Archive: June 2021
FDA publishes Safety Communication for Philips recall
June 30, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration has issued a Safety Communication regarding the Philips recall of certain respiratory devices.
According to a bulletin from AAHomecare, the communication summarizes major issues and considerations related to the recall, and encourages patients using BiPAP and CPAP machines to discuss treatment options and alternatives with their healthcare providers, including “Continuing to use your affected device, if your health care provider...
Medtrade West 2022: Call for presentations
June 30, 2021HME News Staff
PHOENIX – The call for presentations for Medtrade West 2022 is now open. Show organizers seek submissions on topics for business operations, managed care payers, legal, retail, executive leadership and planning, and sales and marketing by solo presenters, panel discussions and collaborative teams. Deadline for submissions is July 30. Submit your presentation here.
InfuSystem implements stock repurchase program
June 30, 2021HME News Staff
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – The board of directors of InfuSystem Holdings has approved a stock repurchase program allowing the company to purchase up to $20 million in stocks through June 30, 2024. “This authorization will replace the prior authorization which expired on Dec. 31, 2020, and will provide us with an additional capital allocation option to enhance shareholder value,” said Richard Dilorio, CEO. “Additionally, the stock repurchase program emphasizes the confidence...
AAHomecare engages medical directors on recall
June 30, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - AAHomecare has reached out to the DME MAC medical directors to address the challenges HME providers and patients face due to the Philips recall.
In a letter to the four directors, the association requests that the DME MACs continue to reimburse for equipment and supplies affected by the recall for patients who continue to use them, as well as implement a temporary suspension of time-specific adherence rules to allow patients time to have devices repaired or replaced.
“AAHomecare...
NCPA participates in roundtable conversation with HHS Secretary
June 30, 2021HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – B. Douglas Hoey, the CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association, participated in a roundtable discussion with Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and leaders of several other provider organizations to discuss the expanding role of community pharmacies in health care.
Hoey discussed four priorities for independent pharmacists:
Eliminating retroactive price concessions, known as pharmacy DIR fees, which are imposed on pharmacies by...
‘We want to make sure this is stopped’
June 30, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – The payer relations team at AAHomecare is working with state and regional associations to pick off attempts by managed care organizations and other insurers to decrease reimbursement for HME.
Stakeholders have a number of bills working their way through state legislatures to protect reimbursement for DME at 100% of the state Medicaid fee schedules. One of those states: New York, where A.5368 is scheduled to go before the Rules Committee before heading to the floor for...
Who should repair equipment?
June 30, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – So-called “Right to Repair” bills in a number of states are raising awareness of the DMERT Group’s certification program for repair technicians.
The bills seek to give consumers the right to purchase parts from manufacturers and repair their own products, providing an important talking point for stakeholders on the role providers and their repair techs play in making sure equipment is working properly and safely.
“The bills so far...
Q&A: Chris Yule
June 30, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
AUSTIN, Texas – 2020 was a big year for Chris Yule: He led the sale of Travis Medical to National Seating & Mobility, and he became the new president of NCART.
Here’s what Yule had to say about taking his passion for complex rehab to a more national stage and how leveraging technology will lead to better services and outcomes.
HME News: What about your industry experience makes you well suited to be president of NCART?
Chris Yule: In 2003, I was involved in...
NorthShore turns provider to supplier
June 30, 2021Tracy Orzel
GREEN OAKS, Ill. – NorthShore Care Supply took one of the last steps in its years-long transition from provider to supplier when it named Sandra DiVito as vice president of B2B sales and development.
“We’ve really been transitioning from a provider to a supplier over the last five years and the addition of Sandra DiVito and a soon-to-be growing sales team is going to be one of the last pieces of that transition,” said Adam Greenberg, president and founder of NorthShore...
Stakeholders gauge interest in new coalition
June 30, 2021Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – A group of about 40 providers and manufacturers participated in a call in May to discuss whether there’s enough interest to form a Breast Pump Policy Coalition that could tackle a host of issues related to the product category.
“We’re still in the discovery phase,” said Ryan Bullock, COO of Aeroflow and co-chair of the coalition, which AAHomecare is spearheading. “We’ve sent out a follow-up survey to gauge their ongoing interest and...