AAHomecare’s membership has re-elected Bill Guidetti of Apria as chair of the board and has approved Josh Marx of Medicare Service Company as vice chair and Mike Kloos of VGM Insurance as treasurer. Members also elected six people to at-large board seats for three-year terms: Josh Britten of BritKare Home Medical, Lucy Busa of Comfort Medical, Larissa D’Andrea of ResMed, Jennifer Pederson of Lincare, Isaac Rodriguez of National Seating & Mobility, and James Russell of URS Medical. Busa is new to the board; the others were re-nominated to continue their service. Additionally, John Cassar of SuperCare Health has joined the board and executive committee through his role as chair of the Corporate Provider CEO Council…Viemed Healthcare elected eight members to its board of directors during its annual and special meeting of shareholders on June 10: Casey Hoyt, W. Todd Zehnder, William Frazier, Randy Dobbs, Nitin Kaushal, Timothy Smokoff, Bruce Greenstein and Sabrina Heltz. 

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Luke McGee has resigned from his positions as co-CEO and director of the board of AdaptHealth, and Stephen Griggs has been named CEO effective immediately. Griggs, who is also a member of the board, joined AdaptHealth in February as co-CEO following the company’s acquisition of AeroCare Holdings, which he founded and led as president and CEO. “Steve’s extensive management experience, along with health sector expertise and a proven record building high-growth companies, has already been instrumental in bolstering AdaptHealth’s growth trajectory,” said Richard Barasch, chair of the board. “The board has complete confidence in his ability to lead the company to even greater success as CEO.” McGee was placed on unpaid leave in April after authorities in Denmark formally charged him with alleged tax fraud. A special committee of independent directors, established by the board, had retained DLA Piper, an independent law firm, to conduct an investigation into any connection between McGee’s private activities and AdaptHealth. The firm reported to the committee on June 11 that its investigation is substantially complete and that it could state with a high degree of confidence that the company had no involvement in, or connection to, McGee’s alleged conduct. Griggs said he looks forward to leading AdaptHealth with “some of the best management talent in the business,” including President Josh Parnes, CFO Jason Clemens and others. “AdaptHealth has never been stronger and with the integration of AeroCare firmly on course, we can focus our full attention on delivering strong organic growth in our core business, enhancing our role in chronic disease management and deploying capital on strategic M&A opportunities,” he said. 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Humana has signed a definitive agreement to acquire onehome, a provider of a variety of home-based services, from WayPoint Capital Partners. onehome has been operating a value-based model in Florida and Texas, and has served Humana members since 2015. “At Humana, we are implementing a strategy to build a new value-based home health model that will improve patient outcomes, increase satisfaction for patients and providers, and provide greater value for health plan partners,” said Susan Diamond, segment president for Humana’s Home Business and the company’s interest CFO. “The acquisition of onehome is a key component of that strategy.” News of the deal follows Humana’s announcement to fully acquire and integrate Kindred at Home, a home care provider with more than 775 locations across 40 states. The addition of onehome will enable Humana to more effectively deliver value-based home health at a national scale by providing a number of key capabilities, including: onehome has significant experience with risk-based contracting and has fully capitated models in place in Florida and Texas that will provide valuable insights for the expansion of similar contracting in other states. onehome has developed fully dedicated network management and utilization management systems that can create greater efficiencies for the administration of in-home patient visits. onehome owns and manages home-based DME and infusion services for members in its core geographies that can be expanded to other markets and deliver more simplified coordination of these services for patients and providers. onehome’s ownership of DME services can deliver greater value and better outcomes through reduced waste and more consistent equipment utilization by members. “Since first launching onehome in 2013, we have had a front row seat at the care-in-the-home revolution that is driven by our society’s desire to positively impact clinical outcomes, affordability and patient experience," said Ramon Falero, CEO and co-founder of onehome. "We built the onehome model with a focus on integrating all key home-based patient care delivery needs with risk-taking capabilities and robust technology. We have had the privilege of serving millions of patients with this model – the need for which has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.”  Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, were not disclosed. 

