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Updated: 35 weeks 2 days ago

React Health emphasizes holistic care in new mission statement

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 09:37
DUBLIN, Ohio – React Health and ReactDx have adopted joint mission and vision statements to underscore their commitment to optimizing the well-being of individuals by pioneering advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. "We believe this mission and vision will inspire our team and resonate with our providers and patients," said Bill Shoop, CEO, React Health. "They capture the essence of who we are and where we are headed, emphasizing our commitment to respiratory, sleep and cardiac care, as well as our broader goal of revolutionizing holistic care.” The mission statement: "To improve the lives of those we serve by delivering an innovative continuum of diagnostics and medical devices, with excellent respiratory, sleep and cardiac care.” The vision statement: "To seamlessly integrate end-to-end quality diagnostic medical device and service products to become the cost-effective standard in the detection, prevention, treatment and monitoring of respiratory sleep, and cardiac conditions by removing barriers informed by the experiences of patients and customers." The company says the development of the new statements was a comprehensive process that involved input from various stakeholders, including employees, patients and industry experts. The statements are part of the company’s broader strategy to enhance patient care through innovation and excellence.

Canadian retailer taps NorthShore Care Supply for distribution

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 09:36
VAUGHAN, Ontario – AgeComfort, an online retailer specializing in premium health care products inCanada, has entered into a strategic partnership with NorthShore Care Supply to handle the distribution of Forsite Health Maximum Absorbency adult diapers acrossthe U.S. The collaboration marks a major milestone for Forsite Health, enhancing the availability of the maximum absorbency adult diapers in the U.S. market. "We are incredibly excited about this partnership with Northshore Care Supply," saidHanif Balolia, president, AgeComfort. "Their extensive distribution network and commitment to quality align perfectly with our values. This collaboration will allow us to meet the growing demand for Forsite Health adult diapers in the U.S., providing more people with the premium incontinence solutions they need." NorthShore entered the Canadian market in 2021.

IPC, McKesson sign supply agreement

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 09:34
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), a group purchasing organization of community pharmacies, has announced a new supply agreement with McKesson. The new supply agreement provides IPC members with two distinct pricing options, allowing them to tailor their approach to better serve their communities and thrive in a competitive market. "Our collaboration with McKesson reflects our unwavering commitment to our members' success,” said Marc Essensa, CEO of IPC. “By offering these pathways, we empower pharmacies to make informed decisions that align with their unique business models. This agreement underscores our dedication to fostering choice, innovation, and resilience within the independent pharmacy landscape.” The pricing options will be presented to member pharmacies over the next month, with an effective date ofAug. 1.

Swift Medical names new CEO, CTO

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 09:32
TORONTO – Swift Medical, a digital health technology company focused on improving clinical outcomes in chronic and acute wound care, has named Dwayne Sansone as CEO and Stratos Davlos as CTO. Sansone brings more than 25 years of experience to Swift Medical, including significant expertise in the health care industry, as well as public accounting, Wall Street investment banking and senior leadership roles with top health insurance payers. "I feel privileged to join Swift Medical at this pivotal moment," said Sansone. "Swift Medical has a unique opportunity to transform the way wound care is delivered, and I look forward to working with the team to drive innovation and create value for our partners, providers and patients." As CTO, Davlos will lead Swift Medical's technology strategy and steer the development of its wound care solutions, leveraging his deep technical knowledge to drive innovation. Davlos is a pioneer in AI, data and software development with more than 25 years of experience, including key roles at Apple, Reliance Jio and IBM. "I am excited to join Swift Medical and lead its talented team of technologists," said Davlos. "I believe that technology has the power to revolutionize health care, and I am committed to leveraging our expertise to improve patient outcomes and enhance the delivery of wound care."

