ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—In response to the report on the operational disruption at Baxter’s North Cove, North Carolina, facility due to Hurricane Helene, the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) released a guidance list that aims to provide health care organizations with a structured approach for managing product shortages, particularly of diluents, parenteral nutrition (PN) products and small and large volume parenteral solutions.

NORTHFIELD, Illinois—Medline, a medical-surgical product manufacturer, announced its partnership with Microsoft, software platforms and tools creator, aiming to address the complex supply chain challenges facing health care professionals.

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas—WellSky, a health and community care technology company, released its third “Evolution of Care” report.

DURYEA, Pennsylvania—Quantum Rehab released the Quantum Outback, the company’s new four-wheel, all-terrain power chair. The chair, which was inspired by a joint development effort with the company’s Australian subsidiary, aims to provide users with outdoor use and improve outdoor driving experiences.

The Outback features:

WASHINGTON—Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit providers of aging services, responded to a letter sent by 34 members of congress to President Joe Biden’s Administration regarding the Medicare Advantage (MA) plan “flex cards.

Below is Sloan's response:

By Judith Graham

Sociologist Elena Portacolone was taken aback. Many of the older adults in San Francisco she visited at home for a research project were confused when she came to the door. They’d forgotten the appointment or couldn’t remember speaking to her.
It seemed clear they had some type of cognitive impairment. Yet, they were living alone.

DALLAS—Homecare Homebase (HCHB), a home-based care software provider, has named CareXM, a clinical triage services and technology company, as a recommended partner for clinical triage. The companies’ ongoing work aims to deliver enhanced care coordination and operational efficiency to home health and hospice providers nationwide.

WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a blanket waiver that allows physical therapists and speech language pathologists to perform initial and comprehensive assessments in instances where therapy is ordered for home health agencies (HHAs) impacted by Hurricane Helene. 

Additionally, CMS modified some hospice requirements that involve updating comprehensive assessments of patients. 

Below are the modifications:

NEW YORK—Mobile Health is proud to announce the addition of Isaac Greszes as the General Manager of Home Care. Greszes will be focused on the New York market and national expansion. Greszes brings over a decade of leadership experience in the homecare and health care technology sectors, including his most recent role at CareConnect, where he led strategic initiatives to drive national growth and expand and improve service offerings.

BOSTON—Medically Home, a tech-enabled services company coordinating acute hospital care to the home for patients, announced that it has expanded the responsibilities of its Chief Medical Officer, Pippa Shulman, DO, MPH, who will now also serve as chief strategy officer.