Report from Axxess shows 60% of homecare leaders see AI as a major impact on industry

DALLAS—Findings in the new 2026 Axxess Industry Growth Insights Report show 60% of care-at-home leaders believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have the greatest impact on the industry by 2030, but fewer than one in four organizations have made AI-specific investments.

Craig Douglas will succeed Rhonda Pearce who served as executive director for the past 21 years

WATERLOO, Iowa—The Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA) announced the appointment of Craig Douglas as its next executive director, succeeding Rhonda Pearce, who is retiring after 21 years of dedicated leadership and service to the organization.

Ronda Buhrmester will be in charge of client partnerships & revenue cycle management

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina—Prochant, a provider of revenue cycle management (RCM) services for the home-based care industry, announced the appointment of Ronda Buhrmester as vice president of client experience. This role reflects Prochant's continued investment in strengthening client partnerships and delivering measurable value as the company advances its long-term growth vision.

Boone Lockard has more than 16 years of experience spanning across the HME industry

WATERLOO, Iowa—VGM & Associates has announced that Boone Lockard has been promoted to vice president of HME (home medical equipment), respiratory and wellness.

Lockard joined VGM in 2022 with frontline experience as a respiratory therapist, and he has more than 16 years of experience spanning clinical practice, operations, billing, sales and management.

Mergers & acquisitions firm says sales show an uptick in health care M&A after sluggish years

FORT WORTH, Texas—Health care mergers and acquisitions advisory firm VERTESS, announced the closing of four sell-side advisory transactions in December 2025 and January 2026, which the company said represented a significant uptick in health care mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity after a sluggish market in the previous two years.

The transactions were: 

Mergers & acquisitions firm says sales show an uptick in health care M&A after sluggish years

FORT WORTH, Texas—Health care mergers and acquisitions advisory firm VERTESS, announced the closing of four sell-side advisory transactions in December 2025 and January 2026, which the company said represented a significant uptick in health care mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity after a sluggish market in the previous two years.

The transactions were: 

Boomer Medical Equipment, doing business as Risch Home Health Care, is a home medical equipment provider in Ohio

INDIANAPOLIS—Rehab Medical, a provider of complex rehab technology (CRT), announced the acquisition of Boomer Medical Equipment, doing business as Risch Home Health Care, a home medical equipment provider serving Central Ohio. The acquisition was finalized Jan. 1, 2026. 

The three agencies will combine forces to expand home health services throughout Texas & Colorado

TYLER, Texas—Choice Health at Home, a provider of home health, hospice and personal care services across the Southwest United States, announced the acquisition of Cy-Fair Health Care in Texas and Alliant Home Health, Palliative and Hospice Care in Colorado (“Alliant”).

Advocates encouraged by passage of Joe Fiandra Access to Home infusion Act in budget package, but say more can be done

WASHINGTON—The 2026 health funding bill that was signed into law Feb. 3 included a change to the qualifying criteria for drugs under Medicare’s home infusion benefit that may expand access to some drugs if an infusion pump is required for administration.