In brief: Telemedicine and sleep, Medtrade West registration, Heartland lineup

DARIEN, Ill. – Sleep medicine has proven to be a specialty that can offer complete and quality care remotely, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says in a recently published position paper.

While the technology to remotely connect doctor and patient has been in place for years, its use was limited until the pandemic, when CMS lifted restrictions on telehealth reimbursement and private companies followed suit.

“Delivering care during the pandemic has proven to providers and insurers that telemedicine offers patients safe, secure and effective sleep care,” said Dr. Douglas Kirsch, chair of the AASM Telemedicine Presidential Committee, which wrote the paper. “The AASM will continue to advocate for permanent coverage and reimbursement of telemedicine services with CMS and third-party payers.”

The paper, which was published online in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, addresses several key issues in the delivery of sleep care using telemedicine, including quality and value, privacy and safety, health advocacy and future directions.

The paper shares new evidence that telemedicine is effective in the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea and improves adherence to CPAP therapy. The paper also acknowledges opportunities for improvement in the adoption and use of telemedicine, including compliance with patient privacy laws, additional training for providers, and awareness of limited access among disadvantaged populations.

“Telemedicine improves access to care, but we need to be cautious that its use doesn’t introduce new health inequities in underserved communities that may lack the necessary technologies,” Kirsch said. “Improved connectivity and increased access to high-speed Internet need to grow together with telehealth expansion.”

Show organizers gear up for Medtrade West, Medtrade East

PHOENIX – Registration is officially open for Medtrade West, scheduled for July 12-14 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

SmartSaver rates, good through April 17, mean $25 for an Expo Pass and $99 for a Conference pass (which also includes access to the Expo).

“It’s been a long road to get to this moment when we can confidently offer registration for an in-person show,” said York Schwab, associate show director, Medtrade West and Medtrade East, who told HME News masks will be required at the event. “We are eager to get back to business.”

Medtrade West will have a few changes this year, including separate hours for the Expo and conference. The Expo hours are listed as 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14. Educational sessions are listed for Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday, concluding with the AAHomecare update from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Medtrade East calls for presentations

Show organizers have put out a call for presentations for Medtrade East, Oct. 18-20, 2021, at the Georgia World Congress Center. The deadline for submissions: April 30. Show organizers seek educational sessions that address the following tracks: business operations, executive leadership and planning, legal, retail, and sales and marketing. They, along with members of the Educational Advisory Board, will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria: timeliness of topic, overall content, audience level and interest, creativity, prior speaking experience, knowledge of subject matter, prior evaluation results and references. To submit a proposal, go here.

VGM announces Heartland lineup

WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM has announced the schedule for its annual Heartland Conference, which will take place in person this year on Sept. 13-15.

The two-day event, which will also feature a virtual component, will span about 70 education sessions on topics ranging from respiratory to accessibility to rehab to leadership to operations to sales and marketing to billing and reimbursement and more.

 “The Heartland Conference will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and we have scheduled some great new additions to make it one to remember,” said Kayla Mahler, brand manager at VGM & Associates, who oversees Heartland’s educational offerings as Heartland education chair. “We want this milestone to be a valuable experience for each attendee—from the educational sessions to the social and networking events.”

In-person attendees can earn an estimated 15 CEUs.

Attendees can also attend panel discussions, register for home modification installer training and wheelchair repair tech training sessions, engage with vendors, and attend community dinners and other networking events.

“Heartland attendees are extremely engaged in their industries, and they’re looking for a back-and-forth dialogue that discusses various perspectives,” stated Mahler. “With our lineup of engaging sessions, 2021 is sure to exceed expectations.”

In March, VGM announced that it would shift the conference from June to September.

To learn more about the Heartland Conference and see the full schedule, please visit www.vgmheartland.com. 

Numotion debuts in NH

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Numotion has opened its first physical location in New Hampshire.

The location in Manchester, at 100 Cahill Ave., Suite D, will be staffed by three assistive technology professionals, as well as additional service and support teams.

“We are thrilled to open our first location in New Hampshire,” said Gary Gilberti, executive vice president, East Division. “Numotion remains committed to expanding our physical presence in the Northeast and providing quick, close-to-home service for individuals in need of mobility and independence solutions in Manchester and beyond.”

Numotion’s debut in New Hampshire follows its acquisition last year of Monroe Wheelchair, which has locations in Rochester, Albany and Syracuse, N.Y.

The company also opened a location in Buffalo, N.Y., in November of last year.

ResMed, Verily venture renamed Primasun

SAN DIEGO – A joint venture between ResMed and Verily to study the health and financial impacts of undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea has been renamed Primasun.

ResMed and Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet, first joined forces in 2018.

“We need a full night’s sleep right alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise for a strong immune system, the most energy, our best mood – in essence, to be our best selves,” said Primasun CEO Jonathon Lobbins. “Only when sleep apnea stops robbing sleep from millions of Americans can we truly know how healthy we can feel and be, as well as how safe and healthy our communities and our economy can be.”

Lobbins was named CEO of Primasun in November 2020. He is longtime health care executive, with roles at Siemens, Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic.

