In brief: Quipt buy, oxygen template, Woman of the Year 

CINCINNATI – Quipt Home Medical has acquired a business with operations in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana reporting unaudited annual revenues of about $9 million and adjusted EDITDA of $2 million post-integration. 

The company says the acquisition adds scale with 10 locations, 17,500 active patients, 1,900 unique referring physicians and important insurance contracts. 

“The completion of this transaction demonstrates our ongoing patience and discipline as it relates to our capital allocation approach,” said Chairman and CEO Greg Crawford. “Our team of operators will once again utilize our tried-and-true integration approach to efficiently integrate this business onto our existing platform, continuing to build scale across the organization. Moreover, we believe there is an opportunity to leverage our resupply program immediately, creating actionable revenue synergies for us. Additionally, the substantial patient base and excellent referral network we have built up in these three states allow us to take a ‘land and expand’ approach to future growth, which will support our organic growth goals.” 

With this acquisition, Quipt has 287,500 active patients, 34,400 referring physicians and 125 locations across 26 states. 

Oxygen template: CQRC enlists Congress 

WASHINGTON – Fourteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to CMS urging the agency to clarify Medicare documentation requirements for supplemental oxygen and adopt a standardized template for documenting patient need, according to the Council for Quality Respiratory Care. 

“We write to request that auditors accept the standard written order (SWO) as the only necessary documentation to establish medical necessity when auditing claims of patients who received home oxygen, sleep therapy, or non-invasive ventilation equipment,” the letter reads.    

The bi-partisan group, led by Reps. Terry Sewell, D-Ala., and Adiran Smith, R-Neb., sent the letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. 

The CQRC says since CMS has not acted on its request, it’s time for Congress to let the agency know that it should adopt the template. 

“If CMS allows contractors to rely only upon physicians’ medical record notes, a vast majority of patient claims will be denied, creating access issues for beneficiaries,” the letter states. “CMS already created the oxygen clinical data element templates, which are more practical in assessing coverage needs. We, therefore, urge CMS to require contractors to use these templates, along with the standard written order, in lieu of medical record notes when determining medical necessity.” 

Industry stakeholders hope an upcoming pilot project by CMS will test the use of a template for oxygen. 

Earlier this year, the DME MACs did publish an FAQ to provide guidance on the new local coverage determination (LCD) for oxygen. 

OPGA crowns Woman of the Year 

WATERLOO, Iowa – The Orthotic Prosthetic Group of America has named Nikki Grace-Strader the 2023 O&P Woman of the Year. 

The OPGA presented Grace-Strader with the award in its booth at the AOPA National Assembly on Sept. 7. 

"I am truly honored to receive the Woman of the Year award from OPGA and to be given the chance to represent women in the O&P profession," said Nikki, director of North American operations for Osseointegration International. "This recognition is not just for me but for all the incredible women who contribute to this field. Thank you for this opportunity to inspire and make a difference." 

The O&P Woman of the Year award, sponsored by Össur and presented by OPGA, a division of VGM & Associates, is open to all women who work in the orthotic and prosthetic profession. A selection committee of four O&P professionals reviews nominations and selects finalists by considering the nominees’ contributions throughout their careers to patients, the community and the O&P profession. 

In her role at Osseointegration International, Grace-Strader, who is an amputee herself, offers support to other amputees worldwide. Her intimate familiarity with the physical and emotional complexities of limb loss allows her to connect deeply with patients, the OPGA says. 

“On behalf of OPGA, Össur Americas, and the Woman of the Year selection committee, we wish Nikki a sincere congratulations on being selected as the 2023 O&P Woman of the Year,” said Adam Miller, president, OPGA. “From Nikki’s time as a Breece Fellow to now, we have all gotten to witness firsthand her tireless advocacy for the O&P community and the patients it serves. Nikki’s selflessness, passion, and commitment are what this award is all about. We thank Nikki for everything she has done, and I think I can speak on behalf of the rest of O&P community when I say that we are excited to watch her continue to be the force she is. Congratulations again to Nikki.” 

F&P highlights mask performance in new guidance 

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Fisher & Paykel Healthcare expects operating revenue for the first half of the 2024 financial year, which ends Sept. 30, 2023, to be about $790 million, a 14% increase compared to the same period the previous year. 

The company expects net profit after tax to be between $95 million and $105 million.  

“For the first four months of the 2024 financial year, revenue from OSA masks was stronger, and revenue from hospital hardware was marginally lower than assumed,” said Managing Director and CEO Lewis Gradon. “Constant currency group revenue and operating expense results to date remain consistent with the full year guidance we provided in May, with gross margin improvement approaching 200 basis points in constant currency for the full year.” 

Among F&P’s milestones and achievements over the past year: 

• The company acquired land in Karaka for a second New Zealand campus, opened a third building in Tijuana, Mexico, and began fitting out a new manufacturing facility in China 
• It increased the size of its sales force, brought forward future research and development projects 
• It launched its Evora Full face mask and received FDA clearance for the F&P 950 humidification system and Airvo 3 high flow therapy device, expanding the market for those products into the United States. 

“We have some great long-term opportunities ahead of us in hospital and home respiratory therapies, surgical and anesthesia applications, and treatments for obstructive sleep apnea,” Gradon said. “In recent years our products have been used to treat approximately 20 million patients per year, and the market for our products is more than 10 times that. We are confident that we can facilitate changes in clinical practice and reach those underpenetrated markets.” 