AMSTERDAM – Royal Philips has announced, in consultation with regulatory agencies, a voluntary recall notification on certain Bi-Level CPAP, CPAP and mechanical ventilator devices to address identified potential health risks related to the polyester-based polyurethane sound abatement foam component in these devices. The majority of affected devices within the advised five-year service life are in the first-generation DreamStation product family, the company says. “We deeply regret any concern and inconvenience that patients using the affected devices will experience because of the proactive measures we are announcing today to ensure patient safety,” said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. “In consultation with the relevant regulatory agencies and in close collaboration with our customers and partners, we are working hard toward a resolution, which includes the deployment of the updated instructions for use and a comprehensive repair and replacement program for the affected devices. Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do at Philips.” Despite a low complaint rate (0.03% in 2020), Philips determined based on testing that there are possible risks to users related to this type of foam. The risks include that the foam may degrade into particles that may enter the device’s air pathway and be ingested or inhaled by the user, and the foam may off-gas certain chemicals. The degradation may be exacerbated by use of unapproved cleaning methods, such as ozone, and by high heat and high humidity environments. Philips says it will replace the current sound abatement foam with a new material and has already begun preparations, including obtaining the relevant regulatory clearances. The first-generation DreamStation product families will be modified with a different sound abatement foam and shipped upon receipt of the required regulatory clearances. Philips’ recently launched next-generation CPAP platform, DreamStation 2, is not affected by the issues and to support the program, the company is increasing the production of those devices that are available in the U.S. and selected countries in Europe. The adjustments to and acceleration of the repair and replacement program, as well as intensified communication with customers and patients, has led to an increase of EUR 250 million in the expected costs of the corrective actions on the installed base. That’s on top of the provision of EUR 250 million that Philips recorded in the first quarter of 2021. For patients using affected Bi-Level PAP and CPAP devices, the recall advises they discontinue use of their device and work with their physician or DME provider to determine most appropriate options for continued treatment. To continue use of their device due to lack of alternatives, patients should consult with their physician to determine if the benefit of continuing therapy with their device outweighs the risks identified. For patients using affected mechanical ventilator devices, the recall advises they not stop or alter their prescribed therapy until they have talked to their physician. Philips recognizes that options for therapy may not exist or may be severely limited for patients who require a vent for life-sustaining therapy, or in cases where the therapy disruption is unacceptable. In these situations, and at the discretion of the treating clinical team, the benefit of continued usage of these vent devices may outweigh the risks identified in the recall notification. 

SAN DIEGO – People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea were associated with a higher rate of COVID-19 infection than those who received PAP treatment, according to a poster presented by ResMed and Kaiser Permanente during SLEEP 2021, which was held virtually June 10-13. The data showed a dose-response association of OSA severity on infection rate: Patients with untreated mild OSA had a COVID-19 infection rate of 2%, while patients with severe untreated OSA had a COVID-19 infection rate of 2.4%. Bother rates were significantly higher than those treated with PAP at 1.14%. “These findings demonstrate the critical importance for people with OSA to receive and stay on PAP therapy,” said Carlos Nunez, M.D., ResMed’s chief medical officer. “In addition to COVID-19, OSA can increase a person’s risk for an array of chronic diseases, so it’s necessary for health care providers to educate patients on the importance of proper CPAP use so they can get optimal sleep, which may help keep their immune systems healthy.” The data also showed that patients who engaged in PAP therapy with good adherence had even lower COVID-19 infection rates than patients without OSA (1.3% vs. 1.7%, respectively). The study, which was conducted by a team of investigators from Kaiser Permanente and led by pulmonologist Dr. Dennis Hwang, collected data on nearly 82,000 patients in the U.S. who were evaluated for sleep disorders at Kaiser Permanente’s southern California sleep clinic between 2015-20. Of those, 1,493 tested positive for COVID-19 infection. The data collected included electronic health records and sleep study findings, as well as data collected remotely on PAP therapy. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Health and Human Services last week updated guidance on Provider Relief Fund reporting, including that the PRF Reporting Portal will be open for providers to submit information on July 1.Other key updates in the revised “Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements,” according to VGM Government Relations: The period of availability of funds is based on the date the payment is received. Previous guidance indicated that all payments be used by June 30, 2021, regardless of when they were received. Recipients are required to submit a report for each Payment Received Period in which they received one or more payments exceeding, in the aggregate, $10,000, rather than $10,000 cumulatively across all PRF payments. Recipients will have a 90-day period to complete reporting, rather than a 30-day reporting period). The reporting requirements are now applicable to recipients of the Skilled Nursing Facility and Nursing Home Infection Control Distribution in addition to General and other Targeted Distributions. VGM says updated guidance also includes helpful tablesdetailing thedeadline to use the funds, the deadline to report on the use of the funds, andthe timing of payment received date and corresponding reporting time period. 

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority does not have the authority to implement a managed care plan for the state’s Medicaid system, according to a State Supreme Court ruling. The ruling was cheered by the Oklahoma Medical Equipment Providers Association and other health care providers who have been fighting the proposed move in the state legislature and in the courts. “OMEPA and other health care leaders in Oklahoma have done an exceptional job in spotlighting the potential impacts of the MCO approach on both providers and patients,” said Laura Williard, AAHomecare’s vice president of payer relations. “I’d especially like to acknowledge the persistence of OMEPA President Larry Dalton, Victor Clay of Complete Care Medical and Katie Roberts of Cimarron Medical Services in this fight”…The Louisiana Senate has passed HB 594, a bill that would require insurers, MCOs and other payers to reimburse for ventilators on a continuous monthly rental basis and not cap payments at purchase price. The bill now goes to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature…The New York Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee has approved A.5368, a bill that would require Medicaid MCOs to reimburse DME providers at no less than 100% of the state’s published Medicaid DME and CRT fee schedule. The bill now goes to the Rules Committee before heading to the floor for a vote. A companion bill, S.5118, is also eligible for a vote. 