Stakeholders discuss ‘moving the bar’ with payers 

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 08:51
WATERLOO, Iowa – In a health care market where payer networks are getting narrower and more complicated, it’s important for HME providers to equip themselves with strategies to be noticed and heard, a panel of stakeholders emphasized at VGM’s Heartland Conference on June 11. “We’ve been pretty proactive about creating a story,” said James Russell, owner and vice president of URS Medical in Waco, Texas, which is part of Pediatric Home Service. “Some of that comes down to data and some of it comes down to the care we provide. We’ve looked at how we can differentiate ourselves in conversations with payers.” The panel, moderated by Miriam Lieber, also included Sharon Pruitt, solutions management director for Carelon, which is owned by Elevance, and Craig Douglas, vice president of payer and member relations for the VGM Group. A big part of URS Medical’s story is the role it plays in educating patients, Russell said. “It’s the standard of who we are as an industry and we do a horrible job of communicating this,” he said. Pruitt said it should also be about educating payers. “You need to show you’re not just another DME company that wants to come into the network,” she said. “You have to bring value or something interesting. Call other providers and ask them, do you provide X, do you bill insurance? Don’t assume (the payers) know (this competitive information); they don’t know.” Another part of URS's story is providing better care, Russell said. That’s where utilization data comes in handy. This hit home, he said, when his company lost a sole-source contract for incontinence supplies to another company that reported less than 1% of their patients had a fall. The message was clear, he said: “It’s not what data you’re reporting that matters; it only matters that you’re reporting data.” “It can be something as simple as breast pumps,” he said. “What can we move the bar on? Is the mom breastfeeding longer with the products and services we provide? You need to pull something from somewhere that resonates.” When these strategies don’t work, Russell said he looks outside his four walls. “We do have a full-time lobbyist on retainer,” he said. “That’s something we have found value in for challenges on the state Medicaid level. They have connections we don’t.” Douglas agreed: “This is important enough that you should have someone who has the time to spend on (payer relations).” 

