WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 24, 2021)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that efforts are underway to support Texas in response to severe winter storms that have affected the state over the past several days. On Feb. 17, 2021, Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Norris Cochran declared a public health emergency (PHE) for Texas retroactive to Feb.11, 2021.

NEW YORK (February 24, 2021)—ConcertoCare, a risk-based senior health care provider, announced the appointment of Dr. Amy Flaster as chief medical officer. Most recently a senior physician executive at both Health Catalyst and the Mass General Brigham health system, Flaster will lead clinical strategy and operations for ConcertoCare's in-home health care services for seniors as it expands its tech-enabled product offerings and national footprint.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (February 23, 2021)—We all know that life has not been the same since the start of the pandemic. 3B Medical wants to make a difference and impact the lives of patients in most need. Starting this month 3B Medical will be sponsoring a contest to give away the newest portable oxygen concentrator on the market, the Aer X. If you know of a deserving patient that is struggling, has a valid oxygen prescription and would be ambulatory if they had a POC, tell us their story.

MADISON, Wis. (February 23, 2021)—Husch Blackwell’s Hospice & Palliative Care team secured a $44 million reduction of an alleged overpayment for a hospice client involved in an audit of Medicare payments. The auditor, a contractor hired by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) to audit hospices, had used statistical extrapolation to find this extraordinary overpayment amount.

FRESNO, Calif. (February 23, 2021)—Introducing the brand new QUICKIE Q300 M Mini, Sunrise Medical’s narrowest power wheelchair to complement the QUICKIE power portfolio. The ultra-narrow base will go where other power chairs can’t. Whether it’s a narrow doorway, complicated living room or crowded restaurant, the Q300 M Mini will easily maneuver where you want to go.

CHICAGO (February 23, 2021)—Central HealthCare Group, LLC, announced that it has advised the owner of OxygenWorks on the divestiture of the business. OxygenWorks is a privately-owned, multi-generational company, headquartered in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, providing a broad spectrum of respiratory equipment and supplies to patients in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.

AUSTIN, Texas (February 19, 2021)—The American Association of HomeCare (AAHomecare) has asked the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to implement processes to ensure that medically fragile children covered under the state’s Star Kids program can continue to be served by their current durable medical equipment (DME) supplier if a change in providers is deemed to potentially subject the patient to unnecessary risk.