In brief: Medline’s buy, AAH’s white paper, Cardinal’s focus on at-Home Solutions

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline has acquired United Medco, a national provider and partner of supplemental benefits and member engagement solutions. 

The transaction marks a significant milestone in the growth of Medline’s health plans business by augmenting the company’s distribution capabilities and expanding its supplemental benefit offerings. 

"In today’s evolving post-acute care space, Medline remains a company committed to investing in emerging markets, and we are confident this acquisition will strengthen our health plans business and enable us to better serve our customers and their patients,” said Brad Mariam, executive vice president of Medline. “We are excited to welcome the full United Medco team into the Medline family, and by combining their expertise with ours, we are well-positioned to lead the charge in this growing market and propel our business forward."   

United Medco is focused on serving the Medicare Advantage, Managed Medicaid and commercial insurance markets, and currently serves more than 1 million members.  

“By evolving our relationship with Medline, United Medco can continue to carry out its mission of serving our health plan partners while now offering a diverse set of new products and capabilities already built out by the robust Medline network and team,” said Rick Langnas, founder and CEO, United Medco. “This is a classic example of the age-old expression, one plus one equals three, as both organizations operate on the same set of core, family-founded fundamentals, and I can’t wait to see the growth that will be achieved over the years to come.”  

• Medline recently sold its DMEPOS supplier business to Home Care Delivered. 

Enteral nutrition white paper discusses challenges  

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare has partnered with the Global Enteral Device Supplier Association on a white paper to provide an overview of the enteral nutrition market. 

“Challenges in Enteral Nutrition Access & Management: Safeguarding Life-Sustaining Enteral Nutrition” discusses market challenges that threaten access to EN and the integral role of HME providers in delivering clinically appropriate EN to end users as valued partners in the care continuum. The paper includes findings from a 2023 nationwide study revealing that one in four providers of EN are considering or actively planning to stop providing EN/supplies due to cost pressures.   

“Access to life-sustaining enteral nutrition is a lifeline for countless individuals facing nutritional challenges,” said Ashley Plauché, senior director of brand marketing for AAHomecare. “It is essential for the HME community and payers to partner together to assess the growing barriers to care to safeguard the health and well-being of those who rely on EN and critical services.”     

The paper outlines four key actions that payers can take to ensure continued access to life sustaining EN including: 

1. adjust reimbursement to assure appropriate end user access 
2. expedite prior authorization processing for EN formula 
3. provide regular review and expeditious product additions to approved product lists/formularies, and 
4. decrease excessively burdensome documentation requirements. 

“Home enteral nutrition patients deserve access to the best care and the safest and best medical products available,” said Ben Davis, executive director of the GEDSA. “Too often this access is unnecessarily challenging, as described in the white paper, and more work needs to be done to remove these barriers against patient care.”  

The paper will be used in outreach and education to payers, state programs and legislators to preserve access to EN, supplies and services. 

Access the white paper, flowcharts for oral nutrition and tube feeding/nutrition, and a survey infographic. 

• Read about a recent shortage of enteral nutrition formula that had providers scrambling. 

CCS sends supplies to Ukraine 

DENVER – CCS is partnering with a global distributor to send much-needed medical supplies to those affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.  

The collaboration was initiated by employees of CCS who understand the profound impact and challenges of living in countries with limited health care resources, the company says. 

"We have employees who work in our Florida distribution center that have family living in nearby regions and they share the pain of those living with such devastating conflict,” said Jim Knight, vice president of Distribution & Facilities at CCS. “I'm honored to be a part of a team that places high value on humanitarian efforts and making a difference in the world." 

CCS and Project C.U.R.E. have successfully delivered 40 pallets of ostomy and wound care supplies. Through a collaborative effort with the office of the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, the donations will reach those who need them the most, the company says. 

Cardinal Health doubles down on at-Home Solutions 

DUBLIN, Ohio – Cardinal Health plans to further invest in its Medical Segment, which includes at-Home Solutions, its home medical supplies business, and has realigned its structure to accelerate growth.  

