Archive: December 2023
Are weight-loss drugs a new wrinkle for bariatrics?
December 29, 2023John Andrews
Bariatrics has been a consistently strong market for home medical equipment over the past couple decades, with few external disruptions to impede its progress. So, the seemingly overnight arrival of weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro raise questions for the market, from how they will impact bariatric surgery to heavy-duty medical equipment.
Yet, industry analysts and manufacturers don’t think it’s a major issue right now, as it is not realistic for many people...
Inspire Medical names Curet to board
December 29, 2023HME News Staff
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Inspire Medical Systems has appointed Myriam J. Curet, M.D., as an independent director to its board effective Dec. 21, 2023. Curet currently serves as executive vice president and chief medical officer at Intuitive Surgical, a medical device manufacturer, and is also professor of surgery at Stanford University. “We are excited to add Dr. Curet, a practicing, board-certified minimally invasive general surgeon with extensive business and executive leadership experience...
ManaMed makes executive appointments
December 29, 2023HME News Staff
DENTON, Texas – ManaMed, a maker of orthopedic mobility and post-operative rehabilitation equipment, has announced several new leadership appointments. Erik Rost has been named director of sales and service, bringing more than 20 years of medical device sales and management experience. Kelly Nolan, who has developed and taken to market dozens of DME products, has been named director of product management. Chris Cioffi has been named director of quality and regulatory and will lead all...
CHME’s Ed Ettleman to retire
December 29, 2023HME News Staff
FOSTER CITY, Calif. – Ed Ettleman will retire after more than 17 years with California Home Medical Equipment and 45 years in the HME industry. Throughout his career, Ettleman has consistently gone the extra mile for patients, clinical partners and referrals. “After 17 years with CHME and 45 years in our industry, Ed Ettleman continues to strive to ensure we are all doing our very best to serve the needs of our patients, clinical partners and referrals,” said Bernie Zimmerman, CEO....
The year in diabetes? We’re good with that
December 28, 2023Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
If I could say anything about the year in diabetes & DME, it’s that 2023 was the year the industry rolled up its sleeves and got to work.
To be precise, the ground was prepped in 2022, with the launch of the AAHomecare Diabetes Council, whose members understood that if the industry wanted to succeed in this space, it needed to get out there and show itself.
Driving most of the changes: The ongoing boom in continuous glucose monitors, which have had the dual benefit of giving...
Older adults embrace tech, AARP survey finds
December 27, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – A new AARP survey finds that older Americans are just as likely to own a smartphone, tablet or other device.
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans – 89% of those 50-plus and 90% of those 18-49 – own a smart phone, according to “2024 Tech Trends and Adults 50+.”
Other findings:
Only 13% of adults 50-plus are currently taking advantage of technology to manage their health, despite 69% having one or more chronic or serious conditions....
Stakeholders ask CMS to fix problems with power seat elevation plan
December 27, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – When CMS is expected to release final coding and pricing for power seat elevation systems in February, complex rehab stakeholders will take a close look to see if the agency incorporated their feedback.
During a recent hearing hosted by CMS, stakeholders provided testimony outlining problems with the agency’s preliminary recommendations, including its decision to categorize power seat elevation systems as accessories.
“We don’t believe it should...
In brief: Philips settlement, Compass Health network, NHIA fellows
December 27, 2023HME News Staff
SAN DIEGO – Philips Respironics has paid almost $2.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by giving kickbacks to sleep laboratories, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California has announced.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2016 through 2021, Philips Respironics provided sleep labs with free masks used to treat and diagnose sleep-related respiratory disorders to induce physicians at the labs to write referrals...
Philips posts FAQ on silicone foam
December 26, 2023HME News Staff
AMSTERDAM – Philips posted a new FAQ to its website on Dec. 22 that explains the use of silicone sound abatement foam in its DreamStation 2 and other sleep and respiratory devices that were remediated as part of its June 2021 recall. “We have received a number of questions about the silicone sound abatement foam used in repaired and new replacement devices, as well as widely in the industry,” the company states. “We believe it is important that patients, care providers...
Compass Health adds Quality Biomedical to network
December 26, 2023HME News Staff
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio – Compass Health Brands has expanded its authorized service center network with the addition of Quality Biomedical. Through this new agreement, the Boulder, Colo.-based Quality Biomedical will support Compass Health customers with in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs for stationary and portable oxygen concentrators, CPAP and BiPAP devices, ventilators and other equipment. “Partnering with Quality Biomedical dovetails perfectly with Compass Health’s focus...