In brief: Lobbying for reimbursement relief heats up & React Health integrates with sovaSage, EnsoData 

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM Government Relations has a goal of scheduling 55 visits with legislators or their staffers in 55 days in a final push to get H.R. 5555 and S. 1294 passed in Congress. 

“We are in the bell lap of the legislative session, and your voice is needed now to get us across the finish line,” said Mike Isaacson, senior vice president of government relations and regulatory affairs for VGM & Associates. “There is so much happening on Capitol Hill that the noise can drown out the real work that has to be done.  We need you, our Champions of Change, to make sure that the message is heard loud and clear. We need your elected officials to support H.R. 5555 in the House and S. 1294 on the Senate side.” 

VGM’s John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for VGM, was on hand at Prism Health Care Services in Schaumberg, Ill., on Oct. 24 to discuss the need for the bills with Jessica Sewell, the Chicago outreach director for Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. Also in attendance: Neidi Mack, Tom Halpin, Mary Mundo and Elizabeth Slover of Prism Health Care; Maura Flanary of The Alden Skilled Nursing Facility Network; Julie Levin and Michelle Bos of Suburban Lung Associates; and Jack Avila of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. 

In an additional push for the bills, VGM has teamed up with AAHomecare to host a virtual lobbying event on Nov. 13.  

The bills would provide a 90/10 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for most home medical equipment products in competitive bidding areas for all of 2024 and extend the current 75/25 blended rate currently in effect in rural/non-CBA areas through 2024.    

For more info on VGM’s Champions of Change: 55 in 55, please go here. 

Coding for seating elevation imminent 

WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders believe CMS will address coding for seat elevation systems during a scheduled public meeting Nov. 28-30. 

They believe the agency will release corresponding reimbursement in December. 

“Final implementation of coverage will be in early 2024,” NCART stated in a bulletin. “In the interim, the DME MACs will continue to determine reasonable and necessary coverage as they work to develop local coverage determinations that are in line with the national coverage determination.” 

CMS began covering power seat elevation systems earlier this year. 

Stakeholders continue to advocate for the agency to also cover for power standing systems. 

HME Home Health grows sales team 

RICHMOND, British Columbia – HME Home Health has promoted Jeff Lang to head of sales and Eli Paradis and Gavin Dhanoi to regional sales managers. “With the promotion of Jeff, Eli and Gavin, HME will now have the managerial strength to continue to develop new markets and accelerate our growth further in 2024 and beyond,” said COO Michelle Harvey. Lang will oversee the sales department’s budget, strategic plan and objectives, while also leading the Pediatric Division. Paradis will oversee the sales team in Nanaimo and the Contracting Division. Dhanoi will oversee the Signature Series line and sales team members in Victoria and the Lower Mainland. Starting from a single operation in B.C.’s Lower Mainland a decade ago, HME has expanded aggressively across the province in recent years and today has seven locations and more than 75,000 square feet of office and warehouse in Richmond, Victoria, Surrey, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, and Kelowna. The company’s workforce is comprised of more than 120 highly-trained professionals, technicians and support staff.  

Alpine Home Medical debuts in Tooele 

SALT LAKE CITY – Alpine Home Medical has announced the grand opening of a new store in Tooele, Utah, its 11th store overall. The company says the store, which is located just south of Walmart on Main Street, will bring its dedication to quality products, compassionate customer service and extensive range of home medical equipment even closer to those in need. “This new store marks another significant milestone in our mission to provide exceptional health care solutions to the communities we serve,” the company stated. Alpine Home Medical will provide the following equipment at the store: lift chairs, oxygen equipment, CPAP supplies, bathroom safety equipment, wheelchairs, walkers, power scooters and more. 

RESNA hits pause on annual conference 

WASHINGTON – RESNA's board of directors has decided to take a one-year break from hosting the organization’s annual conference. RESNA will develop new events and explore partnerships for future conferences, the organization stated. “Sponsors, attendees, and solution providers really enjoyed our New Orleans conference this past July, and we got great feedback from our customer focus groups and surveys,” said Carmen DiGiovine, PhD, ATP/SMS, RET, president of the board. “But with manufacturers, public institutions and rehab facilities cutting their budgets, we felt we could not get the attendance we needed to make a 2024 conference financially feasible.” RESNA pointed out that in recent years it has developed several partnerships to increase education, like its educational track at this year’s International Seating Symposium. Additionally, RESNA Learn includes courses on product design, smart technologies and power wheelchairs, engineering concepts in AT, and robotics wheelchairs, among other topics. “Member needs have really changed due to the pandemic,” said Andrea Van Hook, executive director. “For example, RESNA now has year-round continuing education available through RESNA Learn, which is free to members. The hands-on and in-person component of assistive tech is very important, though, so we’re actively looking for ways to engage live, especially with partners. Since conferences are planned years in advance, we simply couldn’t make it happen for 2024.” 