WASHINGTON – The payer relations team at AAHomecare is working with its association partners to craft a letter asking state governments to include HME in their allocation of millions of dollars in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion act, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, in March, providing, among other things, $195.3 billion to states and the District of Columbia to help them cover increased expenditures, replenish lost revenue and mitigate economic harm from the pandemic. “It is definitely something that HME can be and should be included in,” said Laura Williard, vice president of payer relations for AAHomecare. “In terms of mitigating the harm from the pandemic, we have been on the front lines and continue to be.” The team has already been working with the Florida Alliance of Home Care Services to get lawmakers in that state to include HME as part of its second allocation later this year. While the “ask” may differ in each state, in most states, like in Florida, it will most likely be a certain percentage increase for claims payments for the past year of the pandemic, Williard says. “It’s a one-time funding opportunity – it can’t be recurring spending,” she said, “and it has to be for specific items. So, we’re trying to come up with reasonable asks around that and come up with a few suggestions.” AAHomecare and its association partners are also crafting a letter asking state governments to include HME in another part of the act – a temporary 10% increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain home and community-based services (HCBS) for Medicaid beneficiaries from April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022. “The main focus of this is to pay for items that enhance the HCBS benefit but that have not been paid for previously,” Williard said. “There is also a potential of asking for temporary rate increases, depending on the state.” The 10% increase to the FMAP also serves as a bargaining chip for the team in its conversations with states that seek to decrease reimbursement for HME. For states to remain eligible for the increase, they must maintain rates at no less than those in effect on April 1, 2021. “I testified at a rate hearing for Texas Medicaid, which has put out some proposed rate changes, including some double-digit decreases for some DME,” said David Chandler, senior director of payer relations for AAHomecare. “We included in our argument that, if they move forward, they may be ineligible.”

AMARILLO, Texas – Employers that are calling on employees to return to the office need to navigate a number of “sticky subjects,” including whether they can require them to get vaccinated and wear masks. Allison Davis, a shareholder and employment law attorney at Brown & Fortunato, answers those questions and emphasizes why it’s important to stay up to date on changing guidelines. HME News: Can employers require that employees get vaccinated? Allison Davis: You can, as an employer, require your employees to get vaccinated. But I will tell you that most of my clients, even those in the medical field, are choosing not to do so. There are exemptions for anyone with a religious belief and anyone with a disability, and frankly, dealing with exemptions is a headache, because you can really get in trouble in a hurry. I also think the general stance is that employers don’t want to mandate anything medical-related for their employees. Most are encouraging their employees to get vaccinated and some are even providing a gentle nudge by providing an additional day of PTO or a gift card. I know there’s information out there saying giving something of value is OK, but I haven’t given that advice. You could end up in a situation where you’re withholding something of value based on someone’s protected class. HME: So, if it’s in some ways impractical to require vaccines, should employers require employees to wear masks? Davis: Right now, masks are the stickier subject. As you know, there has been new guidance from the CDC that fully vaccinated individuals don’t need to socially distance or wear masks or even quarantine after exposure in most instances. That has pushed a lot of states and cities to lift their mask mandates. I’m working with a lot of clients dealing with if they’re going to change their mask policy and how. You can have two sets of rules: Fully vaccinated don’t need to wear masks; unvaccinated need to wear masks. That’s legally permissible. HME: Sounds pretty clear. Why is this “sticky”? Davis: Where it gets sticky is tracking who has been vaccinated, because employers should always ask for the bare minimum amount of medical information. Do you just ask someone to verify their vaccinated status? Do you take a copy of their vaccine card? If it’s the latter, how do you store that information because it is confidential? Every layer opens up a new set of potential issues. That’s why I have one client who has completely lifted the mask mandate at their place of business. They feel everyone has now had the opportunity to get vaccinated and if they chose not to that’s their choice and their risk to accept. HME: Can an employee refuse to say whether they’re vaccinated or not? Davis: It is important to keep in mind that, while you can ask, if they refuse to answer, you don’t want to follow up, because you’re potentially digging into a religious belief or disability issue.  HME: You spoke of the recent changes to CDC guidance. Should we expect further changes? Davis: You do have to be careful and look at your state and local requirements because they can be all over the map. Basically, for the past year and a half, that’s all we’ve been doing – trying to stay on top of what’s new, because it’s constantly changing. We’re also awaiting guidance from OSHA and that could turn us in one direction or the other.