To support increased demand for at-Home Solutions, which generates $2.6 billion in revenue, the company is investing in network expansion and additional distribution centers. It has announced plans to build a new distribution center in Texas, with increased capacity, advanced automation and robotics; is set to open a new center in South Carolina this year; and recently opened a new center in Ohio. 

"We are excited to demonstrate further progress on how we are driving our company, and health care, forward," said Jason Hollar, CEO.  "As we continue down the path of becoming a simplified and more focused company, these actions align with our operational focus on the core of our business, provide increased visibility to key growth areas, and enable greater efficiencies across all our businesses. We continue to prioritize focused execution to best serve our customers and advance our mission as healthcare's most trusted partner."  

Effective Jan. 1, Cardinal Health began operating under an updated enterprise operating and segment reporting structure, which includes Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions, and Global Medical Products and Distribution (GMPD). Separate from these two segments, Nuclear and Precision Health Solutions, at-Home Solutions and OptiFreight Logistics will be reported as Other. 

Product launches: RRI, Medline, Sunrise Medical 

Responsive Respiratory has added a new oxygen analyzer to its portfolio of high-pressure respiratory oxygen products. Designed to test key performance functions of supplemental oxygen systems, the O2 Checker is a must-have diagnostic and validation tool for use with most home oxygen equipment on the market today, including portable oxygen concentrators, pneumatic oxygen conserving devices, stationary concentrators and oxygen regulators up to 15 LPM flow rates, the company says. The analyzer measures key functions like trigger pressure, pulse dose, continuous flow rate and oxygen concentration, and features an adjustable simulated breath rate. FMI: www.respondo2.com.  

Medline has added the OptiView Transparent Dressing with HydroCore Technology to its advanced wound care portfolio. This wound dressing features a clear design that allows caregivers to quickly and easily inspect, monitor and blanch skin with the dressing in place. "OptiView is an exciting addition to our portfolio, aimed at overcoming healing barriers and elevating care standards," said AJ Ford, vice president of Medline Skin Health. "We are grateful for the product feedback received from nurses nationwide who helped us make impactful changes to ensure OptiView is a successful addition to a care provider's pressure injury prevention plan." The company says the wound dressing’s benefits include 62% reduction in peak pressure. FMI: https://www.medline.com/skin-health/transparent-dressing. 

Sunrise Medical has launched the Switch-it Vigo head control. The wireless, proportional head control allows drivers to control their power wheelchairs and other devices with subtle and intuitive head movements. “Adding the Switch-It Vigo to our portfolio reinforces Sunrise Medical’s commitment to offering the most comprehensive powered mobility solutions to chair drivers with the most complex needs,” said Bernd Krebs, chief technology officer of Sunrise Medical. “Clinicians and providers should be reassured that, between our QUICKIE power bases, SEDEO seating systems, and Switch-It alternative drive controls, they can find a solution that will get their clients independently driving.” The Switch-it was developed by Now Technologies, which joined Sunrise Medical in 2022. FMI: www.sunrisemedical.com/vigo. 

eFOLDi to make US debut 

SURREY, England – eFOLDi, a manufacturer of lightweight scooters, has partnered with Afikim, a U.S. retail distribution network to distribute its “Lite” model, its first entrant into the American market. The Lite, which weighs 33 pounds excluding battery, folds and unfolds in just a few seconds, and is very easy to store and transport. No complex assembly is required. “We’re delighted to be partnering with a company the likes of Afikim, who come with a very strong reputation in the industry globally,” said Sumi Wang, CEO at eFOLDi. “The cultures of our businesses are very much aligned, and we see this collaboration being a major milestone in the evolution of our business. Demand for mobility scooters is expected to increase dramatically in the U.S. over the coming years, and we couldn’t have chosen a more experienced partner to help us achieve our ambitious plans for growth.” 

MSI expands service on West Coast 

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. – MSI Health Solutions has acquired Adonia Logistics, a Garden Grove, Calif.-based healthcare logistics company. With the acquisition, MSI Health Solutions is well positioned to expand its HME courier service on the West Coast. “We look forward in adding the amazing team from Adonia to MSI,” said Zeb Pirzada, president and CEO of MSI. “This acquisition will strengthen MSI’s presence nationwide, providing cost effective logistics solution to HME providers.” MSI currently provides HME courier services to more than 30 states nationwide. 

