In brief: AdaptHealth increases credit, Permobil goes Progeo, Alick’s buys Pill Box

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – AdaptHealth has expanded its credit by $300 million to boost acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. 

The company amended its senior secured credit facilities to increase its term loan by $100 million and to expand the maximum borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility from $250 million to $450 million.  

“We appreciate the support of the company’s lenders as we continue to execute on the company’s growth strategy,” said Steve Griggs, co-CEO. “Building on the combination of AdaptHealth and AeroCare in February 2021, we are seeing sustained opportunities to continue our growth through strategic and accretive acquisitions in all of our core businesses.” 

Since 2012, AdaptHealth has acquired 245 companies (85 by AdaptHealth, 160 by AeroCare). The company now serves nearly 3 million patients annually in all 50 states through its network of more than 500 locations in 46 states. 

Regions Capital Markets, a division of Regions Bank, acted as lead arranger and sole administrative agent in connection with the incremental senior secured credit facility, and Citizens Bank, N.A. and Truist Securities, Inc. acted as joint lead arrangers on the credit agreement expansion. 

Permobil improves portfolio 

STOCKHOLM – Permobil plans to buy Progeo, an Italian manufacturer of manual wheelchairs, to improve its portfolio in Europe. 

“Progeo’s products will be available to users in more countries,” said Bengt Thorsson, CEO of Permobil. “At the same time, this deal increases the possibility to offer Permobil’s product range in Italy. This is an important step in our overall strategy of developing the next generation of advanced assistive technology and services for individuals.” 

The transaction is expected to close in June, subject to regulatory approvals. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed. 

Progeo, which generates about EUR 10 million, complements Permobil’s manual wheelchair offering with ultralight manual wheelchairs and carbon fiber models. 

“Progeo is known for its high-quality products, careful selection of materials and moreover, showing respect and consideration to the individuals who use the products,” said Markus Mauer, regional president Europe, Permobil. 

Alick’s Home Medical buys Pill Box 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Alick’s Home Medical Equipment has acquired Warsaw, Ind.-based Pill Box Pharmacy & Home Medical Equipment, according to Greg Winn, president and owner of Pill Box. In an announcement on Pill Box’s website, Winn wrote, “This month, I’m turning the page to a new chapter in my career. I’m pleased to announce that Alick’s Home Medical Equipment is acquiring Pill Box. My team and I look forward to continuing to serve your home medical equipment needs in this same location under our new name Alick’s Home Medical.” Pill Box planned to stop offering retail pharmacy services on April 26, transferring all prescriptions to CVS Pharmacy. Alick’s opened its first pharmacy in 1967 and expanded into HME in 1982. The company has five locations in Indiana – South Bend, Plymouth, Michigan City, Mishawaka and Elkhart. 

NCPA extends its ‘Truth’ campaign 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association is extending its “The Truth” campaign, which resulted in 2.5 million impressions on social media and more than 27,000 letters to state lawmakers in its first 12 weeks. First launched in October 2020 and fully launched in January, the campaign seeks to educate state legislators, regulators and patients about how pharmacy benefit managers manipulate drug costs, steer patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies and pad their profits by squeezing independent pharmacies with backdoor fees. “More patients and policymakers are learning about PBMs every day, and they aren’t liking what they’re seeing,” said B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist and CEO. “The Truth campaign is reaching hundreds of thousands of people and recruiting new patient advocates, and we’re staying on offense for patients and for independent pharmacy. We’ll be keeping The Truth campaign going, continuing to grow the demand for controls on the anticompetitive PBMs.” 

RedSail, QS/1 offer integration with Google for independent pharmacies 

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - RedSail Technologies, LLC, an independent network providing software to community and long-term care pharmacies, has announced the launch of a new integration with Pointy from Google. RedSail Technologies customers using the QS/1 Pharmacy Management System can download Pointy for free to their point-of-sale (POS) system. Once they scan their products, they are uploaded to an online catalog for their store and are then displayed on their business profile on Google. Their products also have a better chance of showing up in relevant product-related searches on Google. “Facing COVID-19 and hoping to limit unnecessary trips, shoppers often check online to see if the product they need is in stock before leaving their house,” said Justin Buckland, product manager for ancillary products at RedSail Technologies. “That’s where Pointy and QS/1 together can make a difference.” Along with the Retailer Dashboard, other benefits include an online product catalog, image-based ads, product search results across Google surfaces, and customer support and success teams provided by Pointy.  

