News
DOJ sues UnitedHealth to block Amedisys deal
November 20, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice, together with the attorneys general of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block UnitedHealth Group’s proposed $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys because it would eliminate competition between the two companies.
Since UnitedHealth’s acquisition of LHC Group, a competitor of Amedisys, in 2023, UnitedHealth and Amedisys have been two of the largest home health and hospice providers...
Trump picks Dr. Oz as CMS chief
November 19, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has named Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician known as Dr. Oz, as his pick for CMS administrator, according to online news reports.
Oz, 64, ran for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, ultimately losing to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and has been a Trump ally ever since, according to reports.
“Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex and all the horrible chronic diseases left in...
In brief: Trumps picks Oz, DOJ sues UnitedHealth, Alabama covers seat elevation & more
November 19, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has named Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician known as Dr. Oz, as his pick for CMS administrator, according to online news reports.
Oz, 64, ran for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, ultimately losing to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and has been a Trump ally ever since, according to reports.
“Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex and all the horrible chronic diseases left in...
Industry’s post-election mindset: ‘All we can do is be prepared’
November 15, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – How the HME industry’s legislative efforts fare in a post-election Congress will depend a lot on whether president-elect Donald Trump and his supporters want to “clear the decks,” say industry stakeholders.
From meetings on Capitol Hill last week, Jay Witter says committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives are preparing for an end-of-year package but are waiting for a signal as to whether that gets done this year or kicked to next year.
“All...
In brief: Stakeholders push infusion bill, Aeroflow partners with virtual doc group & more
November 15, 2024HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A group of more than 35 patient and stakeholder groups are calling on Congress to address Medicare beneficiary access to home infusion services.
In a letter to lawmakers, the groups urge congressional leaders to advance the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (S. 1976/H.R. 4104), which would include pharmacy services as part of the home infusion therapy benefit under Medicare and cover everything from assessments to drug preparation and compounding...
AMA works to right-size prior auths
November 12, 2024HME News Staff
ORLANDO, Fla. – The American Medical Association will consider legislative and legal actions to fight retrospective denial of payment for care that has been pre-certified by an insurer.
A 700-member House of Delegates has approved a new policy that directs the AMA to support a federal prohibition on the inappropriate denial of payment for medically necessary care that has been pre-certified by insurers and encourages the association to take legal action against insurers that engage...
In brief: Cardinal Health to buy ADS, AMA fights prior auths, Williams Brothers names CEO
November 12, 2024HME News Staff
DUBLIN, Ohio – Cardinal Health has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Advanced Diabetes Supply for about $1.1 billion in cash, with plans to merge the company into its at-Home Solutions business.
ADS, led by CEO Bill Mixon, serves about 500,000 patients annually by providing the latest innovations in diabetes therapies from leading manufacturers.
"Last January, we elevated the priority of investing in our growth businesses like at-Home Solutions because this...
In brief: Financial results, pharmacy acquisitions, Diabetes Awareness Month
November 8, 2024HME News Staff
GOLETA, Calif. - Inogen reported total revenue of $88.8 million for the third quarter of 2024, a 5.8% increase year over year, driven by higher demand and new customer gains across the domestic and international business-to-business channels.
Those gains were partially offset by lower direct-to-consumer sales and rental revenue.
“We continued to make significant progress on our strategic priorities in the third quarter,” said Kevin Smith, president and CEO. Our...
In brief: AdaptHealth’s static revenue, bid program’s impact, AOM’s Western expansion
November 6, 2024HME News Staff
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – AdaptHealth reported third quarter net revenue of $805.9 million compared to $804 million, an increase of 0.2% year over year.
Net income attributable to AdaptHealth was $22.9 million vs. a net loss of $454.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $164.3 million vs. $161.2 million, an increase of 1.9%
“I continue to be optimistic about the road ahead,” said Suzanne Foster, CEO. “We have identified growth opportunities, we are assembling a high...
What’s ‘next chapter’ in HME data?
November 1, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
PORTLAND, Maine – A dearth of data makes it difficult for the HME industry to fully leverage AI and other developing technologies, so it may have to shift its focus, according to a panel of vendors at the HME News Business Summit in October.
Because personal health information is protected and because HME companies are typically smaller in size – “No organization here has enough data to feed a large language model,” said Dr. Charlotte Lawson, CEO and co-founder of...