WATERLOO, Iowa (March 28, 2018)—VGM recently helped solidify an important win for providers of sleep-related equipment in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia.

VGM took action after members raised concerns over a letter received from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. In the letter, CareFirst notified providers of its intentions to reduce the number of durable medical equipment providers participating in the network authorized to dispense CPAP equipment.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (March 27, 2018) –The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) is a winner in this year’s prestigious Stevie Awards competition for Innovation in Customer Service. This award marks the organization’s eighth consecutive Stevie Award.

WASHINGTON (March 27, 2018)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the continued recognition of the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP)'s home health accreditation for use by home health agencies to demonstrate compliance with the Medicare home health Conditions of Participation (CoP). The renewal of CHAP's recognition is effective through March 31, 2024. The announcement is published in the Federal Register Vol.83, No. 57/Friday March 23 2018 pp.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 27, 2018)—The Prometheus Group, a provider of home medical equipment (HME) revenue cycle management services, announced its rebranding to Prochant. Along with the new name, the company now has a new logo, refreshed graphics, a new website and updated messaging. Prochant made its debut at Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS (March 27, 2018)—At Medtrade Spring in Las Vegas, Nevada (March 27-29), Royal Philips, a provider of health technology, announced the launch of DreamWear Full face, the third mask option available for its award-winning DreamWear mask system. Philips Respironics used the company’s proprietary design tools to analyze facial data from thousands of 3D scans to create a design that prevents red marks, discomfort, and irritation on the nose bridge.

NEW YORK and CAESAREA, Israel (March 26, 2018)—Digital health company DarioHealth Corp. received FDA pre-market notification (510(k)) clearance for the company’s Lightning-enabled (3.5mm headphone jack) version of the Dario Blood Glucose Monitoring System. This news opens a significant U.S. market opportunity and enables the use of the Dario app on iPhone 7, 8 and X smart mobile devices (SMD).

BALL GROUND, Ga. (March 26, 2018)—CAIRE Inc. was accredited by Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for the services of delivering health care oxygen therapy products and services to consumers.

What Happens When an Algorithm Cuts Your Health Care
A computer program in Arkansas cut care to Medicaid recipients. (Colin Lecher/The Verge)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22, 2018)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today released a new report that highlights the urgent need for policymakers to reform Medicare’s outdated payment methodology. The report outlines how the current payment system, called the competitive bidding program (CBP), restricts patients’ access to the oxygen and medical equipment they need, despite the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) best intentions.