In brief: AdaptHealth’s new CEO, CGM-nutrition connection, O&P bill 

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - AdaptHealth’s board of directors has named Lincare’s Crispin Teufel as its next CEO. 

Teufel, who has served as CEO of Lincare since July 2017, is expected to assume his role at AdaptHealth on Sept. 1. 

“We are quite pleased to be announcing the appointment of Crispin Teufel as the next CEO of AdaptHealth,” said Richard Barasch, chairman of the board. “Crispin is the ideal candidate to lead AdaptHealth in its mission to transform care by keeping patients healthy in their homes. We are fortunate to have found such an experienced executive with deep industry understanding and a proven track record of success. The board and I are confident that he will lead this organization to future success.” 

Teufel will replace Steve Griggs, who will step down on June 30. Barasch will serve as interim CEO until Teufel joins the company. 

Previously, Teufel served as CFO of Lincare from 2013 to 2019 and as a finance director for Linde Engineering in Germany from 2011 to 2013. Prior to joining Linde in 2005, he began his career with financial roles at PWC and Arthur Andersen. He currently serves on the board of directors of Bellerophon Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, and as the chairman of the board of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the South. 

Abbott funds research on CGM-nutrition connection 

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., and ARLINGTON, Va. – Abbott is providing a $2.65 million grant over the next three years to the American Diabetes Association to enable the ADA to, among other things, launch two pilot programs targeted at adults with Type 2 diabetes to gain a deeper understanding of the role a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system can play in personalized therapeutic nutrition. 

These programs will leverage CGM data to understand how they help people with diabetes achieve their objectives, which include modifications to their nutritional intake and dietary habits. 

"Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre technology can be a critical tool for all people living with diabetes, not only those on insulin," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and CEO, Abbott. "We look forward to working with the American Diabetes Association to gather further evidence to show how the technology we designed to be affordable and accessible can provide personalized insights to help people make informed decisions about their food and activity." 

The grant will also allow the ADA to: 

• Engage with top health care professionals and key opinion leaders to evaluate existing clinical evidence on the use of CGM systems for personalized, therapeutic nutrition. 
• Host roundtable discussions in collaboration with renowned health care experts to review and evaluate the existing clinical evidence. These discussions will investigate the role of therapeutic nutrition using CGM data and its potential to inform nutrition recommendations. 

"What people with diabetes eat is a critical part of managing their diabetes," said Charles "Chuck” Henderson, CEO of the ADA. "Personalized nutrition using CGMs has the potential to revolutionize diabetes management by providing individuals with more data and tools to manage their glucose levels, improve their quality of life, and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. The ADA is grateful to Abbott for its continued support of our mission to improve the lives of people impacted by diabetes." 

Abbott and the ADA have worked together for more than 20 years to fight for those affected by diabetes. 

Lawmakers seek to address fraud in O&P 

WASHINGTON – A bi-partisan group in the House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would prohibit “drop shipping” of custom orthoses and protheses to Medicare beneficairies. 

H.R. 4315, the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act, would also: 

Ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access the full range of orthotic care from one O&P practitioner, rather than requiring them to visit multiple providers when the treating orthotist or prosthetist does not have a competitive bidding contract; and 

Ensure beneficiaries can acess replacement custom-fitted and custom-fabricated orthoses when a change in their condition or clinical need occurs. 

“This important legislation will ensure that individuals living with limb loss and limb difference have access to the safe, quality clinical care they need and deserve,” said Teri Kuffel, JD, president of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association. “It will also help address the costly fraudulent practices from providers outside the orthotics and prosthetics profession that Medicare beneficiaries have been experiencing in the recent years.” 

Reps. GT Thompson, R-Pa., Mike Thompson, D-Calif., Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Angie Craig, D-Minn., introduced the bill. 

GT and Mike Thompson, as well as Guthrie, introduced a similar bill in 2021.  

Invacare names new SVP, CFO 

ELYRIA, Ohio – Invacare has appointed Kai Zhu as senior vice president and CFO effective July 1. Zhu, who has served as Invacare’s vice president of finance for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) since April 2022, has more than two decades of financial leadership experience. “On behalf of the board of directors, I am pleased to welcome Kai as our next chief financial officer,” said Geoffrey P. Purtill, president and CEO. “Kai brings deep experience and financial acumen to the global leadership team and is well suited to lead our financial organization as Invacare enters its next phase of growth and development.” Zhu will receive, among other benefits, an initial annual salary of $400,000 and an annual target incentive amount equal to 75% of his salary, which for 2023 will be prorated for the period during which he serves as senior vice president and CEO, according to a Form 8-K. Kathleen Leneghan, Invacare’s current senior vice president and CFO, informed the company on June 22 that she was retiring. She will remain at the company until Oct. 1 to assist with the orderly transition of her duties to Zhu. “I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Kathy for her over 30 years of service to Invacare and her dedication and resilience in leading our organization through a critical phase of our evolution,” Purtill said. “We wish Kathy well in her retirement.” 

NSM named exclusive nat’l provider for ‘smart glass’ 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Seating and Mobility has been named the exclusive national provider of munevo’s DRIVE smart glass alternative drive control for power wheelchairs in the U.S. “NSM is proud to offer uniquely engineered systems and breakthrough technology solutions to support the independence of those living with a broad spectrum of mobility needs,” said Darren Lowman, NSM chief transformation officer. “The munevo DRIVE is no exception. A partnership with munevo allows us to further support our clients with a transformative technology that offers a greater level of independence and freedom that was previously not possible to our clients.” DRIVE, which is already available in Europe, offers users an adaptable and intuitive proportional head control, providing a progressive alternative to traditional switch-based head arrays, sip-n-puff systems and chin controls. Its power to self-calibrate controls offers a comfortable and easy-to-use mobility solution for individuals with a wide spectrum of conditions such as ALS, multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury. The slight tilting movements of the head are recognized by the smart glass and converted into control signals, allowing users with minimal head mobility to move their wheelchairs independently and safely. munevo is based in München, Germany, and New York. 

