Blog

WASHINGTON – Industry stakeholders are carefully weighing their response to CMS’s proposed decision on coverage for noninvasive home mechanical ventilators and respiratory assist devices, including asking the agency to pause implementation of the policy.  CMS on March 11 released a proposed decision in response to the request to reconsider NCD 280.1 to establish coverage policies for the use of noninvasive HMV and RAD for Medicare beneficiaries with COPD.   AAHomecare,...

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Nearly 70% of people with diabetes believe there is stigma associated with their condition, according to a survey from Abbott, and that can stand in the way of care, says Dr. Mahmood Kazemi.   “Misconceptions and stereotypes about diabetes can prevent some people from getting care,” said Kazemi, divisional vice president, medical/clinical affairs and chief medical officer, Abbott Diabetes Care. “It’s disheartening. What is promising, though,...

SAN DIEGO – A big reason for Resmed’s recently announced rebrand is to reflect its increased direct-to-consumer engagement on obstructive sleep apnea and CPAP therapy. Chief Marketing Officer Katrin Pucknat spoke with HME News about what that means for the company’s provider customers.  HME News: How has Resmed increased its direct-to-consumer engagement and why is this something the company is increasingly focused on? What have been the preliminary results of that engagement?   Katrin...

YARMOUTH, Maine – Complex rehab technology stakeholders in a recent webcast outlined their priorities for 2025, including getting a bill passed that would improve access to high-tech ultralightweight manual wheelchairs.  Previous versions of the bill nearly passed in late 2024, but there was “a hiccup,” said Wayne Grau, executive director of NCART, which hosted the webcast with U.S. Rehab.  “We couldn’t get it passed because one senator decided he wanted...

WASHINGTON – Aetna has put a proposed change on hold for review after AAHomecare asked the insurer to reconsider using certain adherence codes that can only be billed by clinicians not DME providers.  The proposed change, announced in January, stated: “Beginning April 1, 2025, we’ll no longer reimburse the CPAP device or the supplies unless adherence to positive airway pressure therapy is documented using adherence codes G8851, G8854 and G8855 on the claim.”  “On...

SAN DIEGO – Dexcom has received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding “non-conformities” in manufacturing and quality processes after inspections of its facilities in Sad Diego and Mesa, Ariz. In a form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it takes the matters identified in the warning letter seriously, has already submitted several responses to Form 483 and is in the process of preparing a written response...

RICHMOND, Va. – Owens & Minor has launched a private offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes, the proceeds of which will be used to finance its acquisition of Rotech Healthcare, along with cash on hand and expected borrowings under a new senior secured incremental term loan B facility. Proceeds will also be used for other transactions contemplated by the related merger agreement, including the repayment of Rotech debt and to pay acquisition-related fees and...

SAN DIEGO – Dexcom has named Jon Coleman as chief commercial officer to oversee the company’s global commercial organization, including sales, marketing and customer experience. “Jon has demonstrated the ability to lead organizations through the complexities of global health care with consistently strong performance across a variety of sectors and channels,” said Kevin Sayer, chairman, president and CEO at Dexcom. “This broad experience across market segments and regions...

ST. LOUIS – Responsive Respiratory has upgraded its popular duration card to include a full range of flow settings available on the company’s regulators, from pediatric to high flow. The card lists the most common medical oxygen cylinder sizes and the approximate duration for each when using a continuous flow oxygen regulator or 6:1 conserver on a full cylinder. “The duration card is handy tool for both providers and patients as it addresses one of the primary concerns for oxygen...

WASHINGTON – Aetna has put a proposed change on hold for review after AAHomecare asked the insurer to reconsider using certain adherence codes that can only be billed by clinicians not DME providers.  The proposed change, announced in January, stated: “Beginning April 1, 2025, we’ll no longer reimburse the CPAP device or the supplies unless adherence to positive airway pressure therapy is documented using adherence codes G8851, G8854 and G8855 on the claim.”  “On...