WASHINGTON – Providers say a recent draft report on the effectiveness of CPAP is questionable, but they worry it could still impact everything from patient confidence in the therapy to adequate access and payment for equipment and services. The report, released in April by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, states that published studies show little evidence of long-termbenefits ofCPAP therapyon cardiovascular and other health outcomes. “I think it was a fairly biased study that selectively reviewed certain data that supported a viewpoint that was maybe predetermined,” said Gary Sheehan, senior vice president, regional operations, for AdaptHealth New England. “It’s hard to know what’s its purpose was, and I don’t think it’s a good representation of the complete long-term benefits of treating OSA.” It was CMS that asked the AHRQ to evaluate the evidence on the improvement of long-term clinical health outcomes with CPAP treatment, as well as the validity of the criteria used as surrogate outcomes. There has already been pushback against the draft report by the sleep community, including the AmericanAcademy of Sleep Medicine, but providers say they hope patients hear the full story, too. “I think the public is very quick to side with whatever (comments become public) instead of doing research,” said Robyn Parrott, president of Detroit, Mich.-based Sleep Solutions. “It’s on Facebook, so it must be true. Whereas if they take the time to ask their physician, the physician will be able to set them straight.” Stakeholders are concerned that such a report could, ultimately, impact coverage of CPAP therapy for Medicare and beyond. “The results of this study will drive the decision making not only for the Medicare program but also other federal health insurance programs like Medicaid, as well as commercial payers,” stated AAHomecare in the comments it submitted to the report. “This is critically important in terms of protecting patient access to CPAP, which is the recognized gold standard of care for OSA in the United States and worldwide.”

