In brief: Optum makes play for Amedisys, FDA updates Philips report count 

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., and BATON ROUGE, La. – Optum has submitted an all-cash proposal to buy Amedisys, despite Option Care Health announcing last month that it was merging with the home health and hospice provider. 

“Amedisys’ commitment to quality and care innovation within the home, and the patient-first culture of its people, combined with Optum’s deep value-based care expertise can drive meaningful improvement in the health outcomes and experiences of more patients at lower costs, leading to continued growth,” said Patrick Conway, M.D., CEO of Optum Care Solutions. 

Optum says its $100 per share all-cash transaction provides full and certain value to Amedisys shareholders. The proposed transaction represents a 26% premium over Amedisys’ most recent closing share price and a premium of 29% to the unaffected Amedisys share price of $77.26. Optum’s proposal has no financing contingency or condition and does not require shareholder approval. 

On May 3, Option Care Health and Amedisys announced that they were merging in an all-stock transaction that values Amedisys at approximately $3.6 billion, including the assumption of net debt. 

On May 27, however, Amedisys’ board determined that the unsolicited proposal received from Optum could reasonably be expected to result in an “Amedisys Superior Proposal” as defined in the company's merger agreement with Option Care Health. As permitted by that agreement, Amedisys entered into a confidentiality agreement with Optum on May 30, 2023, and is currently engaging in exploratory discussions with Optum with respect to its proposal.  

Amedisys says it remains bound by the terms of the merger agreement with Option Care Health, and its board has not determined that Optum’s proposal constitutes a “Superior Proposal.” The company says the merger agreement with Option Care Health does not permit Amedisys to terminate the merger agreement in favor of an alternative transaction, or to enter into any agreements with respect to an alternative transaction, other than a confidentiality agreement. Amedisys notes that there can be no assurance that the discussions with Optum will result in a transaction.  

Amedisys says its stockholders do not need to take any action at this time. The board’s recommendation in favor of the merger agreement with Option Care Health and the merger with Option Care Health continues to be in effect.  

FDA updates Philips report count 

AMSTERDAM – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration received more than 6,000 medical device reports (MDRs) associated with the PE-PUR foam degradation in certain recalled Philips CPAP and BiPAP machines and ventilators from Jan. 1, 2023, through March 31, 2023, including 40 reports of death. The MDRs received included both mandatory reports from Philips and voluntary reports from health professionals, consumers, and patients. A wide range of injuries have been reported in these MDRs, including cancer, pneumonia, asthma, other respiratory problems, infection, headache, cough, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), dizziness, nodules, and chest pain. The FDA says, although MDRs are a valuable source of information, this passive surveillance system has limitations. The incidence, prevalence, or cause of an event cannot typically be determined from this reporting system alone due to under-reporting of events, inaccuracies in reports, lack of verification that the device caused the reported event, and lack of information about details such as frequency of device use. Because of this, MDRs comprise only one of the FDA's several important post-market surveillance data sources. Since April 2021, the FDA has received more than 105,000 MDRs, including 385 reports of death, reportedly associated with the PE-PUR foam breakdown or suspected foam breakdown. 

Medline redesigns skin care line 

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline Remedy has unveiled redesigned packaging and product instructions to improve identification and utilization of the correct product. “Clinicians are being asked to do more with less,” said Josh Kolof, Medline director of product management, Advanced Skin Care. “The newly redesigned Remedy products include the same, high-quality ingredients that have made us No. 1 in the market. As the leader, we always want to do better. More intuitive packaging makes it easier to select the right product for the right situation, and ultimately, ensures best practice bedside care.” Launched in 2004, Medline’s Remedy Skin Care line has grown into a comprehensive system of products to help with every skin care need. Remedy’s new design features color-coded packaging with large, one-word product descriptions: Green products “cleanse” hair and skin; purple products “moisturize,” restoring hydration to dry skin; blue products “prevent” infection by providing a silicone, protective barrier that prevents skin breakdown associated with incontinence; orange products “protect” skin exposed to prolonged moisture; and red products “treat” skin with fungal infection. 

Rowley named new AASM board leader 

DARIEN, Ill. – Dr. James A. Rowley is the new president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s board of directors. Throughout his one-year term, he will guide the organization through the development of a new strategic plan focused on AASM’s mission of advancing sleep care and enhancing sleep health to improve lives, while working collaboratively with numerous stakeholders, including AASM members, other health care professionals, researchers, patients and policymakers. “I am proud to lead the AASM as we work to raise awareness of sleep health and advocate to improve patient care,” said Rowley. “Sleep disorders continue to impact millions of individuals worldwide, and I am dedicated to working alongside the exceptional members of the AASM to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sleep disorders, ultimately enhancing the health and well-being of patients." Rowley assumed the role in Indianapolis, during SLEEP 2023, the 37th annual meeting of the Associated Sleep Societies. He has been an active member of the AASM since 1996 and has served in leadership roles on several committees. Since being elected to the board of directors in 2016, he also has served as secretary/treasurer, a member of the Guidelines Advisory Panel, and a member of the AASM Foundation board of directors. Rowley currently is transitioning to a new role as a professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He most recently served as professor of medicine and division chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.   