In brief: Drug reduces OSA severity, Drive DeVilbiss makes buy, OM replaces CFO 

Wed, 06/26/2024 - 08:49
INDIANAPOLIS – Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide demonstrated a mean reduction of up to 62.8% on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), or about 30 fewer events restricting or blocking a person's airflow per hour of sleep, compared to placebo, according to the company’s SURMOUNT-OSA phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the drug for the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, with and without CPAP therapy. In a key secondary endpoint, the company says the efficacy estimand showed that 43.0% (Study 1) and 51.5% (Study 2) of participants treated with tirzepatide at the highest dose met the criteria for disease resolution. In this context, it says "disease resolution" means achieving an AHI of fewer than 5 events per hour, or an AHI of 5-14 events per hour and an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of ≤10.  "In the trials, patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity treated with tirzepatide experienced about 30 fewer disruptive events every hour of sleep and nearly half achieved disease resolution," said Atul Malhotra, MD, the Peter C. Farrell presidential chair, professor of medicine at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and director of sleep medicine at UC San Diego Health. "OSA can be very disruptive to daily life and affects a person's long-term health when left untreated because it can lead to serious cardiometabolic complications. These data support the efficacy of tirzepatide in adults living with moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity and has the potential to add to our toolbox for OSA treatment." Eli Lilly has submitted tirzepatide for the treatment of moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will initiate submissions for other global regulatory agencies in the coming weeks. Full results from the clinical trials were published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and presented at the American Diabetes Association 84th Scientific Sessions. For full results, go here. Drive DeVilbiss buys Mobility Designed’s portfolio PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. - Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare has acquired Mobility Designed’s full portfolio of products, including the company’s flagship product, the M+D Comfort Crutch.  As part of the acquisition, Mobility Designed’s co-founder and chief innovation officer, Max Younger, will join DDH as senior director of industrial design and innovation. “I am incredibly excited to join Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare,” said Younger. “This opportunity is a great example of Drive’s focus on innovation and allows us to bring our portfolio of designs to a broader audience continuing our mission of improving people's lives through thoughtful design. I look forward to working with the talented team at DDH to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical equipment.” The Comfort Crutch, which was named a finalist in Fast Company’s prestigious Innovation by Design Awards and which was the subject of a viral video that reached more than 50 million viewers in 2016, shifts the user’s weight to the elbows instead of the armpits or wrists, providing more comfort to users, the companies say. Younger, who brings more than 15 years of industrial design experience to his role at DDH, including positions focused on product innovation at Techtronic Industries, Dimensional Innovations and Hallmark Cards, designed the Comfort Crutch after witnessing his father’s struggles with conventional crutches following an amputation. “We are delighted to welcome Max Younger and the Mobility Designed team to the DDH family,” said Jen Nicholson, SVP product & marketing strategy for DDH. “This acquisition elevates our portfolio with forward-thinking domestic design capabilities that set DDH apart in the industry. We are excited about the potential for enhanced innovation and improved patient outcomes that this collaboration brings.” Investor buys BioMatrix SEATTLE – Frazier Healthcare Partners, a Seattle-based, health care-focused investment firm, has closed on its acquisition of BioMatrix Holdings, a Plantation, Fla.-based national provider of home infusion services. Frazier is partnering with Ted and Kathee Kramm, two highly experienced industry executives in the home infusion market, to lead BioMatrix with Ted as CEO and Kathee as president. The Kramms began their careers as clinicians (pharmacist and nurse, respectively) and have scaled multiple infusion pharmacy businesses, including AxelaCare, which, over the course of a decade, grew into one of the largest providers of home infusion services in the country. “Backing best-in-class operators is a core tenet of our investment strategy, and we are thrilled to back Ted and Kathee,” said Frazier Partner Philip Zaorski. “As they have done previously, our shared vision for this asset is to build a nationally renowned platform that puts the patient at the center of everything we do.” BioMatrix serves a diversified base of patients with more than 2,500 physician-referral relationships across all 50 states. It specializes in neurological diseases, immunology deficiencies and transplants, as well as blood disorders. DME MACs ease wheelchair policies WASHINGTON – The DME MACs have announced increased flexibility for home assessments for manual wheelchairs and streamlined replacement in certain cases. Home assessments This change allows for indirect assessments, such as phone calls, easing the burden on providers and improving access for Medicare beneficiaries in remote areas, AAHomecare says. The documentation for these assessments must clearly detail the beneficiary's home layout, surfaces and any obstacles that might impact wheelchair use. Stakeholders were able to work with the DME MACs and CMS during the public health emergency to allow indirect assessments, but Medicare traditionally requires an in-person assessment for manual wheelchairs. Wheelchair replacements This change allows Medicare to treat wheelchairs as “lost” if replacement parts become unavailable due to a manufacturer ceasing operations and no aftermarket parts exist. Beneficiaries can use existing procedures for obtaining replacement equipment, similar to when a wheelchair is lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair, AAHomecare says. AAHomecare says the changes address long-standing requests from stakeholders. Owens & Minor asks CFO to leave, names