In brief: Pritzker Private Capital acquires KabaFusion, providers offer shutdown help

CHICAGO - Pritzker Private Capital has acquired KabaFusion, a provider of acute and specialty home infusion services. The Cerritos, Calif.-based KabaFusion was founded in 2010 and serves patients in more than 40 states, specializing in IVIG and home infusion therapies. “We are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of specialty home infusion treatments and are thrilled to partner with Pritzker Private Capital,” said Dr. Sohail Masood, KabaFusion CEO and founder. “We selected Pritzker Private Capital because of their deep experience in healthcare services and differentiated long-term approach to building world-class businesses.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

NSM adds 10^th branch in Texas

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility has acquired First Care Medical Equipment in Fort Worth, Texas, further strengthening its growing presence in the state.

Formerly owned and operated by industry veteran Robby Halcomb, First Care Medical Equipment has served the Forth Worth area since 1998. Halcomb, along with his entire team of complex rehab professionals and ATP Ray Deshazer, will transition to the NSM team and continue to serve clients from the branch at 5470 E Loop 820 South.

With this acquisition, NSM now operates 10 branches in Texas. Forth Worth joins existing branches in Dallas, Austin, Midland, Abilene, Houston, San Antonio, Beaumont, Waco and McAllen.

Kelley Medical received unallowable payments for orthotics, OIG says

WASHINGTON - Kelley Medical received at least $4 million in unallowable Medicare payments for orthotic braces, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General. For 24 of the 100 sampled beneficiaries from Jan. 1, 2015, through March 31, 2017, Kelley Medical complied with requirements, but for 76 beneficiaries, it did not. Specifically, Kelley Medical billed for orthotic braces that were not medically necessary for 67 beneficiaries and could not provide medical records for nine beneficiaries. The OIG recommends that Kelley Medical refund to the DMEMACs $4 million in estimated overpayments for orthotic braces, exercise reasonable diligence to identify and return any additional similar overpayments outside of our audit period, and obtain as much information from beneficiary medical records as it determines necessary. Kelley Medical disputed the OIG's findings and recommendations. The OIG, which maintained its findings, notes that its recommendations don't represent final determinations by Medicare but are recommendations to HHS.

Shutdown and HME: StripSupply, AvaCare Medical offer help

BOSTON - StripSupply will be waiving monthly subscription fees for both diabetes test strips and lancets for federal employees affected by the government shutdown. The company says with one in 10 people living with diabetes and with the cost of supplies often more than $500 out-of-pocket per month, “StripSupply does not wish for any federal employees living with diabetes to suffer from any additional stress, while they attempt to maintain their physical health and to cover expenses for housing and nutrition without pay.” … Lakewood, N.J.-based AvaCare Medical, and its sister companies, MSC and Murse World, sent an announcement offering assistance to customers affected by the shutdown. “We know that many of our customers struggle to pay their bills and living with their medical supplies just isn't an option,” the company stated in the announcement. There are 800,000 federal employees affected by the shutdown.

Quality Biomedical, Brightree integrate service

BOULDER, Colo. - Quality Biomedical has integrated with Brightree to streamline workflows for HME companies managing the service and deployment of biomedical equipment. HME companies that manage large equipment fleets can now self-generate RMAs, arrange for pick-ups of defective equipment, view the status of equipment undergoing service, approve all service estimates and retrieve service records instantly. “This integration is a key aspect of our strategy to build a nationwide service network to support distributed healthcare industries such as home medical companies,” stated PK Bala, CEO of Quality Medical. “By eliminating the need for paper-based records, phone calls and emails needed to manage biomedical equipment services, the productivity savings for our HME customers will be quite significant.” Quality Biomedical provides integrated logistics, warehousing, service/repair, document management and other related services through a technology platform called Q-Connect.

GAMES taps new executive director

ATLANTA - GAMES has hired Devin Krecle as its new executive director, according to a bulletin from AAHomecare. Krecle is part of Association Strategy Group, a firm that specializes in association management. He also serves as executive director of the North Carolina Academy of General Dentistry, Georgia Medical Directors Association and the Georgia Society for Respiratory Care. "Devin brings a decade of experience and a strong team to assist us in the operation and growth of GAME,” said Tyler Riddle, president of GAMES and CEO of MRS Homecare. “As we recognize the increasing importance of state legislative issues as it relates to DME, we look to Devin's experience and connections in Atlanta to help promote a more favorable atmosphere for our members and the customers we serve." 

Rehab Medical revamps website

INDIANAPOLIS - Rehab Medical has launched a new website with a customer-focused design. The new site, rehabmedical.com, organizes the provider's product offerings into four frequently searched categories: manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, pediatric wheelchairs and wound care. It also features a new blog and a page detailing the process of obtaining equipment through insurance.

CEUs return to Medtrade Spring

LAS VEGAS - Pride Mobility Products and Quantum Rehab will once again offer courses for continuing education units (CEUs) at Medtrade Spring this year. Attendees can choose from “Clinically Speaking - A Practical Guide to Evaluation and Documentation for Power Seat Options” and “The Case for Wheels - Selecting the Clinically Appropriate Base.” Each course, worth .20 CEUs, is free but requires an expo pass and registration with Pride/Quantum. The courses are back this year after debuting at the show last year. “The CEO classes were reintroduced at Medtrade last year,” said York Schwab, an account executive with Medtrade Spring. “Thanks to our fantastic partner Quantum Rehab, we were able to offer two free sessions that were almost full. We will be offering the same opportunity for our Medtrade Spring 2019 audience.” The courses will take place on the second day of the show. Medtrade Spring takes place April 16-18 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

ResMed goes to the top

SAN DIEGO - ResMed has introduced its first top-of-head-connected nasal CPAP mask, the AirFit N30i, in the United States. The top-of-head connection keeps tubing out of the wearer's way, letting them move and sleep in any position. The mask also features a nasal cradle cushion that sits just under the wearer's nose, reducing facial markings and irritation. Additionally, ResMed says the mask fits 96% of CPAP users with just two frame sizes and four cushion sizes, making it convenient for HME providers and sleep labs. The AirFit N30i is also available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe, with other countries planned to follow later this year.

Companion Medical launches insulin pen app

SAN DIEGO - Companion Medical has launched the Android version of its InPen App, a smart insulin pen system that helps users manage dosages and provides reports that display aggregated glucose, insulin and meal data. "Our mission is to empower people living with diabetes and their healthcare providers with easy-to-use connected solutions that improve outcomes at a lower cost,” said CEO Sean Saint, in a press release. “InPen's dose calculator, insulin-on-board tracking, and dose reminders do all the tracking, monitoring, and complex calculations for users, while also providing healthcare professionals with the data they need." An iOS version of the app, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, has been available since December 2017.

People: Zacharias

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Claudia Zacharias, president and CEO of BOC, has been appointed to serve on the Certified Association Executive Commission. The CAE, an independent body of the American Society of Association Executives, is responsible for setting policy and standard related to the CAE program. Zacharias earned her CAE credential in 2008.