MedRhythms taps Edwards Health Care to scale DME-approved gait therapy devices

PORTLAND, Maine – A new partnership with Edwards Health Care Services will allow MedRhythms to scale distribution of its neurotherapeutic devices, which recently received designation as DME, says Jennifer Lavanture. 

“Edwards is a recognized leader in direct-to-home distribution but also has deep experience in chronic condition management and the team there is deeply committed to patient access, so from a mission perspective, there was a lot of alignment,” said Lavanture, senior vice president of corporate development and strategy for MedRhythms.  

Poised for growth as Medicare recognizes benefit 

MedRhythms' currently available devices, which use music to deliver rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), are:  

• InTandem for adults with chronic stroke walking impairments; and  
• MOVIVE for people with Parkinson's disease  

CMS recently established a unique HCPCS code (E3200) for the devices, finalized payment determination for the code, and confirmed the benefit category as DME for gait modulation systems that use RAS.  

“In the past couple of years, there’s been confirmation of pathways to reimbursement for more novel, software-enabled types of products,” Lavanture said. “We’re quite comfortable to be in this space and to be classified as DME. 

From Stevie Wonder to Taylor Swift – How it works 

Patients are typically prescribed one of the devices following a referral from a physical therapist, podiatrist or neurologist. Once approved, a compact kit is shipped directly to the patient’s home.  

During each 30-minute session, patients wear sensors and initiate the therapy via a touchscreen control unit. The system calibrates baseline gait data, then delivers audio stimuli aligned with the patient’s cadence. Real-time sensor feedback informs algorithmic adjustments to tempo, optimizing therapeutic outcomes while ensuring safety. 

A partnership with Universal Music Group allows patients to engage with preferred popular music – everything from Stevie Wonder to Taylor Swift, says Lavanture. 

Ensuring access – and independence 

EHCS provides ongoing patient support, including technical and customer service throughout the therapy. 

“Our experience in providing complex medical devices will help ensure that people with chronic stroke walking impairments and people with Parkinson’s disease gain access to this breakthrough therapy to improve their gait and preserve their independence,” said Matt Edwards, CEO of EHCS. “Together, we will work closely with payers to demonstrate the significant health benefits and cost savings that come when patients maintain the ability to walk safely." 

Laying the groundwork for growth 

Over the next year, MedRhythms will continue to invest in scaling its commercial infrastructure, says Lavanture. Earlier this year, the company tapped Joel Behnke as chief commercial officer and it is further expanding its team to raise awareness with health care providers. The DME channel will remain a key part of that growth strategy, she says. 

“There’s a great set of potential partners out here who will help us scale and provide access to patients who could benefit from these technologies,” she said.