interim replacement RICHMOND, Va. – Alexander Bruni, Owens & Minor’s executive vice president and CFO, has, at the request of the company, resigned effective June 21, according to a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Bruni will remain with the company until Sept. 5, 2024, to support a transition of his leadership duties and, thereafter, will depart to pursue opportunities outside of the company. Owens & Minor has appointed Jonathan Leon, its senior vice president and corporate treasurer, as interim CFO. Leo, 58, joined the company in January of 2017 as senior vice president and corporate treasurer, responsible for global treasury, corporate development, taxation and investor relations. Prior to joining Owens & Minor, he worked at Brinks Company from 2008-17, where he served as treasurer. AdaptHealth announces corporate governance changes PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – AdaptHealth’s stockholders approved, at a recent annual meeting, an amendment and restatement of the company’s stock incentive plan to increase the number of shares reserved by 8.35 million shares, according to a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Stockholders also approved a proposal to phase out the company’s classified board structure and provide for the annual election of directors. Previously, the board was divided into three classes of about equal size, with each class serving a staggered three-year term. Under the amendment, directors elected prior to the recent annual meeting will continue to serve the remainder of their staggered three-year terms, but going forward, at each annual meeting, elections will be held to elect directors to serve one-year terms expiring at the next annual meeting. After the 2026 annual meeting, the phase out of the classified board structure will be complete and all directors will be subject to annual election for one-year terms. Tandem backs up efficacy of Mobi SAN DIEGO – Eighty-six percent of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with Tandem Diabetes Care’s Mobi regardless of prior therapy and agreed the automated insulin delivery system improves their quality of life, according to survey results the company presented at the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. “These real-world user insights provide evidence that we are furthering our mission to improve the lives of people with diabetes by demonstrating that Tandem Mobi not only meets but exceeds user expectations,” said Jordan Pinsker, MD, chief medical officer at Tandem Diabetes Care. “We are proud to share these results at ADA and will continue to innovate to provide the diabetes community with choice and improved quality of life.” In the six-week limited launch survey, early users who were previously using multiple daily injections (MDI) or other insulin pumps (tubed and tubeless) or were previous Tandem pump users also exhibited high satisfaction with the Mobi combined with the Control-IQ algorithm. The company also shared at ADA insights from an independent study involving Tandem Mobi users that showed their time in range improved with no increase in time spent below range. The company made Mobi commercially available in the United States in February. Gilgal Medical opens multiple locations in Florida  ORLANDO, Fla. – Gilgal Medical Supplies has expanded to multiple cities across Florida to address the growing demand for reliable DME providers in the state, it says. The locations are in Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa. "We recognize the significant gap in the availability of durable medical equipment in Florida, and we are committed to filling that void," said Sainty Chacko, CEO of Gilgal Medical Supplies. "Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our customers by providing dependable and affordable medical supplies. Expanding into these key cities allows us to better serve the healthcare needs of Floridians." The new locations in Florida will offer medical supplies, including ostomy, wound care and urology, as well as power mobility devices, beds and mattresses, living aids, nutritionals and feeding supplies. It also offers online ordering and delivery. ACHC launches staffing accreditation CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has launched Healthcare Staffing Services Certification to validate that staffing agencies meet recognized standards for quality in providing clinical professionals to health care organizations. Staffing shortages have accelerated since the onset of COVID-19, and access to readily available, highly qualified and skilled clinical professionals for immediate placement has become essential for hospitals and clinics to maintain their level of service to patients. “Health care staffing has been a hot topic since before the pandemic,” said Barb Provini, RN, BSN, senior clinical manager for ACHC. “With more organizations looking to staffing agencies to support their workforce needs, we designed Healthcare Staffing Services Certification as an independent third-party confirmation that an agency is a viable entity that meets recognized standards for credentialing professionals, tracking placements, conducting training, and evaluating competencies.” ACHC Certification verifies that processes and policies meet recognized standards for temporary staffing placements to ensure patient safety and excellence in care delivery. Empower Pharmacy recognized HOUSTON – Empower Pharmacy has been named a finalist in the Best Family-Owned Business Awards organized by the Houston Business Journal. This recognition underscores Empower Pharmacy's commitment to excellence, innovation and community investment within the Houston business landscape, the company says. "We are honored to be recognized as a finalist in the Best Family-Owned Business Awards," said Shaun Noorian, CEO of Empower Pharmacy. "This acknowledgment reflects our dedication to family values and our deep-rooted commitment to serving our community as we grow. Today, Empower has over 1,000 employees with over 90% located in Houston, and remains a family centered thanks to the hard work and dedication of our entire team." Empower Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy, was categorized within the large company list, demonstrating its substantial presence and impact as a large employer within the Houston area, the company says. To qualify for consideration, all nominees had to meet stringent criteria set by HBJ, including being at least 51% family owned with multiple generations involved in company operations and exhibiting longevity in business. 