Permobil donates Giants-themed wheelchair 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Permobil Foundation, in partnership with the San Francisco Giants, LiveLikeLou and Phi Delta Theta, gave Osiel Mendoza his own team-branded, custom Permobil power wheelchair as part of Lou Gehrig celebrations before the game started. “Osiel has lived with ALS for years with courage and strength,” said Ashley Davis, executive director of the Permobil Foundation. “He had no idea we would be surprising him with a new M3 Corpus wheelchair with the Giants’ bold orange colors and logos. We are also honored to have been a part of the Lou Gehrig Day celebrations this past week and to partner with Major League Baseball to help raise awareness in the fight against ALS.” The Permobil Foundation gave special thanks to its reps Melissa Bourque and Dwayne Reeves, as well as Eric Larson of National Seating & Mobility, for assisting with the donation. The foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life by empowering strength and independence to provide support and services so individuals can live a life without limitations. It also fast-tracks every ALS wheelchair order through production to ensure patients don’t experience delays. 

HW&Co., ECS South merge 

CLEVELAND – HW&Co., a regional CPA and advisory firm with offices in Cleveland, Columbus and Mansfield, Ohio, has announced it has successfully merged with ECS Billing & Consulting South. ECS’s 30-plus employees will join the more than 110 HW&Co. employees serving clients across Ohio and the United States, and its office in Dublin will become the company's sixth office. “When thinking about what was next for ECS, we wanted to partner with a firm with similar values in how it treats its people and serves its client,” said Cindy Dunne, president of ECS. “HW&Co. fits that bill for us. Having been in the industry together for more than 25 years, we feel a great deal of comfort and confidence in team with them HW&Co., knowing that we can be stronger together. Combining our operations will allow us to continue to grow and provide the highest level of service and quality to our clients.” ECS Solutions was founded in 1993 by Dunne’s mother, Elaine Hunt. 

NSM names new leader for Home Accessibility, Canada 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Seating & Mobility has named Gregg Meheriuk as senior vice president of new business and strategy. As a member of the company’s executive leadership team, he will lead new business strategy and the Home Accessibility and Canada divisions. He most recently served as the senior vice president of growth and transformational initiatives at 24 Hour Fitness, providing leadership in revenue growth and strategy, as well as product development and innovation. “I had the pleasure of working with Gregg at 24 Hour Fitness, and I am confident his experience and leadership abilities will be very beneficial in further advancing these key strategic areas for growth at NSM,” said Tony Ueber, who was named CEO in April, replacing Bill Mixon. Meheriuk's wide range of professional experience includes multi-unit retail services, business development, growth strategy, consumer insights and private equity. At 24 Hour Fitness, he played an instrumental role in creating and launching partnerships with 9Round Kickboxing and iCryo, concepts the company expanded during his tenure. “I am excited to join the NSM team and use the skills I’ve honed over the years to help grow NSM’s Home Accessibility and Canada business,” he said. “More than that, I’m excited by the mission of NSM and the opportunity to provide more consumers with the mobility solutions they need and deserve, helping to increase their independence and improve their overall quality of life.” Meheriuk lives in Calgary, Alberta.  

AAH welcomes new board members 

ARLINGTON, Va. – AAHomecare’s board of directors has voted in two new members: Jim Nygren, president of VGM Insurance and acquisition and investment manager for VGM Group; and Diane Racicot, vice president of payer relations East Region for National Seating & Mobility. “We are fortunate to add these accomplished professionals to the AAHomecare leadership team and look forward to working with them to strengthen the association and advocate for HME legislative and regulatory priorities,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. Nygren has been with VGM in various roles, including CFO, since 2014. He’s also a board member for DMEscripts. Racicot served as vice president, payer contracting, for Numotion, prior to joining NSM in 2017. 

Senseonics secures coverage from UnitedHealthcare 

GERMANTOWN, Md. – Senseonics Holdings has announced that UnitedHealthcare will begin providing coverage for the Eversense E3 CGM System effective July 1, 2023, for people with Type 1 and insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetes. "The policy update from UnitedHealthcare marks an important milestone for increased access to long-term CGM for people with diabetes,” said Tim Goodnow, PhD, president and CEO for Senseonics. “With the addition of UnitedHealthcare, we are nearing all insured adults in the United States having access to the Eversense E3 CGM System. The Eversense E3 CGM System enables patients and health care providers to effectively manage diabetes for six months with sustained accuracy and a removable smart transmitter that provides vibratory alerts and comprehensive data regarding glucose values and trends. We are excited about the expanded opportunity to provide these differentiated benefits of Eversense to more people with diabetes in collaboration with our global commercial partner Ascensia Diabetes Care." This recent coverage decision adds to the extensive number of payers that include Eversense in their CGM coverage policies that now benefit approximately 300 million covered lives, as well as pay for the health care provider's time for in-office sensor insertion. 

RestorixHealth expands team 

METAIRIE, La. – RestorixHealth is expanding its Post-Acute Clinical Services Team to offer customized support solutions, in addition to the product support and cost savings programs. The expansion will include many new jobs involving sales, service, marketing, technology, training and education, the company says. “Today is a historic day for RestorixHealth,” said Jeff Bowman, division president, Post-Acute. “These jobs will allow us to better serve our current customers and grow our business with new customers. Our clinical team is our most valuable asset, and I believe these additions and changes will allow us to look to a future of growth, while allowing us to provide access to quality wound care supplies to even more patients.” In addition to RestorixHealth’s field-based Clinical Specialists, the new team will include Onboarding Specialists, an Inside Clinical & Service Team and an on-demand Virtual Clinical Support Team. The company provides wound care, ostomy, urological and tracheostomy products.