SANDWICH, Mass. – Just a year after forming through the merger of America's HealthCare at Home, Cape Medical Supply and Health Complex Medical, Spiro Health was acquired by AdaptHealth – and no one was more surprised than CEO Gary Sheehan. “That was never part of the plan, but life happens,” he said. “We watched the merger of Adapt and AeroCare and have a ton of respect for both senior management teams. So, we took the call to discuss what it might look like and we’re happy with the outcome, the team and the vision that we share for what the HME market could and should look like.” Sheehan, now senior vice president, regional operations, for AdaptHealth New England, spoke with HME News recently about the future of the HME industry – what he calls the important “last mile” of health care’s infrastructure. HME News: Cape Medical Supply got its start as a small family-owned business. How does it feel to now be part of a national company? Gary Sheehan: We started out of a rented home and ran it out of my parent’s house for the first eight or nine years. Fourteen months ago, we partnered with private equity. In terms of how we went from a small local company to part of a larger national, it felt just natural. A lot of key employees – people that have been with us since the 80s – are super excited with what AdaptHealth is continuing to build. HME: What did Spiro Health bring to the table for Adapt? Sheehan: The biggest is, we have a significant presence on the ground in the New England area where they did not. We have a mature senior leadership team in place, and we can and will run the business well in this region and identify new opportunities along the way. HME: Where do you think the future of HME is headed? Sheehan: I think the future is value-based and cloud connected in the home. Now, we do annual visits that feel arbitrary. We could more actively monitor patients and do it at scale. When certain key indicators are high or low, we can interface with the patient to say, “Hey, we need to do a consult.” Blood glucose, blood pressure, sleep – all are different things that the health care system could do more efficiently because of technology, and HME is the boots on the ground.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline Industries has entered into an agreement to receive a majority investment from a group of private equity firms, including Blackstone, Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman, worth a reported $30-plus billion. Medline, which generated revenues of $17.5 billion in 2020, will use the new resources from the partnership to expand its product offerings, accelerate international expansion and continue to make new infrastructure investments to strengthen its global supply chain. “Making health care run better has been our focus for decades,” said Charlie Mills, CEO. “This investment from some of the world’s most experienced and successful private investment firms will enable us to accelerate that strategy, while preserving the family led culture that is core to our success.” Following the close of the deal, Medline will remain a privately held company led by the Mills family, which will remain the largest single shareholder. The entire senior management team will also stay in place. GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is also part of the group making the investment. The investment is expected to be completed in late 2021 and is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. SoClean wins legal action Company awarded damages of up to $100K from each of 800-plus defendants PETERBOROUGH, N.H. – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently issued an order in favor of SoClean in its legal action against 861 websites and web stores for allegedly marketing and selling products that are counterfeit and products that infringe on its intellectual property rights. The court’s order awards damages against the defendants of up to $100,000 each, which SoClean may seize from the defendant’s accounts, including those held with payment processors like Alipay, Amazon, eBay, PayPal and others. “We are very pleased with the court’s decision to hold the defendants accountable for their illicit activities,” said Robert Wilkins, CEO. “We’re committed to doing everything we can to uphold the integrity of our products for our customers and business partners who rely on us for safety and quality of life. We will also continue to vigorously protect our intellectual property and innovations in the marketplace.” The court’s order permanently enjoins the defendants and their associates from using SoClean’s “trade dress” – or any reproductions, counterfeit copies or colorable imitations of it – in connection with the distribution, marketing, advertising or sale of any item that is not a genuine SoClean product. MACs restart reviews WASHINGTON – The Medicare Administrative Contractors may now begin conducting post-payment medical reviews for dates of service later than March 2020, CMS has announced. In August 2020, the MACs resumed post-payment reviews of items and services with dates of service before March 2020. The Targeted Probe and Educate program, which involves intensive education to assess provider compliance through up to three rounds of review, will restart at a later date, CMS says. The MACs will continue to offer detailed review decisions and education, as appropriate, the agency says. Hospice Source makes acquisition in California DALLAS – Hospice Source has acquired Respiratory Therapy Home Care of Bellflower, Calif., further expanding its presence in the state.  "Hospice Source is committed to providing exceptional patient care to all its hospice partners,” said Jeff West, CEO. “The acquisition of RTHC allows us to extend that passion for service to a greater number of Southern California hospice patients and hospice partners.” Founded in 1997, Hospice Source offers full-service DME to hospice providers from 62 locations in more than a dozen states. RTHC President Tim Hansen will transition to the Hospice Source team. "In contemplating the sale of our business after nearly 25 years, it was critically important that we found a buyer who has the same focus on excellent patient care,” he said. “Jeff and his team at Hospice Source fit that description to a T. I'm thrilled to be staying on with the Hospice Source team, with the goal of expanding our reach in the Eastern United States and beyond." The latest acquisition is the company’s 14th in the past five years, including, in late 2020, the acquisition of Martinez, Calif.-based Superior Healthcare. Survey: Americans mostly unaware of sleep apnea DARIEN, Ill. – Nearly 70% of Americans who sleep with a bed partner report those partners snore while sleeping, according to a 2021 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).  Snoring can be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea and AASM is asking Americans to consider, “Is it more than a snore?” “While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is a warning sign that should be taken seriously,” said Dr. Kannan Ramar, AASM president. “If your bed partner snores, or if you’ve been told that you snore, then it is important to talk to a medical provider about screening or testing for sleep apnea. Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea can improve overall health and quality of life.” Nearly 30 million U.S. adults have obstructive sleep apnea, with about 23.5 million of those cases still undiagnosed, according to AASM. In the same survey, a quarter of Americans (26%) admitted they were not at all familiar with OSA, and nearly half (48%) acknowledged they do not know the symptoms of the disease. Permobil, Pirates surprise fan with custom wheelchair NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Permobil Foundation, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates, LiveLikeLou and Phi Delta Theta, surprised a fan with a team-branded, custom power wheelchair at a home game on June 3. The reveal was part of the first-ever Lou Gehrig Day celebrations that Major League Baseball will hold each June in honor of Gehrig, who died of ALS. “We are honored to be part of the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day and to partner with MLB to raise awareness in the fight against ALS,” said Ashley Davis, executive director of the Permobil Foundation. “Our goal is to ensure that every person has the right to mobility and through impactful partnerships such as LiveLikeLou and Phi Delta Theta we help fulfill those needs.” OneDrop surpasses 25 billion data points NEW YORK – OneDrop, which provides solutions for people with chronic health conditions, has surpassed 25 billion biometric data points on its health platform. Those data points include glucose, A1C, blood pressure, weight, medications, food intake, physical activity, heart rate, other self-care data (e.g., sleep) and personal data (e.g., gender, year of diagnosis). "We can't keep throwing money at treating the symptoms of sickness and neglect the investment in prevention required to keep people healthy," said Jeff Dachis, One Drop CEO and founder. "Prevention is possible when we arm people with real-time information and empower them to make meaningful behavior changes that we know lead to sustained health and improved outcomes. One Drop uses artificial intelligence to forecast biomarkers (e.g., blood sugar and blood pressure) and offers real-time practical advice to change or reinforce behaviors. As our data wealth continues to grow in size and diversity, so will the strength of our predictive capabilities and the impact we drive on long-term outcomes and cost savings." One Drop uses its data to train the proprietary machine learning algorithms behind its CE-marked eight-hour glucose forecasts, predictive capabilities for people using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), CE-marked blood pressure insights, and long-term outcomes forecasts for diabetes-related biomarkers.  