Drive DeVilbiss buys Mobility Designed's portfolio

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 08:57
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. - Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare has acquired Mobility Designed’s full portfolio of products, including the company’s flagship product, the M+D Comfort Crutch.  As part of the acquisition, Mobility Designed’s co-founder and chief innovation officer, Max Younger, will join DDH as senior director of industrial design and innovation. “I am incredibly excited to join Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare,” said Younger. “This opportunity is a great example of Drive’s focus on innovation and allows us to bring our portfolio of designs to a broader audience continuing our mission of improving people's lives through thoughtful design. I look forward to working with the talented team at DDH to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical equipment.” The Comfort Crutch, which was named a finalist in Fast Company’s prestigious Innovation by Design Awards and which was the subject of a viral video that reached more than 50 million viewers in 2016, shifts the user’s weight to the elbows instead of the armpits or wrists, providing more comfort to users, the companies say. Younger, who brings more than 15 years of industrial design experience to his role at DDH, including positions focused on product innovation at Techtronic Industries, Dimensional Innovations and Hallmark Cards, designed the Comfort Crutch after witnessing his father’s struggles with conventional crutches following an amputation. “We are delighted to welcome Max Younger and the Mobility Designed team to the DDH family,” said Jen Nicholson, SVP product & marketing strategy for DDH. “This acquisition elevates our portfolio with forward-thinking domestic design capabilities that set DDH apart in the industry. We are excited about the potential for enhanced innovation and improved patient outcomes that this collaboration brings.” 

Investor buys BioMatrix 

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 08:56
SEATTLE – Frazier Healthcare Partners, a Seattle-based, health care-focused investment firm, has closed on its acquisition of BioMatrix Holdings, a Plantation, Fla.-based national provider of home infusion services. Frazier is partnering with Ted and Kathee Kramm, two highly experienced industry executives in the home infusion market, to lead BioMatrix with Ted as CEO and Kathee as president. The Kramms began their careers as clinicians (pharmacist and nurse, respectively) and have scaled multiple infusion pharmacy businesses, including AxelaCare, which, over the course of a decade, grew into one of the largest providers of home infusion services in the country. “Backing best-in-class operators is a core tenet of our investment strategy, and we are thrilled to back Ted and Kathee,” said Frazier Partner Philip Zaorski. “As they have done previously, our shared vision for this asset is to build a nationally renowned platform that puts the patient at the center of everything we do.” BioMatrix serves a diversified base of patients with more than 2,500 physician-referral relationships across all 50 states. It specializes in neurological diseases, immunology deficiencies and transplants, as well as blood disorders. 

DME MACs ease wheelchair policies 

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 08:55
WASHINGTON – The DME MACs have announced increased flexibility for home assessments for manual wheelchairs and streamlined replacement in certain cases. Home assessments This change allows for indirect assessments, such as phone calls, easing the burden on providers and improving access for Medicare beneficiaries in remote areas, AAHomecare says. The documentation for these assessments must clearly detail the beneficiary's home layout, surfaces and any obstacles that might impact wheelchair use. Stakeholders were able to work with the DME MACs and CMS during the public health emergency to allow indirect assessments, but Medicare traditionally requires an in-person assessment for manual wheelchairs. Wheelchair replacements This change allows Medicare to treat wheelchairs as “lost” if replacement parts become unavailable due to a manufacturer ceasing operations and no aftermarket parts exist. Beneficiaries can use existing procedures for obtaining replacement equipment, similar to when a wheelchair is lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair, AAHomecare says. AAHomecare says the changes address long-standing requests from stakeholders. 

Owens & Minor asks CFO to leave, names interim replacement

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 08:54
RICHMOND, Va. – Alexander Bruni, Owens & Minor’s executive vice president and CFO, has, at the request of the company, resigned effective June 21, according to a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Bruni will remain with the company until Sept. 5, 2024, to support a transition of his leadership duties and, thereafter, will depart to pursue opportunities outside of the company. Owens & Minor has appointed Jonathan Leon, its senior vice president and corporate treasurer, as interim CFO. Leo, 58, joined the company in January of 2017 as senior vice president and corporate treasurer, responsible for global treasury, corporate development, taxation and investor relations. Prior to joining Owens & Minor, he worked at Brinks Company from 2008-17, where he served as treasurer. 

