The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition urges Congress to include the 75-25 blended rate in any legislative packages that move before the year’s end

WASHINGTON—The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, a patient and disability advocacy group, has sent a letter to Congress urging Congressional leadership to include the 75-25 blended relief rate in its year-end legislative package, the American Associaton for Homecare (AAHomecare) wrote in a recent e-newsletter to members.

The location’s owners, a local couple, aim to bring compassion & comprehensive senior care to North San Diego

ENCINITAS, California—A Place At Home, a senior-focused homecare provider franchise, announced the opening of its fourth California location, A Place At Home Encinitas. Local couple Joscelyn Perez-Van Valzah and Sam Van Valzah opened the location, through which they intend to serve North County San Diego.

The Office of the Inspector General selected several home health agencies in order to determine compliance with the terms, conditions & requirements for Provider Relief Fund payments

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of 25 selected home health agencies (HHA) to determine if they expended taxpayer funds in accordance with the terms, conditions and requirements for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments. As a result of the review, the selected HHAs were found compliant with PRF guidelines.

El Paso, Texas, woman & medical equipment supplier was sentenced to federal prison in $1.7 million health care fraud scheme

EL PASO, Texas—Edelmira Marquez, owner of durable medical equipment company Marquez Medical Supply in El Paso, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to her imprisonment, Marquez has been fined $20,000 and ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution to Medicaid. 

Biopharmaceutical company Melinta Therapeutics added to the National Home Infusion Association’s Future of Infusion Advisory Council

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia & PARSIPPANY, New Jersey—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) and Melinta Therapeutics LLC, a biopharmaceutical company that provides therapy for individuals with acute and life-threatening illnesses, announced that Melinta has been added to NHIA’s Future of Infusion Advisory Council (FIAC).

The company’s “ProcedurePak” surgical equipment trays were granted this year’s Capgemini Swedish Sustainability Technology Award for reducing waste & greenhouse gas emissions

GOTHENBURG, Sweden—Mölnlycke, a medical technology and device company, announced it has received the 2024 Capgemini Swedish Sustainability Technology Award for its “ProcedurePak” surgical procedure equipment trays.

The company aims to pioneer the future of in-home care with its newly-received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care

DENVER—DispatchHealth, an in-home medical care provider, announced it has received the Accreditation Commission for Health Care's (ACHC) new in-home hospital care accreditation for its care services. The company said this recognition aims to further the standard of hospital-alternative homecare that it provides to patients.

The “TruO2” over-the-counter fingertip pulse oximeter gained FDA clearance & aims to provide innovative medical device technology to consumers & health care professionals

PLYMOUTH, Minnesota—Nonin Medical, a manufacturer of wearable and noninvasive medical monitoring devices, announced its first FDA-cleared over-the-counter (OTC) fingertip pulse oximeter, the “TruO2.” The device intends to provide accurate readings on adults of all skin tones, empower patients and health care professionals with accurate measurements and allow for better informed health care decisions.