Fisher & Paykel also hosted its annual shareholders meeting on Aug. 29, re-electing Pip Greenwood as a director and approving the issue of options to Gradon, among other items. 

Etac, Kalogon partner to enhance cushions 

STOCKHOLM – Etac and Kalogon have announced a partnership to bolster the quality and availability of smart seating cushions for wheelchair users worldwide. The two companies are joining forces to enhance Etac’s Star cushion product line powered by Kalogon’s air management system. “Etac has a 50-year legacy of promoting user abilities and independence through our assistive devices, and teaming up with innovative companies like Kalogon ensures we can continue to lead the state of the art in pressure care,” said Magnus Björkqvist, senior vice president, wheelchairs and pressure care, Etac. “Kalogon’s air management systems are a game changer in our space, and together we can deliver the latest pressure care solutions on the market to everyone who needs them.” Etac’s Star brand, with solutions for stability and positioning in the StabilAir and StarLock cushions, is known for blending trusted pressure care solutions with innovation to increase value to the end user. Kalogon’s range of smart cushion products combine machine learning and patent-pending air cell technology to redistribute weight and increase comfort by maintaining blood flow in wheelchair users.  

NuvoAir, health plan partner on virtual care model for COPD 

BOSTON – NuvoAir, a value-based, integrated specialty care provider, and Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, a health plan and affiliate of Marshfield Clinic Health System, have launched a clinical research study to measure the impact of the company’s virtual care model on reducing exacerbations, ER visits, hospitalizations, readmissions and overall costs for COPD patients. “We are excited to collaborate with NuvoAir to learn more about the advantages of a virtual care model in improving the lives of our members living with COPD,” said Heather Kurtz, director of population health, Security Health Plan. “NuvoAir's clinical care model, combining monitoring technology and access to a multidisciplinary team, will allow our members to have additional access to quality services and specialists to improve their long-term outcomes and decrease their health care expenses.” The 12-month decentralized study, “PROMISE: Pragmatic Assessment of the NuvoAir Clinical Service in the Management of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,” will include up to 1,500 people with COPD (500 receiving the intervention), one of the largest studies in the U.S. to evaluate the value of a virtual care model, NuvoAir says. Further details on the study are available on clinicaltrials.gov. “The partnership between Security Health Plan and NuvoAir showcases our shared dedication to driving advancements in health care,” said Dr. Eric Harker, MPH, MD, chief medical officer at NuvoAir. “COPD presents multi-faceted challenges to members and the health care system. This collaboration, beginning with the PROMISE study, has the potential to revolutionize proactive and continuous care for members living with this condition.”  

Bill strengthens access to titanium wheelchairs 

WASHINGTON – Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa., has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow for code upgrades for titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs under Medicare. “Stronger patient access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs will allow more individuals with mobility challenges to function independently and take part in their communities,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO. “Working to build support for this measure has been a priority for our association and other mobility stakeholders. We appreciate Congressman Joyce introducing this legislation, and Rep. Michelle Steel, R-CA, for joining it as an original co-sponsor, in advance of our virtual legislative conference later this month, giving our advocates a chance to build support for the bill.” The bill, H.R. 5371, also removes financial barriers that have prevented some Medicare beneficiaries from being able to benefit from titanium/carbon fiber mobility products. More details on the legislation and the related benefits and beneficiary cost savings can be found in this AAHomecare issue brief. 

Bedard Medical makes cut 

AUBURN, Maine – Bedard Medical is ranked No. 4283 on the annual Inc. 5000 list. "Being on the Inc. 5000 list two years in a row underscores the dedication of our team,” said Ben Nadeau, CEO of Bedard Medical. “In the dynamic world of health care, their passion and commitment have been unwavering. Their efforts not only drive our growth but, more importantly, impact countless lives every day. We move forward, inspired by their dedication and driven by our shared mission to care for the communities we serve." The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate ticked up to an astonishing 2,238 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1.1 million jobs to the economy over the past three years. For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. 

OIG questions HHA fall reporting 

WASHINGTON – Over half of the falls among Medicare home health patients hospitalized for falls with major injury were not reported on patient assessments by home health agencies (HHAs) as required, according to a new Office of Inspector General report. Due to this high rate of non-reporting, Care Compare may not provide accurate information about the incidence of these falls, the OIG says. Reporting on OASIS assessments was worse among younger home health patients (compared to older patients) and patients who identified as Black, Hispanic, or Asian (compared to White), the OIG found. Reporting was also lower among for profit HHAs as compared to nonprofit and government-owned agencies. Notably, HHAs with the lowest Care Compare major injury fall rates reported falls less often than HHAs with higher Care Compare fall rates, indicating that Care Compare does not provide the public with accurate information about how often home health patients fell, it says. Finally, for many Medicare home health patients who fell and were hospitalized, there was no OASIS assessment at all associated with the hospitalization, which raises additional concerns about potential noncompliance with data submission requirements and its impact on the accuracy of information about falls with major injury on Care Compare, the OIG says. The OIG recommend that CMS (1) take steps to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the HHA reported OASIS data used to calculate the falls with major injury quality measure; (2) use data sources, in addition to OASIS assessments, to improve the accuracy of the quality measure related to falls with major injury; (3) ensure that HHAs submit required OASIS assessments when their patients are hospitalized; and (4) explore whether improvements to the quality measure related to falls can also be used to improve the accuracy of other home health measures. CMS concurred with all four recommendations.