AdaptHealth announces corporate governance changes 

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 08:53
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – AdaptHealth’s stockholders approved, at a recent annual meeting, an amendment and restatement of the company’s stock incentive plan to increase the number of shares reserved by 8.35 million shares, according to a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Stockholders also approved a proposal to phase out the company’s classified board structure and provide for the annual election of directors. Previously, the board was divided into three classes of about equal size, with each class serving a staggered three-year term. Under the amendment, directors elected prior to the recent annual meeting will continue to serve the remainder of their staggered three-year terms, but going forward, at each annual meeting, elections will be held to elect directors to serve one-year terms expiring at the next annual meeting. After the 2026 annual meeting, the phase out of the classified board structure will be complete and all directors will be subject to annual election for one-year terms. 

Tandem backs up efficacy of Mobi 

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 08:52
SAN DIEGO – Eighty-six percent of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with Tandem Diabetes Care’s Mobi regardless of prior therapy and agreed the automated insulin delivery system improves their quality of life, according to survey results the company presented at the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. “These real-world user insights provide evidence that we are furthering our mission to improve the lives of people with diabetes by demonstrating that Tandem Mobi not only meets but exceeds user expectations,” said Jordan Pinsker, MD, chief medical officer at Tandem Diabetes Care. “We are proud to share these results at ADA and will continue to innovate to provide the diabetes community with choice and improved quality of life.” In the six-week limited launch survey, early users who were previously using multiple daily injections (MDI) or other insulin pumps (tubed and tubeless) or were previous Tandem pump users also exhibited high satisfaction with the Mobi combined with the Control-IQ algorithm. The company also shared at ADA insights from an independent study involving Tandem Mobi users that showed their time in range improved with no increase in time spent below range. The company made Mobi commercially available in the United States in February. 

Gilgal Medical opens multiple locations in Florida  

Mon, 06/24/2024 - 08:16
ORLANDO, Fla. – Gilgal Medical Supplies has expanded to multiple cities across Florida to address the growing demand for reliable DME providers in the state, it says. The locations are in Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa. "We recognize the significant gap in the availability of durable medical equipment in Florida, and we are committed to filling that void," said Sainty Chacko, CEO of Gilgal Medical Supplies. "Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our customers by providing dependable and affordable medical supplies. Expanding into these key cities allows us to better serve the healthcare needs of Floridians." The new locations in Florida will offer medical supplies, including ostomy, wound care and urology, as well as power mobility devices, beds and mattresses, living aids, nutritionals and feeding supplies. It also offers online ordering and delivery. 

ACHC launches staffing accreditation 

Mon, 06/24/2024 - 08:15
CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) has launched Healthcare Staffing Services Certification to validate that staffing agencies meet recognized standards for quality in providing clinical professionals to health care organizations. Staffing shortages have accelerated since the onset of COVID-19, and access to readily available, highly qualified and skilled clinical professionals for immediate placement has become essential for hospitals and clinics to maintain their level of service to patients. “Health care staffing has been a hot topic since before the pandemic,” said Barb Provini, RN, BSN, senior clinical manager for ACHC. “With more organizations looking to staffing agencies to support their workforce needs, we designed Healthcare Staffing Services Certification as an independent third-party confirmation that an agency is a viable entity that meets recognized standards for credentialing professionals, tracking placements, conducting training, and evaluating competencies.” ACHC Certification verifies that processes and policies meet recognized standards for temporary staffing placements to ensure patient safety and excellence in care delivery. 

Empower Pharmacy recognized 

Mon, 06/24/2024 - 08:14
HOUSTON – Empower Pharmacy has been named a finalist in the Best Family-Owned Business Awards organized by the Houston Business Journal. This recognition underscores Empower Pharmacy's commitment to excellence, innovation and community investment within the Houston business landscape, the company says. "We are honored to be recognized as a finalist in the Best Family-Owned Business Awards," said Shaun Noorian, CEO of Empower Pharmacy. "This acknowledgment reflects our dedication to family values and our deep-rooted commitment to serving our community as we grow. Today, Empower has over 1,000 employees with over 90% located in Houston, and remains a family centered thanks to the hard work and dedication of our entire team." Empower Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy, was categorized within the large company list, demonstrating its substantial presence and impact as a large employer within the Houston area, the company says. To qualify for consideration, all nominees had to meet stringent criteria set by HBJ, including being at least 51% family owned with multiple generations involved in company operations and exhibiting longevity in business. 