Event news: NCPA, ISS Registration is now open for the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2021 Annual Convention, Oct. 9-12 in Charlotte, N.C. This year’s in-person event is a great opportunity to reconnect with neighborhood pharmacy colleagues and allies at the premier event for owners and their staff, says NCPA President Brian Caswell. “Though travel was curbed and meetings were held online, in many ways, independent pharmacy came together as never before to serve our communities, adapt to the many challenges thrown our way, and help lead the fight against COVID,” says Caswell, owner of Wolkar Drug in Baxter Springs, Kan. “Our teams worked hard and demonstrated the value and the beauty of independent neighborhood pharmacy.” For more information or to register, go *here…The International Seating Symposium, which takes place Oct. 28-30 in Pittsburgh, is looking to get at least 100 followers on its social media channels, including on Facebook, Instagram (iss.pitt) and LinkedIn. It will award three free conference passes to supporters once it gets to 100 followers on each channel. Stock watch: Apria, Option Care Health Apria has announced a price to the public of $27 per share for a previously announced secondary offering of 4.5 million shares of common stock by a selling stockholder affiliated with Blackstone. The selling stockholder has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 675,000 additional shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on June 14, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions…Option Care Health has announced that an affiliate of Madison Dearborn Partners has agreed to sell 15 million shares of the company’s common stock at a price to the public of $20 per share in an underwritten public offering, an increase from a previously announced 10 million shares. The selling stockholder has also granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to 2.25 million additional shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on June 10, 2021. Abilities Expo returns with in-person events for 2021 LOS ANGELES – The Abilities Expo will return to live events this year, kicking off with the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumberg, Ill., June 25-27, 2021. The free events offer an exhibit hall and workshops that explore vital areas of lifestyle support like employment guidance, financial planning, home accessibility, traveling and therapeutic activities. “We offer something for everyone in our content schedules—from workshops on travel or cannabis to events encouraging everyone to dance, play sports or stretch out those tired muscles,” said Christine Selinger, director of education and events. “Our schedule for each show is packed with new information and things to try.” Other events are planned for Houston, Phoenix, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Soleo Health earns URAC accreditation FRISCO, Texas – Soleo Health’s Phoenix location has earned Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation from URAC, the leading independent accrediting organization focused on supporting the quality of health care through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation standards and programs. With this URAC Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation, Soleo Health Phoenix demonstrates the highest value and quality in delivering enhanced clinical services to patients, payers, manufacturers and providers. “We always strive to ensure the delivery of quality patient care, and the prominence of this URAC accreditation is further validation of our dedication to our patients and providers,” said Drew Walk, CEO. “It is a testament to the levels of care that our highly experienced interdisciplinary team of therapy care pharmacists, registered nurses and patient care specialists delivers as well as the stringent therapeutic protocols to which we adhere.”  New executive hires: Inogen, Permobil Inogen has appointed Dr. Stanislav Glezer as executive vice president and chief medical officer. Glezer has more than 25 years of experience in clinical research and medical affair roles, most recently at Becton, Dickinson and Company as worldwide vice president of medical affairs for Diabetes Care.  “I look forward to contributing to the next phase of Inogen’s planned growth as we continue to seek ways to design patient centric outcomes studies to improve access to our best-in-class product offerings, enable prescribers to better serve their patients and enhance our market position and value for our stockholders,” said Glezer…Permobil has named Charlotta Nyberg as chief financial officer where she will play a pivotal role in driving sustainable long-term business growth and success through corporate development and profitability management. Nyberg has more than 20 years of experience in business finance, building new and emerging businesses and change management, most recently as vice president of corporate control at Swedish telecommunications multi-national Telia. "Her extensive experience will make an immediate impact as we navigate the current turbulent economic situation and continue to grow the business,” said Bengt Thorsson, CEO. Lifestyle Mobility Aids to transition to Rhythm Healthcare ST. PETERSBURGH, Fla. – Lifestyle Mobility Aids is changing its name to Rhythm Healthcare to better reflect the clinically complex nature of its products. The new name is also a nod to the company’s relationship with customers, says Doug Francis, president and CEO. “The new company name is meant to point toward the operating rhythm that exists between our provider partners and us,” he said. “Because we don’t connect directly with the consumer, there’s a real need for us to be ‘in sync’ and aligned with our partners.” The company will use both Lifestyle Mobility Aids and Rhythm Healthcare at the upcoming Medtrade shows, but it plans to complete the transition to Rhythm Healthcare by the end of the year. Lifestyle Mobility Aids launched a portable oxygen concentrator in December and a 5-liter stationary oxygen concentrator in March, and plans to launch a range of aerosol devices later this year. Rehab Medical supports 3,000th ramp build INDIANAPOLIS – Rehab Medical is supporting Servants at Work (SAWs) to raise awareness of the organization’s 3,000th wheelchair ramp build. SAWs, a faith-based nonprofit organization, has been building high-quality, removable and reusable wood ramps for those using wheelchairs, scooters or walkers since 2013. “SAWs is honored to partner with Rehab Medical for this milestone event since they’re one of the largest distributors for customer wheelchairs and our missions are so complimentary,” said Bob Richmond, executive director of SAWs. “We both want to improve the lives of people who need accessibility options to overcome physical disabilities and are freed from the confines of their homes with special chairs and ramps.” As part of their alliance, Rehab Medical is helping SAWs look for mobility users who live in central Indiana who would benefit from a ramp. Rehab Medical has also donated $3,000 toward the organization’s campaign to raise $30,000. “Rehab Medical has worked with SAWs in the past on a ramp build and it was a great experience,” said Kevin Gearheart, president of Rehab Medical. “Their ability to impact wheelchair users fits perfectly with our mission to Improve Lives.” To apply for the ramp build, go here. To donate, go here. BraunAbility, Q’STRAINT unite for customers INDIANAPOLIS – BraunAbility and Q’STRAINT have launched a new venture to accelerate innovation for their customers and keep pace with the technologies that are rapidly transforming the automotive landscape. As part of the venture, the two companies will work together to integrate the design process, setting the stage for systems-based solutions that will enhance safety, quality and reliability for the disability community. “Wheelchair passengers face such a segmented experience when they travel,” said Patrick Girardin, co-president of Q’STRAINT. “We see huge opportunities for integrating technologies and creating a new story, rewritten for inclusion. Together, we help ensure that new products create a more intuitive and effortless experience for our customers.” The venture will prioritize consumer innovation like QUANTUM, a system that offers wheelchair passengers of public transit buses complete independence by allowing them to secure themselves without assistance from the bus operator. Together, BraunAbility and Q’STRAINT do business in more than 70 countries, primarily in North America and Europe. Oventus Medical reorganizes with new president/COO and CFO BRISBANE, Australia – Oventus Medical has appointed John Cox as its president and COO. Cox was previously president and CEO of Somnera, where he developed a cloud-connected alternative to CPAP therapy and built out direct-to-consumer, customer engagement and channel partner programs. Oventus has tasked him with adapting the company’s go-to-market model and its patient services infrastructure to meet customer needs in a rapidly accelerating environment of virtual and telehealth-based marketing, diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea. “John is a fantastic addition to the team and brings value and leadership in our critical areas of execution, especially in acceleration of our go-to-market strategy,” said CEO Chris Hart. “He will also continue to strengthen our operations by increasing efficiency and capacity at all levels of the organization.” Oventus has also appointed Jim Hunter as CFO, replacing Dan Parry, who is moving on to another opportunity. Hunter has more than 30 years of experience. NCART: ‘The time has come’ WASHINGTON – NCART has updated www.protectmymobility.org to allow advocates to send a pre-written email to their members of Congress asking them to permanently exempt accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs from competitive bidding pricing. “As we have been sharing, June 30 marks the end of the 18-month suspension preventing Medicare from inappropriately applying competitive bid program rates to CRT manual wheelchair accessories,” NCART stated in a bulletin. “The time has come for everyone in the CRT community to add their voices and request immediate action.” The email asks members of Congress to urge CMS leadership to take action before June 30 to stop the cuts and avoid the negative access consequences for people with disabilities who depend on complex rehab manual wheelchairs. Emmy award winner to kick off Heartland Conference WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has announced Mark Scharenbroich as the keynote speaker for its 20th Heartland Conference, Sept. 13-15 in Waterloo, Iowa. “Mark is phenomenal at creating those authentic connections our members want with their customers and co-workers,” said Sarah Conger, vice president, corporate projects, VGM Group. “His messages are a great fit for our event, as connection is at the core of everything we do at Heartland.” Scharenbroich is best known for his award-winning book Nice Bike: Making Meaningful Connections on the Road of Life. He is also a National Speakers Association Hall of Fame inductee and an Emmy award winner. VGM members can register for Heartland with special early bird pricing until July 15.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Permobil Foundation, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates, LiveLikeLou and Phi Delta Theta, surprised a fan with a team-branded, custom power wheelchair at a home game on June 3. The reveal was part of the first-ever Lou Gehrig Day celebrations that Major League Baseball will hold each June in honor of Gehrig, who died of ALS. “We are honored to be part of the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day and to partner with MLB to raise awareness in the fight against ALS,” said Ashley Davis, executive director of the Permobil Foundation. “Our goal is to ensure that every person has the right to mobility and through impactful partnerships such as LiveLikeLou and Phi Delta Theta we help fulfill those needs.” 

