during a special ceremony at the VGM Heartland Conference.

“Lisa represents the very best of our industry,” said Jeremy Stolz, CEO of VGM Group, Inc. “Her commitment to patient care, her influence in advancing policy and best practices, and the way she invests in developing others make her an outstanding leader and a truly deserving recipient of this year’s award.”

Wells has built a nearly 23-year legacy at Med-South, where she has held multiple leadership roles and made history as the organization’s first female senior vice president. She is widely recognized for driving operational excellence—leading initiatives that improve workflow efficiency, strengthen compliance, and deliver stronger reimbursement outcomes while maintaining a patient-first approach.

Beyond her organizational impact, Wells is a respected voice across the HME industry.

• Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association (ADMEA)
• Jurisdiction C Advisory Council
• National Provider Enrollment Advisory Council
• AAHomecare Regulatory Council

Other nominees for this year’s award were:

• Jeaneen Cole, vice president of quality and compliance, DASCO HME
• Shawna Carlson, director of rehab services, CareLinc Medical Equipment
• Julie Osborn, president and CEO, Alliance Rehab and Medical Equipment
• Whitney Baker, director of DME operations and integrations, Viemed

CMS should improve its review of Medicaid expenditures, OIG says

WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) did not consistently follow its policies and procedures in overseeing state Medicaid expenditures, according to an Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit.

Within 30 days of the end of each quarter, states report to CMS on their Medicaid expenditures and the associated federal share through Form CMS-64. The agency then reviews the form to verify that the expenditures that are reported are consistent with Medicaid requirements and that federal matching funds are properly allocated.

The OIG found:

• CMS’s review work papers for five selected states were not always clear, accurate, or consistent enough to validate that its analysts thoroughly completed all procedures outlined in its review guide.
• CMS’s policies and procedures related to deferred expenditures did not adhere to the timely resolution timelines set forth in federal regulations, resulting in deferred payments remaining unresolved for years.
• CMS’s policies and procedures related to tracking of disallowed expenditures need improvement to allow for more accessible and accurate reporting of disallowed payment information.

The OIG’s recommendations include developing and implementing additional training for analysts assigned to review Form CMS-64, and modify and revise certain policies and procedures related to its oversight of these forms.

• Read the full report here.

Philips: AI saves clinicians time

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – AI is saving clinicians the equivalent of more than 16 working days a year with half saying it has increased their capacity to see patients, according to Philips’ Future Health Index 2026. The findings in the report demonstrate how AI is already actively reshaping care delivery into a more hybrid, extended care team model.

• • Nearly two-thirds (65%) of clinicians have increased their use of AI tools provided at work, with measurable benefits:
• • Clinicians say AI saves them time every week. Close to half (46%) reported time savings of at least 132 hours annually on average, or the equivalent of more than three full working weeks.
• • 50% report they have more capacity to see patients, on average eight more patients per week.

“What is really encouraging is that AI is already making a tangible difference in everyday clinical practice, for clinicians and patients alike,” said Shez Partovi, chief innovation officer at Philips. “We are seeing people save meaningful time, care for more patients, and feel better at work. At its heart, AI is there to support healthcare professionals, giving them more room to focus on what matters most: clinical decision-making and patient care. At the same time, we see many health systems are still early in their AI journey, and there's real work ahead on infrastructure and training.” The Future Health Index 2026 findings is based on perspectives from more than 2,000 healthcare professionals and 20,000 patients across 10 countries.

 This is 11th edition of the global report, based on perspectives from over 2,000 healthcare professionals and 20,000 patients across 10 countries.

SBA to host CMS, AAHomecare for listening session on competitive bidding program

WASHINGTON – The Office of Advocacy within the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a virtual listening session on June 23 on the next round of Medicare’s competitive bidding program (CBP).

The office stated:

CMS believes the rule’s competitive bidding program supports its responsibility to prevent Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse by keeping unqualified providers out of the Medicare program. Advocacy seeks comments on alternative solutions from small business stakeholders.

The listening session will take place via Microsoft Teams from 1-2 p.m. ET. The agenda:

• Welcome and introduction: Will Purcell, assistant chief counsel, Office of Advocacy
• Overview of final rule: CMS staff & AAHomecare
• Open discussion

During a recent Hill day, stakeholders urged members of the House Committee on Small Business to hold CMS accountable for a new remote-item delivery (RID) framework for competitive bidding that they say will decimate small businesses.

Register for the listening session here.

Lilly’s investigational GLP-1 reduces AHI by up to 36 events per hour in OSA patients

INDIANAPOLIS – Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Foundayo, has announced positive results from Phase 3 trials of retatrutide, an investigational GLP-1, showing substantial weight loss along with meaningful improvements across knee osteoarthritis pain, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, and Type 2 diabetes – common obesity-related conditions.