Eli Lilly says tirzepatide reduces OSA severity 

Mon, 06/24/2024 - 08:13
INDIANAPOLIS – Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide demonstrated a mean reduction of up to 62.8% on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), or about 30 fewer events restricting or blocking a person's airflow per hour of sleep, compared to placebo, according to the company’s SURMOUNT-OSA phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the drug for the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, with and without CPAP therapy. In a key secondary endpoint, the company says the efficacy estimand showed that 43.0% (Study 1) and 51.5% (Study 2) of participants treated with tirzepatide at the highest dose met the criteria for disease resolution. In this context, it says "disease resolution" means achieving an AHI of fewer than 5 events per hour, or an AHI of 5-14 events per hour and an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of ≤10.  "In the trials, patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity treated with tirzepatide experienced about 30 fewer disruptive events every hour of sleep and nearly half achieved disease resolution," said Atul Malhotra, MD, the Peter C. Farrell presidential chair, professor of medicine at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and director of sleep medicine at UC San Diego Health. "OSA can be very disruptive to daily life and affects a person's long-term health when left untreated because it can lead to serious cardiometabolic complications. These data support the efficacy of tirzepatide in adults living with moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity and has the potential to add to our toolbox for OSA treatment." Eli Lilly has submitted tirzepatide for the treatment of moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will initiate submissions for other global regulatory agencies in the coming weeks. Full results from the clinical trials were published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and presented at the American Diabetes Association 84th Scientific Sessions. For full results, go here. 

Aeroflow Urology adds women’s health expert to medical advisers

Fri, 06/21/2024 - 12:22
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Aeroflow Urology has namedLopa Pandya, MD, MS, FACOG, to its growing list of medical advisers. Pandya, a women’s pelvic health expert, will expand the company's education resources with her expertise in urogynecology and pelvic reconstruction surgery. "I'm very proud to be joining Aeroflow Urology as a medical advisor and look forward to providing my expertise to a company that holds the same value of quality care as I do," says Pandya. "I enjoy finding ways to improve my patients' quality of life with relatively simple pelvic floor treatments, and I am excited to share that knowledge with both the Aeroflow Urology team and their customers." Aeroflow Urology, a subsidiary of Aeroflow Health, is a nationwide provider of continence care supplies. 

Newspoll: When it comes to revenue, many providers seeing red

Fri, 06/21/2024 - 11:00
YARMOUTH, Maine – June marks the midpoint of the calendar year and so far, it’s been a financial disappointment, say 65% of respondents to a recent HME Newspoll. “2024 has been a challenging year,” wrote one poll respondent. “Despite our growth in volume and workforce, we have encountered significant obstacles. We have faced difficulties in contracting, with closed insurance panels, struggled with low reimbursement rates, and dealt with high equipment costs.” Reimbursement presented a challenge for many respondents (25%), while staffing, which has been a struggle for several years across the industry, also remains problematic, say 44% of poll respondents. That’s got them seeking alternatives – and seeing opportunities in technology adoption (38%). “We’re adopting an AI solution to help with staffing shortage,” wrote one. “Looking forward to it, but the development and training is taking a while.” While payer contracting represented the biggest challenge to only a small minority of poll respondents (3%), the impact of managed care plans – with their closed provider networks and low reimbursement – casts a wide net. “We have seen more people signing on to managed care programs and that is making it difficult for all providers, including doctor’s offices,” wrote one respondent. “Reimbursement has been challenging and costs have been going up.” One wild card that providers could not have predicted when 2024 kicked off: the Change Healthcare cyberattack in February, which continues to cast a shadow, say several respondents. “The Change Healthcare hack continues to cause problems,” wrote one respondent. “While we still got most of the money in, we were not getting ERAs, so we could not post to the account. That meant we could not bill the patient for their balance…and that has caused a severe reduction in overall revenue.”

