In brief: ALS report, McKesson agreement, Swift C-suite

WASHINGTON - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have published “Living with ALS,” a report on improving the quality of care for individuals with ALS that includes specific recommendations to strengthen access to respiratory care.   

The report includes a policy brief that urges CMS and private insurers to act quickly to expedite access to essential ALS medical and support services, including: 

• Requiring expedited (within 72 hours) responses to prior authorization requests for all therapies, durable medical equipment, assistive technologies and services for persons with ALS. 

• Not denying services for persons with ALS based on failure to show functional improvement, given the progressive nature of the illness. 

“The findings and recommendations related to respiratory care in the report echo messages that our partners in the clinician community and at the ALS Association have been making to remove barriers to access for non-invasive ventilators (NIV) for patients with severe respiratory challenges,” AAHomecare stated. “The new report will lend additional credibility to our ongoing advocacy to ensure these individuals and their caregivers can benefit from these life-sustaining products.” 

AAHomecare promotes Chandler 

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has promoted David Chandler to vice president of payer relations. Chandler has been with the association for five years and has been instrumental in the formation and strategy of AAHomecare’s Payer Relations Council and has taken a leading advocacy role with the association's Diabetes Council in protecting and expanding access to diabetes equipment and supplies in the home. “David has forged strong relationships with policymakers, HME leaders and patient groups that are helping us win on legislative campaigns,” said Tom Ryan, president & CEO. “He has a natural talent for collaboration that allows him to tap into the commitment and expertise of a wide range of HME stakeholders and healthcare advocates.” Chandler has more than 20 years of direct HME industry experience, including sales, operations and reimbursement, as well as payer and government relations. Chandler’s service to the HME community also includes a term as president of the Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association and chairman of the Medicare Jurisdiction C Advisory Council. He was also elected to the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy/DME Subcommittee in 2016. 

Compass Health moves to Diamond sponsor 

CLEVELAND – Compass Health Brands is increasing its corporate sponsorship of AAHomecare to the Diamond level. Compass Health has been a supporter of AAHomecare and its state association partners for seven years. “The work being done by AAHomecare is so vital to the health of the HME industry,” said Mike Scarsella, senior vice president of HME. “The commitment and dedication of the staff and board of directors is incredible, and Compass is so pleased to be able to contribute to their efforts and success.” Compass Health’s support is “gratifying,” says AAHomecare President & CEO Tom Ryan. “The additional resources and active involvement of our Corporate Partner members allows us to expand legislative, regulatory and payer relations initiatives that benefit the entire HME community and the patients we serve,” he said. 

React Health emphasizes holistic care in new mission statement 

DUBLIN, Ohio – React Health and ReactDx have adopted joint mission and vision statements to underscore their commitment to optimizing the well-being of individuals by pioneering advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. "We believe this mission and vision will inspire our team and resonate with our providers and patients," said Bill Shoop, CEO, React Health. "They capture the essence of who we are and where we are headed, emphasizing our commitment to respiratory, sleep and cardiac care, as well as our broader goal of revolutionizing holistic care.” The mission statement: "To improve the lives of those we serve by delivering an innovative continuum of diagnostics and medical devices, with excellent respiratory, sleep and cardiac care.” The vision statement: "To seamlessly integrate end-to-end quality diagnostic medical device and service products to become the cost-effective standard in the detection, prevention, treatment and monitoring of respiratory sleep, and cardiac conditions by removing barriers informed by the experiences of patients and customers." The company says the development of the new statements was a comprehensive process that involved input from various stakeholders, including employees, patients and industry experts. The statements are part of the company’s broader strategy to enhance patient care through innovation and excellence.  

Canadian retailer taps NorthShore Care Supply for distribution 

VAUGHAN, Ontario – AgeComfort, an online retailer specializing in premium health care products in Canada, has entered into a strategic partnership with NorthShore Care Supply to handle the distribution of Forsite Health Maximum Absorbency adult diapers across the U.S. The collaboration marks a major milestone for Forsite Health, enhancing the availability of the maximum absorbency adult diapers in the U.S. market. "We are incredibly excited about this partnership with Northshore Care Supply," said Hanif Balolia, president, AgeComfort. "Their extensive distribution network and commitment to quality align perfectly with our values. This collaboration will allow us to meet the growing demand for Forsite Health adult diapers in the U.S., providing more people with the premium incontinence solutions they need." NorthShore entered the Canadian market in 2021. 