AAHomecare promotes Gambill 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – AAHomecare has promoted Tilly Gambill to director of marketing and communications. In this role, she will work to strengthen the association’s brand and national influence through traditional and social media channels, as well as develop new marketing campaigns. She will also manage the public relations agency overseeing the development of a campaign around the value of HME and policy issues, and will also continue to coordinate the Ambassador Program and build out the Community Outreach and Recruitment Team. Gambill has been with AAHomecare since 2007, with a break in 2012 for family. 

Aveanna acquires family care agency 

ATLANTA - Aveanna Healthcare, a provider of home health, hospice, private duty, medical supplies and respiratory therapy services, has acquired Loma Linda University Medical Center Family Care Agency. Aveanna has more than 200 locations in 25 states, serving more 50,000 children and adults daily. Earlier in April, Aveanna launched an initial public offering of about 38.2 million shares at $16 to $18 per share. The Braff Group originated the transaction and served as the exclusive adviser to Loma Linda University Medical Center Home Health. 

Ascensia launches educational tool for health care professionals 

BASEL, Switzerland – Ascensia Diabetes Care has launched an online educational platform aimed at health care professionals working with people with diabetes. The On@Pro tool, which was originally piloted in September 2020, has been developed in partnership with the TUMAINI Institute in Germany, through a collaboration with Professor Peter Schwarz, a globally renowned diabetes expert. “As part of our ongoing commitment to the diabetes community, one of our priorities is to provide free educational resources to healthcare professionals that can build a greater understanding of diabetes and its management,” said Rob Schumm, president at Ascensia Diabetes Care. The platform, available in 13 countries, currently offers a total of 32 modules, all in English language, relating to various aspects of diabetes care and management. Each module includes a three to four minute introductory video, a set of educational slides and an assessment tool that enables the user to receive certification. It can be accessed via Android, Microsoft and iOS enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets and PCs.  
Rackspace Technology allows Apria to focus on ‘core business’  

SAN ANTONIO – Rackspace Technology has collaborated with Apria Healthcare to modernize its IT infrastructure, resulting in a 32% reduction in operating costs. Rackspace Technology collaborated with Apria Healthcare to manage, modernize and secure its data center by consolidating and collocating its existing infrastructure by leveraging Rackspace Professional Services for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Rackspace Private Cloud powered by VMware and Managed AWS infrastructure. The move to the new infrastructure resulted in efficiencies and savings, and bolstered the company’s online storefronts with managed hosting during the peak busy season. “Like most businesses, we really just want to focus on our core business and have our engineers and architects behind our business model and better aligned to create the revenue streams rather than being in the data center game,” said Xavier Coto, Apria’s vice president of infrastructure and operations. “The bench for engineers, the knowledge and certifications and attention to detail at Rackspace Technology is second-to-none and we wouldn’t have been able to hit our goal timeline if Rackspace Technology didn’t move as quickly as they did.” Apria was maintaining the company’s data center with legacy IT infrastructure to service customer needs. 

Nonin Medical marks anniversary 

MINNEAPOLIS – Nonin Medical is celebrating 35 years in business in the coming months with the largest number of product launches in the company’s history. Over the past three decades the company has introduced dozens of medical monitoring solutions, including the first portable pulse oximeter and first fingertip pulse oximeter, it says. "We are so proud that for the past 35 years, millions of Nonin's devices have generated billions of measurements, improving healthcare outcomes for patients in more than 140 countries around the globe," said Dave Hemink, CEO. "Nonin's focus on developing an accurate, reliable and equitable platform – backed by clinical studies and real-world use – as the basis for our devices ensures the company is set up for success and future growth for many years to come." Nonin Medical was co-founded by Phil Isaacson, who continues to serve as executive chairman and chief technology officer.  

NSM adds to biz dev team 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Seating & Mobility has appointed Tim Williams, ATP, as director of business development. He has worked with NSM’s clinical business development team for the past five years. “Before joining NSM, Tim spent years recruiting and leading teams in the CRT industry,” said Doug McDaniel, senior vice president of business development. “He has a first-hand understanding of the dynamics involved in a company transition, and he’s an excellence resource for employees transitioning to NSM. We are thrilled for Tim to move into this role.” Williams joined the business development team in 2016, following more than 35 years in the complex rehab and DME industries. As an ATP and former business owner, he has an established reputation building and cultivating relationships with both clients and peers across the industry, NSM says. Led by McDaniel, NSM’s business development team also includes directors Tom Schoen and Charlie Felker. 