"Obesity drives more than 200 downstream diseases, yet we have historically treated those conditions one at a time and in silos," said Ania Jastreboff, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Medicine & Pediatrics (Endocrinology) at the Yale School of Medicine, director of the Yale Obesity Research Center (Y-Weight), and lead investigator. "In TRIUMPH-1 and TRANSCEND-T2D-1, treatment with retatrutide resulted in substantial weight reduction together with clinically meaningful improvements in glycemia, knee osteoarthritis pain, and obstructive sleep apnea, with many individuals reaching what are classified as healthy-range weight and normal blood sugar levels. These findings demonstrate what may be possible when we treat obesity and impact overall health, and what this could mean for people living with obesity and its related complications."

The findings from TRIUMPH-1 and TRANSCEND-T2D-1 were presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 86th Scientific Sessions, with TRANSCEND-T2D-1 results simultaneously published in The Lancet.

TRIUMPH-1 included an overarching trial for adults with obesity and two nested basket trials: one for knee osteoarthritis pain and one for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. In addition to improving weight measures, retatrutide reduced apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by up to 36.1 events per hour (60.6%) from a baseline of 58.6 events per hour in participants with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Lilly is studying retatrutide in several Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its potential efficacy and safety in obesity and overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Knee osteoarthritis pain
• Moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea
• Chronic low back pain
• Cardiovascular and renal outcomes
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Lilly says the initial TRIUMPH Phase 3 clinical development program is evaluating the safety and efficacy of retatrutide for the treatment of patients with obesity or overweight, moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity, and knee osteoarthritis pain across four global registrational trials. The program, which began in 2023, has enrolled more than 5,800 participants with additional results anticipated over the next year.

VGM names new billing and reimbursement director

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has appointed Stephanie Robinson, who has held leadership roles at Dynamic Healthcare Services, as director of billing and reimbursement. She will work closely with VGM members to improve reimbursement processes, address operational challenges and improve performance. “Billing and reimbursement are among the biggest operational pressures providers are managing today, and Stephanie brings the real-world experience to help our members work through those challenges more effectively,” said Tyler Mahncke, senior vice president of membership at VGM & Associates. “She understands the day-to-day realities of reimbursement and can help turn complexity into practical solutions that improve performance and support better patient care.” At DHS, Robinson served as chief compliance officer and quality assurance manager, overseeing compliance, contracts, credentialing and quality systems. She also held leadership positions at DASCO Home Medical Equipment, where she helped streamline authorization workflows through process standardization and automation.  “As billing and reimbursement pressures continue to intensify, our responsibility is to ensure members have the expertise, guidance, and resources they need not only for today’s challenges, but for what lies ahead,” said Lindy Tentinger, president of VGM & Associates. “Bringing Stephanie to VGM reflects our commitment to supporting providers now and in the future as they navigate an increasingly demanding reimbursement environment.”

Medtrade seeks speaking proposals for 2027 event

FORT WORTH, Texas – Medtrade, in collaboration with its Educational Advisory Board (EAB), is accepting proposals for the 2027 Medtrade Conference scheduled for March 23-25, in Forth Worth, Texas. Show organizers seek proposals that deliver original, engaging and high-quality content focused on clinical expertise, industry trends and practical strategies. They say proposals that stand out include:

• New content: Presentations debuting at Medtrade 2027.
• Diverse perspectives: Sessions that inspire and educate through unique viewpoints.
• Interactive formats: Hands-on training, panels and discussions that actively engage attendees.
• Real-world insights: Peer-learning from providers sharing experiences and strategies.
• Broad educational levels: Sessions covering advanced, intermediate and beginner topics.
• Actionable takeaways: “How-to” education addressing timely industry challenges.

Medtrade has provided a list of tracks and topics here. The deadline to submit a speaking proposal is July 17.

Convaid marks 50^th anniversary

TORRANCE, Calif. – Convaid will celebrate 50 years in business this year. “Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our valued dealers and clinicians, whose unwavering support and partnership have made it possible for Convaid to continue to be the preferred pediatric mobility brand of choice,” the company stated. “Together, we have been instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for our patients, allowing families to embrace fuller and more adventurous lives.” In the 1970s, Merve Watkins, a mechanical engineer, designed a wheelchair that provided positioning and growth, after his wife, Rachel Watkins, an occupational therapist, told him there was no proper equipment for her patients. They founded Convaid – from convalescent aids – in 1976 and launched an adaptive folding wheelchair, the Convaid Cruiser, later that year. Convaid went on to launch the EZRider in 1985, the Rodeo in 2001and the Carrot 3 in 2021, among other products. In 2015, Convaid was acquired by Etac, and in 2021, Etac acquired Ki Mobility, merging the Convaid and R82 North America sales forces.