NEW YORK—The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) announced its AFA Helpline will remain open and available to provide assistance, answers and support to families in hurricane-affected areas who are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is urging Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and administration officials to use their authority to resolve the national shortage of intravenous (IV) solutions caused by the halt in production at a North Carolina IV fluids manufacturing plant damaged by floods in Hurricane Helene.
WASHINGTON—Vice President Kamala Harris announced a proposed Medicare at Home benefit designed to help families with caregiving needs and strengthen Medicare. Under the plan, Medicare would cover homecare for the nations’ seniors and those with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare, as well as vision and hearing benefits aimed at helping seniors live independently for longer.
LONDON—EFOLDi, a designer and manufacturer of mobility scooters and wheelchairs, is set to make its debut at the Abilities Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to present its travel-friendly mobility solutions. The expo, which will be held at Broward County Convention Center, will take place Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20.
OKLAHOMA CITY—Lee Jennings, a geriatrician and associate professor at the University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Medicine, received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to analyze the end-of-life experiences of about 550 people with dementia and their caregivers. The study aims to discover whether the care they receive aligns with their preferences.
NEW YORK—Intus Care, a Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) market technology company, will be previewing its “CareHub” product at the 2024 National PACE Association (NPA) annual conference in San Diego, California, which will take place Sunday, Oct. 13 through Wednesday, Oct.16.
HOBOKEN, New Jersey—Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), a remote patient monitoring (RPM) company, announced its partnership with Smart Meter, which aims to enhance the company’s “PatientConnect” RPM solution. The PatientConnect system offers cellular measurement device as an alternative to traditional Bluetooth-based solutions.
MIRAMAR, Florida—Integrated Home Care Services, Inc. (IHCS), an independent benefit manager of home health, durable medical equipment and home infusion services, has named Ajani Nimmagadda as its new chief medical officer. In this role, Nimmagadda intends to lead the company’s clinical and medical management.
DALLAS—Medtrade announced the lowest registration rates for Medtrade 2025 are now in effect. The company said the category, “insider,” is the best available deal for those who wish to attend the Medtrade 2025 Expo and Conference, a national home medical equipment (HME)-focused trade show.
CLEARWATER, Florida—Empath Health, a nonprofit hospice and homecare-based health care organization, has established a special Hurricane Helene assistance fund within its colleague assistance fund to offer immediate financial relief to colleagues who have been impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
CHICAGO—Sunset Healthcare Solutions, a home medical equipment manufacturer and distributor, announced the launch of Brighter Pediatrics, a new product line dedicated to enhancing outcomes for homecare providers and the families of pediatric patients.
BALTIMORE, Maryland—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a report on its study of the acute hospital care at home (AHCAH) initiative, which allows certain Medicare-certified hospitals to treat patients with inpatient-level care at home. While the initiative was launched during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA) extended the waivers and flexibilities associated with the AHCAH initiative until Dec. 31, 2024.
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina—NationsBenefits, a supplemental benefits and health care financial technology solutions company, announced its partnership with pharmacy software compay RedSail Technologies.
NEW YORK & PORT WASHINGTON, New York—HHAeXchange, a homecare management solutions company for providers, caregivers, managed care organizations and state Medicaid programs, announced it has acquired Sandata Technologies, an innovative technology solutions company for home- and community-based services (HCBS).
BALTIMORE—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the first draft of its hospice outcomes and patient evaluation (HOPE) tool, a new assessment tool for hospices. The HOPE tool was developed to replace the hospice item set (HIS) as part of the hospice quality reporting program (HQRP).
NEW YORK & SAN DIEGO—ResMed, a digital health technologies company providing medical devices for people with sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic diseases, unveiled its 2030 strategy aiming to drive growth, profitability and shareholder returns at the 2024 Investor Day in New York City.
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA), a trade association representing infusion companies and providers, commented on a proposed rule on Medicare home health (HH) programs from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
EPHRATA, Pennsylvania—Senior Helpers, an in-home senior care services provider, announced its Lancaster County location has achieved Age-Friendly Care at Home (AFC) certification by Community Health Accreditation Partners (CHAP), a nonprofit organization accrediting providers of home- and community-based care.
LANSING, Michigan—Homecare workers in Michigan achieved a new victory in fighting for their rights, as the House of Representatives voted “yes” on Senate Bills 790 and 791, which will improve homecare jobs and services in the state.
Senate Bills 790 and 791 improve the working conditions and rights of homecare workers in Michigan. These bills will:
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-Penn), chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, have introduced three bills to better support direct support professionals (DSPs), the workforce responsible for providing homecare and assistance to seniors and people with disabilities who frequently rely on long-term service and support.