NEW YORK – OneDrop, which provides solutions for people with chronic health conditions, has surpassed 25 billion biometric data points on its health platform. Those data points include glucose, A1C, blood pressure, weight, medications, food intake, physical activity, heart rate, other self-care data (e.g., sleep) and personal data (e.g., gender, year of diagnosis). "We can't keep throwing money at treating the symptoms of sickness and neglect the investment in prevention required to keep people healthy," said Jeff Dachis, One Drop CEO and founder. "Prevention is possible when we arm people with real-time information and empower them to make meaningful behavior changes that we know lead to sustained health and improved outcomes. One Drop uses artificial intelligence to forecast biomarkers (e.g., blood sugar and blood pressure) and offers real-time practical advice to change or reinforce behaviors. As our data wealth continues to grow in size and diversity, so will the strength of our predictive capabilities and the impact we drive on long-term outcomes and cost savings." One Drop uses its data to train the proprietary machine learning algorithms behind its CE-marked eight-hour glucose forecasts, predictive capabilities for people using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), CE-marked blood pressure insights, and long-term outcomes forecasts for diabetes-related biomarkers.

Registration is now open for the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2021 Annual Convention, Oct. 9-12 in Charlotte, N.C. This year’s in-person event is a great opportunity to reconnect with neighborhood pharmacy colleagues and allies at the premier event for owners and their staff, says NCPA President Brian Caswell. “Though travel was curbed and meetings were held online, in many ways, independent pharmacy came together as never before to serve our communities, adapt to the many challenges thrown our way, and help lead the fight against COVID,” says Caswell, owner of Wolkar Drug in Baxter Springs, Kan. “Our teams worked hard and demonstrated the value and the beauty of independent neighborhood pharmacy.” For more information or to register, go here…The International Seating Symposium, which takes place Oct. 28-30 in Pittsburgh, is looking to get at least 100 followers on its social media channels, including on Facebook, Instagram (iss.pitt) and LinkedIn. It will award three free conference passes to supporters once it gets to 100 followers on each channel. 

