Wellverse promises investments, continuity for HME providers

IRVING, Texas – Wellverse will use its independence to accelerate investments in distribution and private-label products, while maintaining its longstanding commitment to HME providers, says President Stanton McComb.

Here's what McComb had to say about what will be changing and, equally as important, what won't be changing as the company makes its official name change from McKesson Medical-Surgical Solutions to Wellverse in the new year.

Independence fuels investment

Wellverse will accelerate investments in two key areas, McComb said: its warehouse network and distribution capabilities, and its product portfolio.

The company was slated to replace an existing warehouse in the Boston area with a new warehouse in October. The facility is part of a nearly three-year modernization effort aimed at expanding the company's footprint and upgrading the technology used throughout its 15 warehouses.

“For the vast majority of the United States, we can reach next day,” he said.

Wellverse will also significantly expand its portfolio of private-label products, which currently includes about 4,000 products, as well as improve their quality, McComb said.

"I think that can come in a lot of different formats,” he said. “We can enter new categories, and we can extend the number of SKUs we have in a particular category to offer more variations.”

Wellverse's independence will allow the company to pursue both initiatives more quickly, McComb said.

“I think speed and agility is important,” he said. “As we’re currently attached to a larger corporation, we’re not always the first priority. As we become independent, I think we can move faster and be more flexible, and cater more fully to the needs of our customers.”

Commitment to HME remains unchanged

As health care companies increasingly blur the lines between manufacturer, distributor and provider, and as the medical supplies category faces renewed attention due to Medicare's competitive bidding program, McComb emphasized Wellverse's continued commitment to customers, including HME providers.

“We’ve been serving HME providers since the late 1980s, 1990s,” he said. “So, we’ve been in this community for a long time and one thing that’s not changing is our commitment to their success. We are very much aligned with all our HME customers and partners.”

That commitment is especially important as providers navigate uncertainty surrounding competitive bidding, McComb said.

“I think in the short run, the best we can do is support all of our customers and make sure that they can bid as competitively as possible and that they know we can help them reach the entire country,” he said. “I think we can also bring technology.”

More than a new name

Ahead of the name change, the company is also introducing a new identity intended to reflect its future direction and broader reach.

The Wellverse name, McComb said, is a nod to the company's evolution beyond its traditional medical-surgical roots, reflecting both its national footprint and its expanding product portfolio. It also speaks to “a future where health care providers and patients thrive," he said.

“Hopefully, the name also portrays a little bit of humility,” he said. “We believe in personal relationships. We believe we can solve (tough problems) when we work together with our customers.”

• Related reading: McKesson moves Medical-Surgical Solutions (MMS) segment closer to IPO.