Providers

RICHMOND, Va. – Owens & Minor’s acquisition of Rotech Healthcare will provide the company with an on-ramp to DME, as it continues to diversify its product portfolio and accelerate growth across its Patient Direct segment.  With Rotech as part of the company, Owens & Minor’s Patient Direct segment, on a pro forma basis, is comprised primarily of sleep (28%) and respiratory (24%) services, followed by diabetes supplies (23%).  “Rotech is certainly fairly heavily...

RICHMOND, Va. - Owens & Minor has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Rotech Healthcare for $1.36 billion in cash.  Given the anticipated tax benefits from the transaction of about $40 million, the net purchase price is about $1.32 billion, representing 6.3x multiple of LTM EBITDA, excluding synergies.  "Rotech squarely fits into our existing Patient Direct segment and directly aligns with the strategy we outlined last December during our Investor Day, supporting our expansion...

MODESTO, Calif. – Home Oxygen Company’s recent acquisition of the DME division of a local hospice provider will boost its patient census in California’s Central Valley and position it to grow into 2025, says CEO Andrea Ewert.  Home Oxygen Company in June announced it had finalized a deal to acquire the DME business from Modesto, Calif.-based Community Hospice & Health Services, a company that it already had a good working relationship with, says Ewert.  “We...

PHILADELPHIA – Dynamic Healthcare Services and Hometown Oxygen Pittsburgh on July 15 filed a lawsuit against Philips Respironics, DeLage Landen Financial Services and Philips Medical Capital for cutting off access to financing and leasing programs that the providers say are necessary for them to compete.  According to the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania:  Prior to the Philips recall, DHS purchased thousands of respiratory...

Trend toward diversity: The HME industry is catching up with wider trends, and more women are taking high-profile roles. A mobile workforce seeking cultural alignment is driving this shift. Educational opportunities: Over the past decade, educational opportunities have expanded, including stronger master’s programs in health administration. Women now have more options for pursuing management careers. Support and empowerment: Women leaders face biases and pay gaps, but there’s...

ORLANDO, Fla. – Industry consolidation and low reimbursement have created a large gap in the local DME landscape in Florida, and Gilgal Medical Supplies sees that as a “big opportunity,” says Tom Chacko, vice president and one of the company’s owners.  The company launched in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, opening its first store in St. Cloud in the location of a DME that was closing. Six months later, it opened a second location in Orlando in the location vacated...

AMES, Iowa – Retiring provider Kevin Henning looks back at 22 years of owning and building Choice Medical, including how his background as an electrical engineer prepared him for the ups and downs of the HME industry.  HME News: What’s been the biggest challenge faced by providers, especially independents, over the years?  Kevin Henning: It’s probably been the insurance companies. They've kept cutting reimbursement, and as an independent, we don't have the...

LIVINGSTON, Tenn. – Home-based COPD management programs led by respiratory therapists using AI-driven software with plan of care goals can have a significant impact on admissions, quality of care metrics and overall cost of care, according to an abstract developed by Encore Healthcare and published by the American Thoracic Society.   HME providers using Encore’s Nexus software for patients using non-invasive ventilation produced the following results:  Enrollees...

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Josh Barnes will step down as president of AdaptHealth on Aug. 31 and from the board of directors on Dec. 31, the company has announced.  “Founding Adapt and helping it become the leading provider of HME is a source of immense pride,” said Parnes. “With Suzanne (Foster) as CEO, I am confident the company is in excellent hands and will continue to innovate, grow and deliver patient-focused best-in class care.”  AdaptHealth also...

WASHINGTON – Jeff Barnhard says he will bring a broad perspective to his new role as chairman of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care, thanks to a resume that includes roles at providers big and small.  “What I’ve seen that’s been common throughout all those different roles is there’s always a drive for patient care and patient excellence in care,” said Barnhard, who was named CEO of Lincare in 2023 and who previously worked at Praxair. “We continue...