PHS expands infusion services

ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Pediatric Home Service (PHS) has expanded its Infusion Nursing & Pharmacy service to include the entire state of Wisconsin. “Our goal is to bring compassionate, clinically excellent care to as many patients as possible,” said Becki Long, RRT, general manager – Minnesota and Wisconsin.  “As an organization, we have always aligned our growth with the needs of the community. I am excited for patients to experience the PHS difference through the expansion of Infusion Nursing & Pharmacy in Wisconsin.” PHS serves patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Texas.

Inogen names new exec

GOLETA, Calif. – Inogen has appointed George Parr as executive vice president and chief commercial officer, effective April 12, 2021. Parr has 25 years of experience across medical technology, consumer products and industrial markets, most recently as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Becton Dickinson and Company. “I would like to congratulate George on this appointment as I believe that he will be a tremendous asset to Inogen and a great addition to the executive team,” said Nabil Shabshab, CEO. Byron Myers, executive vice president, marketing, and Arron Retterer, executive vice president, sales, both announced recently that they plan to leave Inogen effective June 4, 2021, following a transition period.

Medline launches wound care series

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline has launched a new series of chronic wound care courses designed to enhance clinical knowledge of chronic wounds. Created by Medline clinical volunteers as part of the company's Global Health Initiative, the four-course series is available in both English and Spanish and is free of charge through Medline University. "Despite chronic wounds having been recognized as a global health epidemic years ago, wound care still to this day is not a specialty in much of the world," said Evelyn Miller, senior social responsibility specialist at Medline. To learn more about the Medline Global Health Initiative's chronic wound care series, please visit Medline University here: https://www.medlineuniversity.com/medline/ghi-educational-series.

Golden receives award, makes new hire

OLD FORGE, Pa. – Golden Technologies has been named a Gold Winner in the Best of the Best 2021 Reader’s Choice Award for Best Mobility Manufacturer by the Times Leader Media Group. Readers of the newspaper nominated their favorite local businesses in Northeast Pennsylvania in more than 100 categories. “This award is a total team effort,” said Rich Golden, president & CEO. “We manufacture the highest quality and most innovative scooters and power wheelchairs in the industry, and back them up with superior customer service. None of this is possible without the hard work, dedication and passion from every employee, as well as our vendors and fantastic retailers throughout the USA and abroad”...Alyssa Golden, the first third-generation Golden to work at the family-owned business, has been named content coordinator in the marketing department. She previously served as marketing assistant on the team. She will continue to support all divisions in her activities. In her new role, Alyssa is responsible for leading the ongoing strategy to develop written and video content for use on social media and other digital marketing platforms.

NHIA urges commercial payers to cover COVID-19 treatment

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Home Infusion Association is urging commercial insurance plans to implement coverage policies for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy used in the home. The association also says CMS’s current administration fee of approximately $310 is insufficient to cover the costs. In a study conducted in February, NHIA determined the cost of providing the therapy is between $584 and $1,746. NHIA encourages payers to work with the home infusion pharmacies in their networks to establish a fair reimbursement rate that considers the value to the plan from preventing hospitalizations and ensures providers can cover their costs.

Enrollment opens for NCPA fellowship

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Enrollment is open now through July 31 for the NCPA Innovation Center/CPESN Community Pharmacy Fellowship, sponsored by Good Neighbor Pharmacy. The Community Pharmacy Fellowship is an intensive 12-month online educational program for individual pharmacists practicing in a CPESN pharmacy, focusing on implementation of enhanced clinical services with the goal of transforming as many practices as possible, as quickly as possible. “You don’t have to be a recent pharmacy graduate to learn the latest in innovative patient care,” said NCPA Innovation Center President Kurt Proctor. “With the NCPA Innovation Center/CPESN Community Pharmacy Fellowship program, the most pioneering minds in our industry mentor fellows through the process of building enhanced services over the course of their fellowship year.” To learn more about the Community Pharmacy Fellowship, its requirements and how to enroll go to www.ncpa.org/fellowship.

3B Medical: Company to Watch

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – 3B Medical has been recognized by The Startup Weekly as one of the 2021 Healthcare Companies to Watch. A panel of judges comprised of top executives, founders, investors and industry experts selected the winners based on their growth, the strength of their product or service, impact on the industry and commitment to customer service. “Winning this award is a testament to the 3B team’s passion for distributing, developing and manufacturing high-quality, innovative products that respiratory patients and consumers appreciate in an unprecedented time of need and that promote overall health and wellness,” said Justin Smith, CEO of 3B Medical. The Startup Weekly is an independent source of news, insights, interviews and awards for business builders across all sectors of the economy. Its contributors include founders, business execs, investors and other thought leaders.