Apria has announced a price to the public of $27 per share for a previously announced secondary offering of 4.5 million shares of common stock by a selling stockholder affiliated with Blackstone. The selling stockholder has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 675,000 additional shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on June 14, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions…Option Care Health has announced that an affiliate of Madison Dearborn Partners has agreed to sell 15 million shares of the company’s common stock at a price to the public of $20 per share in an underwritten public offering, an increase from a previously announced 10 million shares. The selling stockholder has also granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to 2.25 million additional shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on June 10, 2021.

DARIEN, Ill. – Nearly 70% of Americans who sleep with a bed partner report those partners snore while sleeping, according to a 2021 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).  Snoring can be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea and AASM is asking Americans to consider, “Is it more than a snore?” “While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is a warning sign that should be taken seriously,” said Dr. Kannan Ramar, AASM president. “If your bed partner snores, or if you’ve been told that you snore, then it is important to talk to a medical provider about screening or testing for sleep apnea. Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea can improve overall health and quality of life.” Nearly 30 million U.S. adults have obstructive sleep apnea, with about 23.5 million of those cases still undiagnosed, according to AASM. In the same survey, a quarter of Americans (26%) admitted they were not at all familiar with OSA, and nearly half (48%) acknowledged they do not know the symptoms of the disease. 

LOS ANGELES – The Abilities Expo will return to live events this year, kicking off with the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumberg, Ill., June 25-27, 2021. The free events offer an exhibit hall and workshops that explore vital areas of lifestyle support like employment guidance, financial planning, home accessibility, traveling and therapeutic activities. “We offer something for everyone in our content schedules—from workshops on travel or cannabis to events encouraging everyone to dance, play sports or stretch out those tired muscles,” said Christine Selinger, director of education and events. “Our schedule for each show is packed with new information and things to try.” Other events are planned for Houston, Phoenix, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.

FRISCO, Texas – Soleo Health’s Phoenix location has earned Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation from URAC, the leading independent accrediting organization focused on supporting the quality of health care through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation standards and programs. With this URAC Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation, Soleo Health Phoenix demonstrates the highest value and quality in delivering enhanced clinical services to patients, payers, manufacturers and providers. “We always strive to ensure the delivery of quality patient care, and the prominence of this URAC accreditation is further validation of our dedication to our patients and providers,” said Drew Walk, CEO. “It is a testament to the levels of care that our highly experienced interdisciplinary team of therapy care pharmacists, registered nurses and patient care specialists delivers as well as the stringent therapeutic protocols to which we adhere.”

Inogen has appointed Dr. Stanislav Glezer as executive vice president and chief medical officer. Glezer has more than 25 years of experience in clinical research and medical affair roles, most recently at Becton, Dickinson and Company as worldwide vice president of medical affairs for Diabetes Care.  “I look forward to contributing to the next phase of Inogen’s planned growth as we continue to seek ways to design patient centric outcomes studies to improve access to our best-in-class product offerings, enable prescribers to better serve their patients and enhance our market position and value for our stockholders,” said Glezer…Permobil has named Charlotta Nyberg as chief financial officer where she will play a pivotal role in driving sustainable long-term business growth and success through corporate development and profitability management. Nyberg has more than 20 years of experience in business finance, building new and emerging businesses and change management, most recently as vice president of corporate control at Swedish telecommunications multi-national Telia. "Her extensive experience will make an immediate impact as we navigate the current turbulent economic situation and continue to grow the business,” said Bengt Thorsson, CEO.