Connect America names new health care leader 

BALA-CYNWYD, Pa. – Connect America has named Mike Cantor, MD, JD, as clinical healthcare technology leader. As a member of Connect America’s leadership team, Dr. Cantor will leverage his clinical experience as a geriatrician and digital health expert to influence solution strategy, help guide product innovation, and ensure quality and cost efficiencies. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Mike Cantor, a distinguished health care technology leader with extensive experience both clinically and administratively within the populations we serve,” said Janet Dillione, CEO of Connect America. “His invaluable insight will play a pivotal role as we chart our course into the future, fostering innovation within the digital health space in order to facilitate and support aging in place.” Cantor brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in health care. He has previously served as CMO of Bright Health Plan, a health insurer; and CMO for CareCentrix, an outsourced home health, durable medical equipment and post-acute care benefits manager. 

Virtue Technologies partners with 24/7 Xpress 

CHAPIN, S.C. – Virtue Technologies, a provider of home infusion, specialty pharmacy, long term care pharmacy and DME logistics technology solutions, has entered into a strategic agreement with 24/7 Xpress. The agreement allows 24/7 Xpress to access solutions being offered to Virtue Technologies' subscribers. Virtue Technologies' namesake solution, VirtueScript, automates delivery workflow processes and increases the level of communication that occurs across the continuum of post-acute care. "Establishing this collaborative agreement with 24/7 Xpress allows us to further broaden our vision of taking an agnostic, interoperable approach to health care technology solutions," says Gibran Ameer, CEO of Virtue Technologies. "We provide our courier network partners much needed access to electronic health record logistics information to better serve their customers through a fully interoperable solution. We look forward to applying 24/7 Xpress' final mile expertise to further create value in our customers' businesses collectively." 

3M receives funding for new wound care solutions 

ST. PAUL, Minn. – 3M Health Care's Medical Solutions Division was awarded $34.2 million from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity to develop a range of new solutions for infection prevention, wound management and wound healing. 3M will lead a program focused on treatment strategies that can be used in austere settings, especially those related to mass casualty and delayed evacuation situations. In addition, the program will work to assess biofilm control, biomarker monitoring and healing in acute trauma situations, such as blasts, burns and gunshot wounds that occur in civilian and military settings. "Successful treatment of acute, traumatic wounds requires a continuum of care that begins with easy-to-use dressings and effective infection prevention that can be applied at the point of injury, continues with portable solutions for transport, and transitions to more sophisticated solutions in hospital settings suitable for rehabilitation and reintegration of patients," said Raymond Chiu, senior vice president, research & development, 3M Health Care Business Group. "3M is proud to be working with civilian and military partners to bring these solutions to fruition." 3M will collaborate with the University of Minnesota Medical School, the 59th Medical Wing Science & Technology Office of the Chief Scientist (59MDW/ST, lead military partner), Naval Medical Research Unit-San Antonio (NAMRU-SA) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). The awarded funding will support four separate product solutions, with studies that range from prototype and formulation development to completion of two clinical studies to be used for product registration.    

Omada Health to offer diabetes service through Amazon Health Services 

SAN FRANCISCO – Omada Health, a virtual health care provider, has announced a partnership with Amazon Health Services to increase awareness of its cardiometabolic programs through Amazon’s new Health Condition Programs. Omada will be the first virtual diabetes prevention, diabetes and hypertension provider available in Amazon’s Health Condition Programs, helping individuals discover and enroll in virtual care benefits that are available to them through their employer or health plan at no extra cost. “This partnership is pivotal for Omada, as we are leveraging Amazon’s wide reach to literally meet consumers where they are, just as we do for our members as a virtual-first care provider,” said Omada Health CEO and Co-Founder Sean Duffy. “Ultimately, the more people we’re able to reach, the larger impact we can have on the rising prevalence of chronic disease.” When Amazon customers browse the site for products that support diabetes prevention, diabetes and hypertension care, they can now discover an easy way to check their eligibility for health condition programs. Individuals can also visit the Amazon Health webpage to initiate a general coverage check. If the check indicates they may be eligible, individuals will then be guided to Omada’s website to complete the enrollment process.