Brightree doubles down on RelayHealth

ATLANTA – Brightree’s pharmacy and home infusion customers can now easily access and enroll in a variety of RelayHealth offerings directly from Brightree’s RelayHealth Connection thanks to a newly expanded partnership. Customers have access to Pre- and Post-Edits for real-time feedback on submitted claims; and Patient Assistance Rx for two manufacturer-sponsored programs that automatically apply co-pay savings to patient prescriptions and convert denied claims for certain products and reasons to a paid claim response. The companies say the partnership removes a barrier to adoption of these and other RelayHealth services, while reducing the number of vendors that providers have to contract with and manage. “This expanded collaboration is part of Brightree’s continued strategy to promote interoperability within the health care industry and bring more value to our customers,” said Jen Keiser, senior director, pharmacy product management, Brightree. “Creating a stronger real-time connection between Brightree and RelayHealth will help bridge the gap between claims and payment, helping providers get paid quicker, while facilitating delivery of needed drugs and medical services through increased access to manufacturer assistance where available.” The expanded partnership builds on an existing integration between the two companies that allows users to access the RelayHealth Intelligent Network to process eligibility requests and claims in the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs format directly from Brightree Business Management Software for Pharmacy.

Cheelcare names new marketing exec

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario – Cheelcare, a designer and manufacturer of mobility devices based here, has named Allex Laurin director of marketing. Laurin’s addition to the Cheelcare team marks a milestone in company’s growth, it says – he will develop, lead and execute the startup’s market strategy and help to position the brand as a leader in mobility and assistive devices. “We are delighted to have Allex join our team,” said Eugene Cherny, co-founder and CEO. “He will have an integral role in improving the quality-of-life and independence of people with physical disabilities by making innovative products, like the Companion, readily available to them.” The Companion is a powered add-on for both rigid and folding manual wheelchairs.

The CPAP Shop, Sleep Care take diagnosis, treatment fully remote

NEW YORK – The CPAP Shop, an online retailer of sleep equipment, and Sleep Care online, a national sleep telemedicine services provider, have partnered to expand access to their solutions. Through the partnership, patients will have access to technology to diagnose sleep disorders, have one-on-one virtual consultations with board-certified sleep physicians and receive prescriptions for sleep therapy through Sleep Care online; and they will have access to customized recommendations for sleep equipment at discounted rates and assist with placing an order and expediting shipping through The CPAP Shop. Patients will also have the opportunity to connect with a sleep coach to get help with machine setup, receive advice and troubleshoot problems. “For years, complaints about how disjointed and tiresome the whole path from diagnosis to treatment is has been a consistent theme,” said Anthony Zadnick, CEO of Agile Medical, the parent company of The CPAP Shop, The Oxygen Concentrator Shop and Sleep Care online. “We can now offer an integrated, comprehensive, patient-first solution that gives our customers access to top-notch medical care and high-quality equipment. Through this partnership, patients can go from diagnosis to their first night of sleep therapy in less than 10 days – and the whole experience is seamless.” For patients who are currently CPAP users but who need an updated prescription to purchase a new machine, Sleep Care online also offers a prescription renewal service called SimpleRx. The CPAP Shop, which has an inventory of more than 1,000 products, also plans to launch a new website to enhance the user experience in the coming months.

Numotion adds chief medical officer

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Numotion has appointed Tara Kersten, M.D., as chief medical officer. Kersten will provide Numotion with strategic clinical advice, support advocacy efforts and lend her expertise to outcomes studies. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Kersten at Numotion,” said Mike Swinford, CEO. “She is uniquely positioned to help the company become an ever-more-essential partner to our customers, physicians and referral partners, and we will greatly benefit from her clinical experience in the CRT industry.” In this new role, Kersten will also help to educate and interact with clinicians and referral sources and help to ensure Numotion’s interactions with clinicians, referrals, payers, regulators and government bodies are grounded in clinical research and expertise. Kersten previously worked with Numotion ATPs in her interdisciplinary wheelchair seating clinic in southeast Wisconsin. She also worked with them on legislative efforts to improve access to CRT for patients in Wisconsin, on educational programs for PTs and OTs, and on medical mission work in Guatemala. “I’m thrilled to be joining such as awesome group of people who share my passion for improving the quality of life and functional independence of patients across the country,” she said. Kersten practices at Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee, where she focuses on electrodiagnostic testing, spasticity management and custom wheelchair seating. She will continue to run the clinic.

New app combines Pride, Quantum content

EXETER, Pa. – Pride Mobility and Quantum Rehab have launched PQ-365, a new one-stop app for providers and clinicians. The free, easy to use app helps busy professionals stay up to date with the latest information from Pride and Quantum, and access content from the companies in one quick and convenient place. “We are excited to add Pride content into our Quantum Clinician app to create the new PQ-365 app,” said Kate Pencek, senior director of IT & enterprise architecture. “We want PQ-365 to be a central repository for both Pride and Quantum, from order forms to technical service videos. While it is simple and user-friendly, the app meets today’s technological demands while providing a great user experience. Our goal is to continuously improve the app to meet the needs of our providers and clinicians.” The app’s newer features include a serial number and order search; an image share option; zoom for images; illustrated parts breakdowns; and coaching. PQ-365, which replaces the Quantum Clinician app, is available for download via the Apple Store and Google Play. Those who already have the Quantum Clinician app installed will receive an app update to download the new version.