THE PROVIDER newswire

Feb 1, 2001 12:00 PM, HOMECARE STAFF

People & Places

Joining The Med Group: Dora Williams of BEK Medical, El Paso, Texas; Robert Schmidt of R&S Surgical, Toms River, N.J.; Michael Bower of A+ Medical, Augusta, Ga.; and Barry McDonald of Core, Englewood, Colo., are Lubbock, Texas-based The Med Group's newest independent purchasing network members. Jay Weiner of Beckett Apothecary & Home Health Care, Sharon Hill, Pa., is the newest independent full-service member.

Now at VGM: Libbie Way Lockard is the new associate vice president-education for Van G. Miller & Associates, Waterloo, Iowa. Lockard previously held several positions, including corporate director of training, at Invacare, Elyria, Ohio, where she was employed for 18 years.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Option Care Acquires Infusion Business: Bannockburn, Ill.-based Option Care has acquired the infusion business of Rockwall Drug, an Option Care franchise in Rockwall, Texas. Details of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition expands Option Care's coverage to about 4.5 million beneficiaries and moves the company closer to its goal of acquiring four to six pharmacies this year, officials said.

Lifeplus Expands New England Scope: Home medical equipment and respiratory provider Lifeplus of Raymond, N.H., has acquired five branches of Newton, Mass.-based Amcare Medical Services. Details of the deal were not disclosed. Lifeplus purchased Amcare divisions in Vermont, New York and Maine.

Financials

National Home Health Revenue Spikes: National Home Health Care, Scarsdale, N.Y., recorded net income for the quarter ended Oct. 31 of $872,000, or 17 cents a share, compared with $1.1 million, or 21 cents a share, for the same quarter of 1999. Overshadowing the net results, however, were the 85 percent leap in revenue and the 135 percent jump in income from operations. The company posted revenue of $17.5 million for the quarter, compared with $9.5 million for the same quarter the previous year. Income from operations was $1.5 million, compared with $631,000 for the same quarter in 1999.

Noteworthy

Walgreens Enters Sleep Apnea Market: Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Health Initiatives, a subsidiary of Walgreen Co., is offering sleep apnea equipment and monitoring devices through its home care sites in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico and Wisconsin. It also plans to open sleep-testing facilities, officials said.