In brief: Rotech strengthens vent biz, Advanced sells home infusion biz

ORLANDO, Fla. - Rotech Healthcare has acquired the respiratory assets of Good Night Medical.

The deal will benefit patients in Ohio, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas and North Carolina, where existing Rotech locations will work with Good Night Medical to coordinate service for those patients.

“Good Night Medical is a great fit with Rotech,” said Tim Pigg, Rotech CEO. “Both companies have strong ventilator programs.”

In October, Rotech obtained a $315 million credit agreement with lenders SunTrust Bank, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Regions Bank and Fifth Third Bank. The agreement included a $250 million five-year term loan, a $15 million revolving credit facility and a $50 million acquisition credit facility to continue its growth strategies.

Founded in 1981, Rotech is a national provider of home respiratory and medical equipment.

Advanced Home Care also sells infusion biz

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Advanced Home Care will sell its home health, specialty pharmacy and infusion business to Louisville, Ky.-based BrightSpring Health Services, according to Triad Business Journal.

The sale follows the news earlier in December that Advanced Home Care would sell its HME business to Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based AdaptHealth.

BrightSpring, which has 11 lines of service, will operate Advanced Home Care's home health business as Advanced Home Health, and its specialty pharmacy and infusion business as Advanced Home Infusion, according to the journal.

Advanced Health, which has 33 branches in five states, is a joint venture between 12 health systems.

“Our member health systems have supported and fully participated in our evaluation of ownership options to transform Advanced Home Care into a national company,” Joel Mills, CEO of Advanced Home Care told the journal. “We believe this is the best opportunity for future growth for our company and employees.”

Both transactions are expected to close in February.

VGM & Associates updates website, social media pages

WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM & Associates, a division of VGM Group, has redesigned its website, vgm.com. The web site makes it easier for users to find the information they're looking for, the company says. “With the new vgm.com, we're making it even easier for members to take advantage of their VGM benefits, which means they can spend more time on what truly matters—their customers,” said Clint Geffert, president of VGM & Associates. VGM & Associates has also redesigned the website for U.S. Rehab. The company will roll out more updates and features to vgm.com throughout 2020, beginning with a members-only portal in the first quarter. VGM & Associates has also launched new social media pages for Facebook, LinkedIn and twitter.

180 Medical expands into incontinence products

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - 180 Medical, a nationwide supplier of intermittent catheters and ostomy supplies, now also offers incontinence products. 180 Medical offers a range of incontinence products, including pull-on protective underwear, adult diapers and briefs, children's training pants, baby diapers, urinary bladder pads, incontinence liners, male guards, booster pads and underpads. “It's an exciting time for us,” said Mark Jassey, chief commercial officer. “We've spent nearly two decades working hard to provide the best service and supplies to anyone who needs us.” 180 Medical carries brands like Tranquility, TENA, First Quality, Prevail, Cuties, Comfees, Attends and Covidien (Cardinal Health). 180 Medical, a subsidiary of ConvaTec, is contracted with Medicare, state Medicaid plans and a growing number of private insurance plans.

ASV trumps PAP for chronic insomnia, study finds

YARMOUTH, Maine - Adaptive servo-ventilation proved superior to CPAP therapy in chronic insomnia patients with previously undiagnosed co-morbid OSA, according the first efficacy trial to compare the two modes. Future research must determine the following, according to the trial, which was recently published in The Lancet: the pathophysiological mechanisms to explain how OSA causes chronic insomnia; general population prevalence of this comorbidity; and cost-effectiveness of ASV therapy in complex insomnia. Raise awareness of complex insomnia is also needed, according to researchers, as patients and providers appear to disregard both overt and covert signs and symptoms of OSA in the assessment of chronic insomnia.

NHIA seeks clarification of 'calendar day'

WASHINGTON - The National Home Infusion Association wants lawmakers to “stem the damage that has been done to home infusion therapy reimbursement.” In comments submitted as part of a request for information, the association asks for clarification on the definition of “infusion drug administration calendar day” to: ensure providers are reimbursed for each day the patient receives medication; expound on the definition of professional services; and assure that providers have the skills and licensure to safely provide home infusion therapy. NHIA and other home infusion stakeholders have sought to modify regulations passed in 2018 that they say do not align with the intent of the 21st Century Cures Act.

SoClean taps vice president for Asia Pacific

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. - SoClean has named Francis Choi as vice president of Asia Pacific. Choi has extensive experience in consumer and healthcare business development in China and the Asia-Pacific region. "International expansion is a complicated exercise, but we are confident Francis brings a range of experience in the healthcare products space that will help bring SoClean's technology and products to consumers everywhere," said Bob Wilkins, CEO. With Asia Pacific accounting for nearly 60% of the world's population, SoClean sees it as a huge opportunity for its sleep equipment maintenance products.

Registration opens for Access2CRT

WASHINGTON - Registration is now open for Access2CRT, the annual conference of NRRTS and NCART, slated for March 30-31 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va. The rebranded event features an education day with CEUs available, and an advocacy day with Capitola Hill visits. FMI or to register: www.access2crt.org.

NSM creates thought leadership committee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - National Seating & Mobility has formed a thought leadership committee to address issues affecting the outcomes and mobility needs of individuals with disabilities and severe health conditions. The committee's current priorities include fee-for-service vs. integrated risk sharing, client outcomes measurement, wheelchair ANSI/RESNA standards, funding for essential technology enhancements and required documentation for order submissions. “Diverse teams often come up with the best solutions,” said Bill Mixon, NSM CEO. “The professionals on our Thought Leadership Committee represent varying backgrounds, experiences and roles. Their contributions and perspectives are invaluable.” Committee members represent select NSM ATPs and executives, as well as representatives from a variety of industry related organizations, such as Claudia Amortegui of The Orion Group, John Goetz of Bridge Public Affairs, Mark Schmeler of the University of Pittsburgh, Weesie Walker of NRRTS and Laurie Watanabe of Mobility Management Magazine. Members participate in an annual meeting and monthly calls to prioritize and discuss critical issues.

OxyGo hosts oxygen expo

ORLANDO, Fla. - OxyGo will host its first Oxygen EXPO2 on Jan. 21 at OxyGo Southern in Orlando, Fla., with experts giving sessions on the future of respiratory. “The Oxygen EXPO2 will present the best of what is new and next in the industry,” said Victoria Marquard-Schultz, CEO of OxyGo, a manufacturer of a line of portable oxygen concentrators. The one-day event will include a keynote session by Franck Rahagi, MD, MH, FCCP, director of respiratory care at Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital and Clinic, on advances in pulmonary medicine. Other session topics are how to find your assets and revenue in a connected DME market, how to leverage social media to create more patient retail and referrals, and how to tap patient markets without competitive bidding. The event will also include a guided tour and a networking lunch.

Short takes: Brightree, eSolutions

Brightree has relocated its headquarters to Atlanta Tech Park in Peachtree Corners, Ga., about 20 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The newly renovated 65,000-square-foot building is designed to increase the company's internal collaboration and community building, and to bring it into a rapidly growing technology hub that includes more than 50 other companies�Overland Park, Kan.-based eSolutions has announced that Joe Bell, its general manager, clearinghouse, has been elected to the board of directors of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) for 2020. WEDI is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit focused on the use of IT to improve healthcare information. At eSolutions, Bell leads the team responsible for driving strategy for the company's clearinghouse portfolio.