Business Development
Sleep therapy growth at inflection point
June 10, 2026HME News Staff
Sleep therapy is expanding across new channels, technologies and care settings, creating more ways than ever to diagnose and treat obstructive sleep apnea – and giving providers new opportunities to shape the patient journey, despite its growing complexity, industry experts say.
“Demand remains strong because obstructive sleep apnea continues to be significantly underdiagnosed, but the pathway into therapy is changing rapidly,” said Robin Randolph, senior vice president of sales...
Pediatric HME outgrows product-driven systems
June 10, 2026HME News Staff
The pediatric HME market faces a fundamental mismatch: Children’s needs are developmental, relational and long term, while the systems serving them still operate around products, codes and short-term approvals.
“It’s still one of the toughest parts of this space,” said Catharina Tunberg, executive vice president of product innovation at Permobil. “There’s general agreement that early and appropriate intervention matters, but the funding system does not always...
Mobility market pulls in two directions
May 1, 2026Tracy Orzel
YARMOUTH, Maine – The standard mobility market is being shaped by two competing forces: A growing demand from consumers for lighter, more versatile devices designed for life beyond the home, and a reimbursement system that continues to lag both technology and lived reality.
Consumers want lightweight, portable & stylish
Manufacturers say consumer demand is moving toward lighter, more portable scooters and power chairs, with design choices increasingly shaped by how easily a device can...
Technology takes center stage as HME providers navigate a rapidly changing landscape
May 1, 2026HME News Staff
Across the home medical equipment (HME) sector, technology is no longer optional – it is reshaping operations, documentation, patient engagement and even federal health policy. Using an AI tool (and then backing that up with a search through actual hard copies), we gathered six stories published in HME News in 2025 to illustrate a broad, accelerating shift toward artificial intelligence, automation, interoperability and smarter communication tools.
AI’s ‘moment’ has arrived...
Disposable supplies are becoming home-driven and consumer-led
February 17, 2026Tracy Orzel
The disposable medical supplies market, like all home medical equipment (HME), is being reshaped by one dominant force: care moving into the home. As more responsibility shifts to patients and caregivers, it’s changing which products are used – and what support from providers must include.
“We continue to see an increase in seniors who want to age in place and stay in their homes as long as possible,” said Shelley Bache, health care sales and clinical...
Mobility is the default setting in home oxygen
February 17, 2026Tracy Orzel
Home respiratory is a cornerstone of the HME industry, but manufacturers and providers are redefining what success in the market looks like: Oxygen therapy that keeps pace with patients, durable equipment for everyday demands, and service models that protect margins.
“Since COVID, we have seen rapid adoption of portable oxygen concentrators (POC) as patients, clinicians and providers increasingly choose POCs over legacy modalities like tanks...
Smarter CRT meets stubborn payment realities
February 17, 2026Tracy Orzel
Complex rehab technology (CRT) is moving faster than the systems that are supposed to pay for it. AI-enabled operations, smarter power wheelchairs and more adaptive controls are setting a new baseline for what’s possible, while Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid funding shifts and repair policies still operate on older assumptions, industry experts say.
“CRT and DME providers continue to struggle with Medicare Advantage plans across...
High care costs push families toward home solutions
November 21, 2025Tracy Orzel
The home accessibility market has shifted from niche to essential, not because the world suddenly aged—which it did—but because families, caregivers and providers are running out of affordable alternatives.
“Facility-based care is getting more expensive,” said Seth Diamond, vice president of sales and marketing at Climbing Steps. “That’s driving people to remain at home longer, and if you're at home, you continue to need other tools.”
Shifting...
Women’s health redefined: Industry shifts from medical necessity to lifelong, personalized care
November 21, 2025Tracy Orzel
For decades, women’s health was defined narrowly by what insurers deemed “medically necessary,” but that’s shifting – and fast. What once revolved around childbirth and a handful of condition-based interventions is broadening into a lifetime of needs, spanning fertility, postpartum recovery, menopause, cancer survivorship and mobility.
Industry leaders say this evolution isn’t just overdue; it’s a...
Outsourcing goes from cost cut to core strategy
November 19, 2025Tracy Orzel
Key highlights:
Outsourcing becomes strategic: Providers increasingly view outsourcing as essential for sustainability amid staffing shortages, payer audits and rising operational complexity.
Labor and expertise challenges: High turnover, costly onboarding and specialized billing requirements push providers toward partners with deep industry knowledge and process expertise.
Tech-plus-people approach: Successful outsourcing blends...