Feds charge five in massive fraud scheme 

NEWARK, N.J. – Five individuals have been charged and two others have pleaded guilty for their roles in a $93 million kickback fraud scheme involving DME and genetic cancer screening, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Thomas Farese, Pat Truglia, Domenic Gatto, Nicholas Defonte and Christopher Cirri are each charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit health care fraud; while Brian Herbstman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, and Sean Hogan has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Each of the defendants played a role in defrauding health care benefit programs by offering, paying, soliciting and receiving kickbacks and bribes in exchange for completed doctor orders for DME, namely orthotic braces. Farese, Truglia, Gatto, and their conspirators had financial interests in multiple DME companies, which paid kickbacks to suppliers of DME orders, including Cirri, Defonte, and Truglia. In exchange for DME orders, the DME companies fraudulently billed Medicare, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, and other health care benefit programs. The defendants concealed their ownership of the DME companies by using straw owners, who were falsely reported to Medicare as the owners of the companies. Truglia, Cirri, Defonte, and their conspirators owned and operated multiple call centers through which they obtained DME orders for beneficiaries of Medicare and other federal health care programs. The call centers paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies to obtain DME orders for these beneficiaries. The telemedicine companies then paid physicians to write medically unnecessary DME orders. The orders were provided to DME supply companies owned by Farese, Truglia, Gatto, and others in exchange for bribes. The DME supply companies provided the braces to beneficiaries and fraudulently billed the health care programs. Herbstman and his conspirators had financial interests in multiple DME companies. The DME companies paid kickbacks to suppliers in exchange for DME orders, which the DME companies fraudulently billed to Medicare, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, and other health care benefit programs. Hogan and his conspirators agreed to launder the proceeds of the health care fraud conspiracy. From March 2018 to October 2019, Hogan and others withdrew approximately $1.16 million in ill-gotten gains. 

Oventus signs up Sleep Metrics   

BRISBANE, Australia – Oventus Medical has signed a new virtual lab-in-lab agreement with Sleep Metrics, a Portland, Ore.-based provider of sleep apnea testing and therapy, its fourth such agreement. Through the agreement, Sleep Metrics is now able to offer O2Vent therapy as a treatment alternative to patients who refuse CPAP therapy or find it challenging. “There are tremendous synergies with our VLIL model and Sleep Metrics’ existing at-home OSA testing,” said Dr. Chris Hart, founder and CEO of Oventus Medical. “Having a company of their caliber adopt our innovative telehealth home care delivery model will enable more patients than ever to benefit for our technology.” Sleep Metrics provides services across Oregon and southern Washington state, conducting about 100 in-home sleep studies and treating about 80 CPAP patients per month. This agreement follows a recently announced agreement with In Home and Medical Equipment. 

Control Bionics partners with Numotion 

NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia – Control Bionics, a global assistive technology company specializing in speech-generating devices, has partnered with Numotion to increase access to its Trilogy product line of customized augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions. “Control Bionics is passionate about helping clients find their ‘voice’ and regain control of their lives,” said Neale Java, CFO of Control Bionics. “We’re excited to be partnering with Numotion, an established company within the CRT space, to expand access to our life-changing, multi-modal communication solutions throughout the Northeast.” Control Bionics’ products help individuals dealing with a wide range of diagnoses, including ALS/MND, spinal muscular atrophy, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. While Numotion has more than 150 locations across the country, the two companies will focus on New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. “Adding Control Bionics’ Trilogy product line to our offering of AAC devices allows us to better serve those looking for flexible access methods and multi-modal solutions,” said Amanda Whipple, director of augmentative communication at Numotion. “Their unique approach to AAC devices matches our desire to consistently improve and expand our offerings with cutting edge technology, ultimately offering the greatest benefit to our customers.” 

NCPA extends its ‘Truth’ campaign 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association is extending its “The Truth” campaign, which resulted in 2.5 million impressions on social media and more than 27,000 letters to state lawmakers in its first 12 weeks. First launched in October 2020 and fully launched in January, the campaign seeks to educate state legislators, regulators and patients about how pharmacy benefit managers manipulate drug costs, steer patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies and pad their profits by squeezing independent pharmacies with backdoor fees. “More patients and policymakers are learning about PBMs every day, and they aren’t liking what they’re seeing,” said B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist and CEO. “The Truth campaign is reaching hundreds of thousands of people and recruiting new patient advocates, and we’re staying on offense for patients and for independent pharmacy. We’ll be keeping The Truth campaign going, continuing to grow the demand for controls on the anticompetitive PBMs.”