WATERLOO, Iowa (June 5, 2020)—VGM & Associates have released three new resources to help members navigate the new business climate post-PHE. These resources include the latest edition of the VGM playbook, a remote guide to help members transition into a virtual working environment, and a re-opening checklist to help businesses prepare for the new environment.
SACREMENTO, Calif. (June 5, 2020)—California HME stakeholders achieved a measure of success last year in pushing back against a Medi-Cal proposal for Medicaid reimbursement rates based on 80% of non-rural Medicare rates, convincing the agency to use higher rural rates, instead. The new rates went into effect in April 2020 and will be applied retroactively to January 2019; Medi-Cal is anticipated to begin recoupments soon.
BRADENTON, Fla, (June 5, 2020)—Tyton Design & Development, originally a wheelchair accessory manufacturer, announced that they are focusing on providing facemasks throughout the United States. Due to recent events, the average person is at a loss to find proper protection during the pandemic. Tyton decided to do its part for the community, and now the nation. Already providing thousands of masks across Florida, Tyton decided to open its doors to individuals across all fifty states.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (June 5, 2020)—QS/1 announced the launch of the iQ Virtual Series. This online educational experience will take the place of the much anticipated 2020 iQ Conference, canceled earlier this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The iQ Virtual Series will offer product training, industry education, continuing education credits, and provide an ongoing educational platform for QS/1 customers.
FRESNO, California, (June 4, 2020)—Sunrise Medical announced an update to the website. The updated website has several important enhancements including a refreshed modern look and an improved navigation experience for mobile users.
Specifically designed with our clients, clinicians and dealers in mind, the updated website also provides:
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., (June 4, 2020)—ATC Alert LLC, a connected health company, announced the completion of its acquisition of East Rock Medical Alert's personal emergency response system (PERS) accounts.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 3, 2020)—As announced first in January 2019, starting in calendar year (CY) 2021 (and through CY 2024) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin a demonstration program under the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model to test coverage of hospice care as part of the Medicare Advantage (MA) benefit package.
BALL GROUND, Ga. (June 3, 2020)—CAIRE Inc., a provider of respiratory solutions for the global health care community, announced the acquisition of Spirosure, Inc. Spirosure is a California-based developer and manufacturer of a technology for measuring Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO), a key indicator of allergic inflammation in asthmatic patients.
TAMPA, Fla. (June 3, 2020)—Osceola Capital, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on service businesses, announced that it has partnered with management to recapitalize Central Medical Group (CMG).
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (June 3, 2020)—The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) launched a new live, remote proctored testing option, enabling certification candidates to complete their exams online–using their home or office computer–and earn BOC certification.
BIRMINGAM, Ala. (June 2, 2020)—The coronavirus crisis has not had a huge impact on M&A activity, said Mertz-Taggart, a health care services M&A firm in their quarterly update. Rather, Q2 transactions have been predictably impacted by the Patient Driven Groupings Model.
ASSOCIATED PRESS (June 2, 2020)—Will temperature checks of employees make workplaces safe?
No, not completely. They can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections but shouldn’t be the only safety measure employers take.
Some employers are following White House guidelines to screen workers for a fever with daily temperature checks to help prevent the spread of infections.
WASHINGTON, D.C (May 29, 2020)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Medicare Program: Contract Year 2021 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, and Medicare Cost Plan Program, with important information about the special election period for hospice beneficiaries.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Penn. (May 29, 2020)—AdaptHealth Corp., a provider of home medical equipment, supplies and related services in the United States, announced today that it has entered into two separate definitive agreements to acquire San Diego, California based Solara Medical Supplies, LLC and Minneapolis, Minnesota based ActivStyle, Inc.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (May 29, 2020)—It brings HOMES’ Executive Committee great pleasure to announce that Jason Morin, most recently of Home Care Specialists Inc., based in Haverhill, Massachusettes, is the association’s new president and CEO. He will officially begin this new role June 1st.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2020)—Last year’s Omnibus bill included a provision to exempt manual complex rehab technology (CRT) accessories from bidding derived prices for an 18-month period starting January 1, 2020.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (May 29, 2020)—3B Medical is pleased to announce completion of independent lab testing of Lumin used to decontaminate an N95 respirator. Lumin, a UV sanitizer, has a measured UVC irradiance output of roughly 2,000 mJ/cm2, well in excess of the dose requirement to kill most bacteria and viruses. This latest test study by Microchem utilized an N95 respirator inoculated with Human Coronavirus. In this study, Lumin evidenced greater than a 99.9% kill of Human Coronavirus.
AGOURA HILLS, Caif. (May 29, 2020)—Casamba, a provider of electronic medical record (EMR) solutions for contract therapy providers, skilled nursing facilities, home health and hospice agencies, and outpatient therapy, announced the launch of the Casamba Small Business Network.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2020)—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a 45-day deadline extension for providers who are receiving payments from the Provider Relief Fund to accept the terms and conditions for Provider Relief Fund payments on May 22. This announcement means providers have now been granted 90 days from the date they received a payment to accept HHS Terms and Conditions or return the funds.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (May 27, 2020)—Aeroflow Healthcare, a nationwide provider of durable medical equipment, announced the results of a proprietary survey designed to highlight the struggle and stigma middle-aged women experience with incontinence. The third-party administered survey polled 1010 adult women aged 40 to 64 living in the United States and was completed on March 16, 2020.