Tag: Home Medical Equipment

Rising costs. Inflation. Never-ending pandemic. Never-ending supply chain challenges.  Or, as AAHomecare’s Jay Witter so succinctly summed it: It’s "rough" out there.  He’s not wrong, of course, and I occasionally look at our headlines and think, “Yikes.”  However, as I am reminded every day, week and month, HME providers are a resilient bunch, as evidenced by a quick perusal of headlines in this issue.  There are stories about growth,...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare had several meetings lined up with lawmakers on Capitol Hill the week of May 9 as it worked to grow support for reimbursement relief.  “We’re primarily working the House side on H.R. 6641 and the committees of jurisdiction – Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO. “Unfortunately, it’s all Republicans, because they are the only ones doing face-to-face meetings.”  Introduced Feb. 8...

ELYRIA, Ohio – Matt Monaghan provided color on Invacare’s plans to emphasize “clinically valuable products” as a way to streamline its portfolio and offset higher costs, during a May 10 conference call to discuss the company’s first quarter financial results.  “If you take a bed, for example,  a low-end bed or a high-end bed has roughly the same amount of steel in it,” he said. “So, when the price of steel doubles or triples, you have a...

WATERLOO, Iowa – The cost of delivering home medical equipment continues to rise, according to the results of a new survey from VGM & Associates.  The survey of nearly 100 HME providers in eight regions of the U.S. looked at the increase in cost of goods, employee wages and freight, as well as cost of delivery per mile, PPE and average wages.   “While I suspected the various costs and related factors in securing appropriate HME delivery services would increase –...

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Reliable Medical has acquired San Jose, Calif.-based Hometown Medical Supplies, its first foray in the state. “We are pleased to welcome Hometown to the Reliable family,” said Katie Stevens, CEO of Reliable. “As a company, we are committed to focusing on intentional growth for the right reasons by targeting partners who share the same people-centric focus that has led to Reliable’s success. Our partnership with Hometown is a prime example of us delivering...

WATERLOO, Iowa – Essentially Women, a division of VGM & Associates, named Mary Walsh Aframe as the 2022 Essentially Women Ruth Addison Award Winner at this year’s Focus Conference. Essentially Women presents the EW Ruth Addison Award each year to an individual who has made a significant impact within her company, her community and the women’s health industry. Walsh Aframe, the owner and founder of The Women’s Image Center in Worcester, Mass., has been instrumental in the introduction...

WATERLOO, Iowa – The cost of delivering home medical equipment continues to rise, according to the results of a new survey from VGM & Associates.  The survey of nearly 100 HME providers in eight regions of the U.S. looked at the increase in cost of goods, employee wages and freight, as well as cost of delivery per mile, PPE and average wages.   “While I suspected the various costs and related factors in securing appropriate HME delivery services would increase –...

NELIGH, Neb. – Kubat Healthcare has acquired Hilltop Drugs Etc., in Neligh, Neb., further expanding its commitment to local care.  Founded in October 2008 by co-founder and current Pharmacist-In-Charge Jami Schmidt, Hilltop Drugs is a community pharmacy providing personalized pharmacy and health care services. In 2019, Schmidt and her business partner sold to Mark Vogt.  "When I started Hilltop Drugs in 2008, I wanted to provide the community with exceptional pharmacy solutions,"...

DES MOINES, Iowa – MAMES held its annual board of directors election at its recent conference and exhibition. The association welcomed the following members at the conference:  Minnesota: Jesse Neumann, Corner Home Medical  Associate director (represents MAMES associate members on the board): Jay Kopriva, VGM & Associates  Board members re-elected to the board for another three-year term:  Kansas: Sam Cress, Cherub Medical Supply  Minnesota: Jacques Beasley,...

Q. What is DEI and how should my business communicate about it?   A. Large companies have been focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for decades, but in recent years, smaller businesses are learning the value of doing so, as well.   Diversity is about the full range of human differences and similarities. These include personal dimensions like ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age and physical ability. But it can also include things like parental or family status,...