TwelveStone expands in Kentucky 

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – TwelveStone Health Partners has opened infusion centers in Lexington, Ky., and Louisville, Ky., its 16th and 17th locations. “We are thrilled about our further expansion into Kentucky,” said Shane Reeves, CEO, TwelveStone Health Partners. “We look forward to providing the residents of Kentucky with the same exceptional patient experience that we offer at our Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia locations.” The new centers join existing centers in Tennessee (Bellevue, Chattanooga, Knoxville, North Nashville, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro, and Spring Hill), Georgia (Canton, Cumming, Duluth, Lithonia, Peachtree City and Smyrna) and Virginia (Norfolk and Roanoke.) The centers provide a patient-centric process with a focus on assisting patients with chronic condition management, the company says. 

EnsoData, React Health partner 

MADISON, Wis., and SARASOTA, Fla. – EnsoData has partnered with React Health to optimize CPAP adherence support for patients with sleep apnea. As part of the partnership, EnsoData’s adherence prediction AI technology will be integrated into React Health’s recently launched Connect patient management software platform, empowering physicians and HME providers with actionable data to provide timely, personalized support to patients who are struggling with therapy. “By partnering with EnsoData, we are making another significant investment in our sleep therapy product portfolio,” says Tom Pontzius, president at React Health. “EnsoData’s predictive analytics will allow our customers to prioritize and focus on the patients that need intervention the most and will, ultimately, provide a more personalized and positive patient experience.” EnsoData also offers EnsoSleep, an AI-powered viewing, scoring, editing and reporting software that simplifies and accelerates the sleep testing, diagnosis and treatment workflow – providing clinicians with more time and opportunities to expand patient care and improve outcomes.  

sovaSage integrates with React Health 

PITTSBURGH – sovaSage has completed an integration with React Health’s Connect patient management software platform. Earlier this year, sovaSage introduced Jeanie, an AI-based CPAP coach technology, to manage the initial 90-day compliance period and long-term compliance and support. “React Health has made significant inroads in the sleep therapy market and has established itself as a strong provider of sleep products and technology,” said William Kaigler, founder and CEO of sovaSage. “With this technology integration complete, patients using React devices and the Jeanie coaching service promise to be more adherent to their therapy and enjoy superior clinical benefits – all leading to a more profitable business for our DME provider customers.” sovaSage’s mask fitting technology, TherapistAssist SmartFit, is also integrated with Jeanie. With this latest integration, React Health continues to prove its willingness to align with industry partners that allow the continuum of care to support their patients, achieve outcomes and realize quality of life improvements. “Providing an integrated solution with industry desired products, such as sovaSage, remains an important part of improving the health care of patients seeking treatment, something React Health and sovaSage are committed to,” said Tom Pontzius, president of React Health. 

Mobility City hosts annual conference 

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Mobility City Holdings, a franchisor of Mobility City showrooms in almost 50 locations in the top markets in the United States, has completed its Fourth Annual Franchise Owners Conference here. Nearly all of the company’s franchise owners attended – franchises from California to New York to Idaho to Florida – as well as top suppliers and sponsors. They discussed key corporate initiatives, industry trends, certification opportunities and other business issues. "Our growth strategy and 5-star customer service has positioned Mobility City to grow into the first national franchise network in the $8 billion mobility equipment industry," said Diane Baratta, CEO, Mobility City Holdings. "This year's conference was our biggest and best yet, with a packed schedule of events and plenty of opportunities for networking. With over 66 owners and partners present, 22 suppliers sponsoring and attending our event, and 11 corporate support staff, the learning and networking never stopped." Mobility City awards franchise territories by the county, targeting 1 million population territories. The company aims to grow its network to more than 200 locations and is now offering its services from coast to coast.