Medline: ‘Best Employer for New Grads’ 

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline has once again been named to the Forbes “Best Employers for New Grads” list, raking among the top one-third of more than 300 U.S. companies that young professionals say “offer superior workplace opportunities” and “align with their values.” “We are honored to be recognized as one of the best employers for recent grads,” said Karen Ferraro, chief human resources officer. “Medline really empowers new employees. It’s a great place for new grads to have a lot of responsibility and make an impact right away. We also work every day to create a work environment that allows employees to bring their authentic selves to work.” The list was compiled based on survey results from 28,000 young and early career professionals in the U.S. working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Respondents were asked to rate their employers in areas such as reputation, salary and benefits; education and career advancement opportunities; working hours and atmosphere; quality of work; diversity, equity and inclusion; and recognition. Medline recruits at top universities throughout the U.S., and offers early career leadership programs in finance, operations management, engineering, product management (marketing, sourcing and sales) and supply chain. It also offers a regional rotational assignment program providing recent graduates with a wide range of experiences in different areas of the company, as well as early collaborative opportunities with hands-on experts, to help find the best employment match for an individual’s talents and aspirations. In addition, the company offers internships that can result in full-time job offers. 

Forcura to advance CSI Pharmacy’s digital transition 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Forcura, a health care workflow management company, has announced that CSI Pharmacy, a specialty pharmacy that provides infusion therapy services, will adopt the company's cloud-based technology to enhance patient onboarding, care plan management and care coordination. The agreement officially puts Forcura into the home infusion market, expanding its scope of practice to include another vertical of home-based care. “Like other post-acute sectors, home infusion is increasingly recognizing the importance and impact of speed, accuracy and security on its margins and the quality of patient care,” said Annie Erstling, COO of Forcura. “As home infusion continues to grow, partners who pivot toward a digital approach will differentiate themselves among referral sources and provide patients with the best care and experience possible.” With Forcura, CSI Pharmacy will graduate from a paper-based operation, leveraging digital architecture to receive, send and manage patient documentation and communication in a central location. This will allow CSI Pharmacy’s care team to quickly assess patient needs, better manage their key physician relationships and keep a detailed history of patients’ care journeys, all while remaining compliant and organized, according to a press release. “Forcura will be crucial to accelerating our conversion to a cloud-based system to improve our visibility of outstanding orders and decrease the turnaround of signed orders,” said Conner Nelson, director of operations at CSI Pharmacy. “This venture represents a significant step for our company as we continue to explore new strategies for advancing our position in the home infusion sector.” 

VGM seeks to streamline MA complaint process 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates encourages providers to supply the Office for Program Operations and Local Enforcement at CMS with examples of Medicare Advantage organizations denying prior authorizations and claims for several important categories of DME. “We understand the urgency surrounding these issues and have been talking with them about the best process to resolve them,” VGM stated in a recent bulletin. “In addition to those efforts, several of our members have asked for a mechanism through which they can report these issues and file complaints directly themselves. To that end, OPOLE staff has provided us with some guidance regarding the process through which formal complaints can be submitted.” VGM supplied a document that providers can use to streamline the process of submitting complaints. It outlines the complaint submission process, the data elements that must be included in the complaint, and the appropriate point person based on state/region. OPOLE is a division at CMS that provides a level of contract oversight and acts as a communication channel between CMS and MA organizations.    

NCART calls for Medicaid reimbursement increase 

WASHINGTON – NCART has sent letters to state Medicaid programs asking them to increase reimbursement rates for complex rehab technology products and services. The organization points out that CMS implemented a reimbursement increase for Medicare in January to address inflation. "CRT plays an irreplaceable role in maximizing independence, quality of life and community access for individuals with significant disabilities," says Wayne Grau, executive director of NCART. "We are calling on payers to acknowledge the considerable cost increases associated with providing CRT equipment and make corresponding reimbursement adjustments. This is crucial to ensure that people in need can continue to receive the equipment they rely on." NCART points out in the letter that providers are facing increased expenses, including increased expenses related to buying and shipping products and delivering products. The organization says all payers must increase reimbursement or there will be an impact on access and, in turn, the independence and well-being of those who rely on CRT products and services. 

VGM Forbin gets refresh 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Forbin has launched a refreshed brand identity that includes a new logo, website and messaging. "I am thrilled to launch a refreshed VGM Forbin into the marketplace," said Lindy Tentinger, president of VGM Forbin. "To us, this is not just about modernizing our look and feel, but better articulating the problems we solve for our customers, as well as a renewed commitment to be a leader in our industry, driving creativity and innovation.” The refreshed brand identity, which includes the new tagline “Empowering success, elevating experiences,” reflects VGM Forbin’s growing expertise not only in industry-specific web solutions and custom web development, but also in IT support, cybersecurity and digital marketing. “VGM Forbin has moved well beyond its previous tagline of ‘We do web stuff,’” Tentinger said. "‘Empowering success, elevating experiences’ is what our team is now chanting as we put our hands in and go to work for our customers.” VGM Forbin, a division of the VGM Group, has been in business since 1993.