In brief: Medicare Updates canceled, Valere & Notable partnered, eXciteOSA approved 

DALLAS – The Medicare Updates at Medtrade have been canceled due to a travel ban for CMS officials, organizers have announced on the show’s website. 

Sessions like “The Basics of Medicare: A Claim’s Journey” now have a canceled note in the conference agenda on the website. Five sessions in the Medicare Updates track have been canceled. 

Other affected sessions: 

• DME MAC Contractor Updates – Latest Information Based on 2024 CERT Improper Payment Report 
• DME MAC Noridian, Contractor for Jurisdictions A and D Update on Processes/Website and More 
• DME MAC CGS, Contractor for Jurisdictions B and C Update on Processes/Website and More 
• Provider Enrollment Contractor Update with Novitas, Palmetto GBA and CMS 

The Medicare Updates track was free to all Medtrade attendees. 

Several Advisory Council Meetings have also been canceled because CMS officials won’t be attending the show, according to an industry source. 

WellSky’s new panel provides ‘complete view’ 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - WellSky has launched a new patient panel, available only in the WellSky CarePort Connect solution, that it says will equip providers with critical and holistic knowledge of their patient population. The panel enables providers to identify patients who need direct intervention before, during and after care transitions, strengthening patient engagement during critical care events and driving better patient care outcomes. “Providers are facing increasing challenges in managing complex patient populations while providing high-quality care in a rapidly evolving health care landscape,” said Tim Ashe, chief clinical officer at WellSky. “The patient panel provides a complete view of real-time insights for all their patients, right at their fingertips, allowing them to focus on what matters most —delivering exceptional care to their patients.” The panel also highlights recommended workflows, outstanding tasks and care team discussions, which equips providers with actionable insights to inform decisions and improve coordination and collaboration all in one place. By centralizing this critical information, WellSky says, providers can reduce administrative burden, streamline communication, allocate appropriate resources and devote more time to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. 

Responsive Respiratory adds Todd Derickson to sales team 

ST. LOUIS – Responsive Respiratory has announced that Todd Derickson has joined the company’s executive team as director of sales. Derickson, who brings more than three decades of experience driving high growth sales in the HME market, joins the company following the recent retirement of Michael Harrington. “Todd is a highly respected industry veteran who brings a wealth of respiratory sales knowledge to Responsive Respiratory,” said Steve Bannon, president. “We are excited to leverage the synergies of Todd’s expertise leading and empowering sales teams and our customer centric culture to spearhead RRI’s U.S. market growth.” Previously, Derickson served as director of sales for both Mercury Medical and Westmed, Inc. In this new role, he will oversee global sales operations and both internal and external sales teams, in conjunction with RRI’s customer service department. Derickson will be based out Responsive Respiratory’s corporate offices in St. Louis. 

Valere Health, Notable Systems partner 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Valere Health has announced a strategic collaboration with Notable Systems that it says delivers an automated solution to address inefficiencies in HME revenue cycle management operations without adding an additional user interface or system. Through this partnership, Valere is integrating Notable’s AI-powered RCM solutions into its interoperability platform, enabling HME providers to automate critical tasks such as order intake, coverage criteria review and payer correspondence processing without changing their existing systems. “Partnering with Notable Systems aligns perfectly with Valere’s mission to enhance health care automation without adding complexity,” said Dewey Roof, Valere Health’s CEO. “By leveraging Notable Systems’ AI within our solutions, HME providers can do more with their current systems – eliminating inefficiencies and refocusing on patient care.” The partnership will be formally introduced at Medtrade Feb. 18-20 in Dallas. Notable’s intelligent document processing solution scans, validates, extracts then integrates data into business systems. The company was founded in 2017 by former AOL executives Steve Johnson and David Lippke. “Paperwork shouldn’t delay patients receiving necessary care or life-altering DME products,” Johnson said. “Our AI performs order intake and checks for medical necessity in seconds, reducing processing time so DME companies can deliver faster and better care. This partnership with Valere Health allows us to bring these benefits directly to DME providers across various RCM platforms, ensuring faster, more accurate, and more scalable operations.” 

Rehab Industries highlights 2024 

INDIANAPOLIS – Rehab Industries says 2024 was a milestone year across its portfolio of companies, including Rehab Medical. For Rehab Medical, the company highlighted opening branch offices in four cities, adding 18 assistive technology professionals (ATPs) and winning the HME Provider of the Year award. "Our success in 2024 is a direct result of the passion and dedication of our employees, the strength of our partnerships, and our unwavering commitment to improving lives," said Patrick McGinley, CEO of Rehab Industries. "Despite economic and industry challenges, we continued to expand, innovate, and invest in our people. We don’t just execute a business plan—we build a thriving workplace, foster meaningful relationships, and create solutions that make a lasting impact on our communities. That’s what sets us apart." Rehab Industries also comprises Cork Medical and Forza Commercial Real Estate. 

• Related: Rehab Medical named 2024 HME Provider of the Year 

Signifier’s CPAP alternative approved by Georgia Medicaid 

LONDON – Signifier Medical Technologies has announced that its eXciteOSA non-invasive therapy for obstructive sleep apnea is now covered under Georgia Medicaid policy 1320, expanding access to more than 1.5 million people who live in the state. “This decision underscores the critical importance of providing accessible, effective solutions for Georgians living with obstructive sleep apnea,” said Akhil Tripathi, director and founder of Signifier. “By including eXciteOSA in Medicaid coverage, Georgia is not only prioritizing patient outcomes but addressing a broader economic challenge by reducing the long-term costs associated with untreated or unmanaged sleep apnea.” eXciteOSA is a daytime therapy that strengthens airway muscles in just 20 minutes per day, with adherence rates of more than 80%, Signifier says. For Medicaid recipients, this offers a practical and effective path to better health, while reducing the systemic costs associated with untreated OSA, the company says. “As someone who has prescribed eXciteOSA, I’ve witnessed its effects firsthand,” said Dr. Hitendra Patel, a Georgia-based sleep specialist. “Many of my patients, including those who couldn’t tolerate CPAP machines, report significant improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, and overall well-being. With Medicaid coverage, even more individuals can now benefit from this life-changing therapy.”  

• Related: Signifier has signed partnerships with Rotech Healthcare and Spectrum Sleep Solutions to distribute its eXciteOSA.