WHILL powers up

Fri, 06/21/2024 - 10:57
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – WHILL, known for its modern looking power wheelchairs, is on an expansion kick in the U.S., attending Medtrade this spring with a new product and announcing the addition of five executives to its leadership team in May. “We’re newly re-energized,” said Carl Crabill, senior vice president, WHILL Business Development, Mobility Sales. “Our strategy is really unique and it’s going to deliver a lot of growth.”  In addition to Crabill, WHILL named Tres Izzard president of WHILL Mobility Services; Marie Onga vice president of WHILL Customer Experience Group; Christine Addeo vice president of WHILL Marketing; and Shane Bogni vice president, WHILL Business Development, Mobility Services. In the first quarter of calendar year 2024, WHILL’s growth included a 40% increase in total mobility sales. In the last 16 months, the company’s cruise rental business has seen more than 65,000 transactions across 24 cruise lines, 275 ships and 84 ports worldwide, Crabill says, and its airport rental business has grown to include Miami International and other airports. “I think we’re just scratching the surface,” he said. Future sales and rentals will get a boost from the WHILL Model Ri, the company’s first ever scooter, which will launch this summer. The scooter, on display at Medtrade in March, features the same modern look as the company’s flagship wheelchairs, the Model C2 and Model F, Crabill says. “It was very well received and pre-orders are incredibly strong,” he said. “We’re very excited about the scooter business. The Ri delivers on our mantra of bringing (to market) designs that are unique and, with an independent suspension and stabilizer, it delivers the ride and comfort that’s the hallmark of our brand.” WHILL expects the Ri to become a larger fixture of its rental business, which is a pivotal part of the company’s marketing strategy of making impressions and converting them to sales, Crabill says. “It’s like a cybertruck – when you see (our products) in the airport or on a cruise ship, you just stop what you’re doing and stare at it,” he said. “It drives awareness.” 

NRRTS ‘seizes’ momentum

Fri, 06/21/2024 - 10:55
LUBBOCK, Texas – iNRRTS has spent the first part of 2024 contributing to repair reform efforts, hitting a milestone for its CRT Supplier Certification Program and engaging with its registrants in new ways, says Executive Director Andrea Madsen.  Madsen, along with Weesie Walker, former executive director of iNRRTS, teamed up for a webinar on May 23 to review the best practice guideline for wheelchair service, preventative maintenance and repair, and share why it matters in the current environment, where wheelchair users can experience lengthy delays. “The guideline is not the resolution itself, but hopefully it’s a tool to make sure everyone’s voice in the process is being heard,” Madsen said. The four-page guideline, published last year, was developed by iNRRTS and the University of Pittsburgh through a grant project, incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders, including clinicians and consumers. iNRRTS also expects to draw on the research conducted to develop the guideline to publish a separate paper specifically on the consumer experience later this year, Madsen says. “It will (highlight) the challenges they meet in trying to make sure repairs are done in an appropriate fashion,” she said. Knowledge level achieved At press time, iNRRTS was within 30 days of releasing the 10th and final course for level 1 of its CRT Supplier Certification Program, Madsen says. “It’s such a wonderful tool to help people who are looking to start a career or who want to transition their career to the supplier side to give them the knowledge base they need,” she said. iNRRTS expects level 2 of the program, led by Walker, to be a deeper dive into pediatrics, wheelchair fittings (for manual and power wheelchairs), programming and business practices. Work it out As it looks to ensure the health of its registry, iNRRTS is focusing on engaging new registrants or existing registrants who haven’t been as active in helping to lead and shape the organization through a new work group, Madsen says. “There are so many professionals out there with great ideas,” she said. “We want to make sure they feel included and heard, and they have the opportunity to seize how we move forward.”