IPC, McKesson sign supply agreement 

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), a group purchasing organization of community pharmacies, has announced a new supply agreement with McKesson. The new supply agreement provides IPC members with two distinct pricing options, allowing them to tailor their approach to better serve their communities and thrive in a competitive market. "Our collaboration with McKesson reflects our unwavering commitment to our members' success,” said Marc Essensa, CEO of IPC. “By offering these pathways, we empower pharmacies to make informed decisions that align with their unique business models. This agreement underscores our dedication to fostering choice, innovation, and resilience within the independent pharmacy landscape.” The pricing options will be presented to member pharmacies over the next month, with an effective date of Aug. 1. 

Swift Medical names new CEO, CTO 

TORONTO – Swift Medical, a digital health technology company focused on improving clinical outcomes in chronic and acute wound care, has named Dwayne Sansone as CEO and Stratos Davlos as CTO. Sansone brings more than 25 years of experience to Swift Medical, including significant expertise in the health care industry, as well as public accounting, Wall Street investment banking and senior leadership roles with top health insurance payers. "I feel privileged to join Swift Medical at this pivotal moment," said Sansone. "Swift Medical has a unique opportunity to transform the way wound care is delivered, and I look forward to working with the team to drive innovation and create value for our partners, providers and patients." As CTO, Davlos will lead Swift Medical's technology strategy and steer the development of its wound care solutions, leveraging his deep technical knowledge to drive innovation. Davlos is a pioneer in AI, data and software development with more than 25 years of experience, including key roles at Apple, Reliance Jio and IBM. "I am excited to join Swift Medical and lead its talented team of technologists," said Davlos. "I believe that technology has the power to revolutionize health care, and I am committed to leveraging our expertise to improve patient outcomes and enhance the delivery of wound care." 

Wound Pros taps new medical director 

LOS ANGELES – The Wound Pros has appointed Dr. Richard Park as medical director. Park brings a wealth of experience in internal medicine and hospital care to the company, which specializes in treating and managing non-healing wounds in long-term care facilities. Park earned his medical degree from Flinders University School of Medicine in Australia and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Good Samaritan Hospital, which is affiliated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he also served as chief resident. Park's extensive experience in hospital settings and dedication to quality patient care aligns with the company's mission to enhance wound care management through AI-driven insights and robust documentation. As a medical director, he will oversee the company's clinical operations, collaborate with clinical teams to develop and implement evidence-based treatment protocols, and ensure that the highest standards of care are maintained across partnering facilities. 

Sky Medical Supplies launches line of equipment 

DENVER – Sky Medical Supplies has launched a new line of affordable medical equipment that includes manual and power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, hospital beds, oxygen concentrators and lift chairs. "Our mission is to provide reliable and affordable medical equipment to those in need, ensuring that everyone has access to the necessary tools for a better quality of life," said Semaynesh Miftah, co-founder of Sky Medical Supplies. "With the launch of our new mobility equipment line, we are taking a significant step toward achieving this goal." Founded in May 2021 by Miftah and Hussien Hassen, Sky Medical Supplies also offers incontinence products, ADLs and orthotics. 

ACHC launches specialty credentials 

CARY, N.C. – Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has launched two new specialty credentials: the Distinction in Age-Friendly Care for Home Health and Hospice and the Distinction in Outcomes for Home Health. Based on thorough evaluation of defined specialty services, the distinctions will be awarded to ACHC-accredited organizations that have excelled in providing high-quality, patient-centered care. "I believe the best part of delivering age-friendly health services is when the clinicians realize it is the most important part of the care we give,” said Karen Snavely, BSN, RN, regional director of clinical services for the Central Region of CommonSpirit Health at Home. “When we ask the patient what matters to them, we get a completely different view of what the goal for their care should be and how important it is to them. One clinician said this has become the best part of documentation, knowing what the patient really wants." The Distinction in Age-Friendly Care acknowledges organizations that recognize the unique goals and priorities of care for older adults. The Home Health Distinction in Outcomes recognizes excellence across three key domains: patient outcomes, patient satisfaction and health care utilization. The Distinction is available to those ACHC-accredited agencies that score in the top 25% of their cohort based on nationwide data and Medicare claims that have been aggregated in annual evaluation reports for the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model.