In brief: AAH investigates illegal online sales, NSM debuts in Alaska

WASHINGTON - AAHomecare is working with outside counsel on a strategy to curb illegal online sales of durable medical equipment, after learning that third-party sellers in North Dakota sold CPAP devices through Amazon without prescriptions. Such sales typically violate state and federal laws, as well as Amazon's own rules, the association stated in its “Wednesday in Washington” weekly bulletin. AAHomecare plans to reach out directly to the sellers and to regulators to ask them to ensure HME products requiring a prescription are not available on online marketplaces without a prescription.

NSM heads north
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility is opening locations in Anchorage, Alaska, and Olympia, Wash., it announced Dec. 13. The Anchorage branch will be its first in Alaska. “The continued growth of the company supports our goal to reach more clients in need of mobility solutions,” said Bill Mixon, NSM CEO. “We are excited to operate our first location in Alaska and to expand our presence in the Washington area.” NSM has been expanding across the country—it's most recent acquisition was Mobility Unlimited in Texas.

AAHomecare shuffles leadership
WASHINTON - Joel Mills, CEO of Advanced Home Care in Greensboro, N.C., has been appointed treasurer of AAHomecare's Executive Committee. He replaces Jeff Hall, president and CEO of Reliable Medical Supplies in Brooklyn, Minn. Gary Sheehan, president and CEO of Cape Medical Supply in Sandwich, Mass., will fill Mills' at-large seat on the board of directors. In other leadership changes, Missy Cross will take over as chairwoman of the HME/RT Council, and George Kucka, CEO of Fairmeadows Home Health Center in Schererville, Ind., will fill her at-large seat on the board.

NRRTS launches Amnesty Program
LUBBOCK, Texas - The board of directors of NRRTS has announced an Amnesty Program for awarding the CRTS designation to new or current registrants who meet certain criteria. The program will be in effect Jan. 1, 2018, to March 31, 2018. Registrants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program: They must have a minimum of three years of experience providing direct services to consumers; they must be an ATP in good standing for a minimum of three years at the time of their application; and they must complete the application for registry to the satisfaction of the review chair within the timeframe. Current registrants who meet the criteria will be awarded the CRTS designation on their 2018 renewal.

CHAP names new leader
WASHINGTON - The board of directors of Community Health Accreditation Partner has tapped Barbara McCann as president and CEO. McCann has served as interim president and CEO since July 2017. Her experience spans executive roles with national homecare providers over the last two decades. “We are excited to have Barbara assume the position of CEO and president,” said Maureen Spivack, chairwoman of the board. “Her national experience in quality management, combined with her vision and integrity, make her the perfect leader to take CHAP forward.” McCann comes to CHAP from Interim Health, where she most recently served as the company's chief industry officer based in Washington, D.C. Interim Health is a healthcare franchise company with more than 40,000 nurses, therapists, aides and other professionals across 43 states.

ResMed named top corporate citizen
SAN DIEGO - ResMed has been named one of America's top 100 corporate citizens for the second straight year by Forbes and JUST Capital, a nonprofit that analyzes and ranks companies based on how they serve the priorities of the American people. ResMed ranked No. 76 among other large publicly traded U.S. companies and No. 2 in “Health Care Equipment & Services.” Companies were compared on issues that included worker compensation and wellbeing, customer treatment, product impact, environmental impact, community support and job creation. “This honor acknowledges that, here at ResMed, we are fulfilling our commitment to best serve our patients, physicians, providers, communities and our 6,000 ResMedians serving people in 120 countries worldwide,” said Mick Farrell, CEO. “I look forward to us raising it even higher in 2018.”

F&P files lawsuit in Australia
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Fisher & Paykel Healthcare filed patent infringement proceedings against ResMed in the Federal Court of Australia on Dec. 12, alleging that some of ResMed's products, including its AirSense 10 and Lumis non-invasive ventilators, infringe on four of its patents, according to news reports. F&P seeks damages and injunctions that would prevent ResMed from manufacturing and selling these products in Australia. F&P and ResMed have patent proceedings pending in a number of countries. Most recently, the English Patents Court sided with F&P, saying a ResMed patent for masks is invalid in the U.K.

Medline, ROi announce agreements for wound care, incontinence
NORTHFIELD, Ill. - Medline has been awarded two new agreements with Resource Optimization & Innovation through its Pre-Commitment Program. Per the agreements, ROi members will have access to a portfolio of products related to traditional wound care and incontinence categories, including gauze, bandages, abdominal pads, underpads and briefs. “Medline is honored to have been chosen as a collaborative partner with ROi for basic wound care and incontinence items,” said Dan Johns, vice president, national accounts, Medline. “These agreements will provide the highest quality products to help improve patient care for the ROi membership. Medline's and ROi's aligned goals in driving clinical outcomes, coupled with Medline's breadth of high quality products at competitive pricing, were the driving forces in the award.” ROi serves more than 250 hospitals and 2,800 non-acute care facilities across the U.S.

Short takes: Spina Bifida Association, CompactCath
Lisa Wells, vice president of marketing at Cure Medical, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Spina Bifida Association. “She's a long-term supporter of our work and mission, and we know that her extensive knowledge of the issues facing the Spina Bifida community will enrich and enhance our shared goals,” said Sara Struwe, president and CEO of the association. Wells, who has more than 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing communications and web-based product management at medical device, medical supply and health technology companies, also sits on the board of the United Spinal Association…CompactCath has received CE Mark approval as a Class III Medical Device for its flagship intermittent urinary catheter. Already distributed in the U.S., the approval paves the way for the distribution of the CompactCath in 28 countries across Europe. CompactCath, designed by a team of physicians, engineers and users that met at Stanford University, is a unisex catheter available in a variety of sizes for use by both pediatrics and adults. Its coiled packaging makes the 16-inch catheter fit in the pocket or the palm of the hand.