NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 13, 2021)—National Seating & Mobility (NSM), a provider of comprehensive mobility solutions, has launched a strategic partnership with SYNERGY HomeCare as part of NSM’s Solutions for Accessible & Functional Environments (SAFE) program. The partnership pilot, the first involving any in-home care provider, begins this month in 40 SYNERGY HomeCare locations across five states. The partnership will expand nationally by year end.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 13, 2021)—On a party line vote, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced the annual appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for fiscal year 2022, approving $119 billion in discretionary spending, an increase of $23 billion over the previous year.

(Discretionary spending does not include Medicare and Medicaid care-related expenses, as that is considered mandatory spending and not subject to the annual appropriations process.)

ATLANTA and BURLINGAME, Calif., (August 12, 2021)—Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place, today announced that it has closed its acquisition of CareLinx, a digital on-demand platform of tech-enabled care providers. Sharecare has acquired CareLinx from Europ Assistance, one of the largest global assistance companies.

BOSTON (August 11, 2021)—eCaring, a full-service software platform specifically designed for the homecare industry, has added two industry veterans to its executive team.

Matt Barbee, formerly of BAYADA Home Health Care, has been named chief operating officer. George Fehrenbach, a health care software development expert, has been named chief technology officer.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (August 9, 2021)—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that will ensure Medicare patients maintain access to home infusion therapies that require the use of an infusion pump. The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act—introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and Sen.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & OMAHA, Neb. (August 6, 2021)—Honor and Home Instead announced that Honor Technology, Inc. has acquired Home Instead, Inc., effective Aug. 6, 2021. The acquisition brings together a high-touch homecare network and a homecare technology and operations platform to transform the professional caregiver and client experience and revolutionize care for older adults.

FORT WORTH, Texas (August 3, 2021)—Jet Health, Inc., a regional provider of home health and hospice services, announced today the appointment of Jake Massacci to the post of vice president of human resources.

In this capacity, Massacci will be responsible for overseeing all human resources (HR) functions for the Company across several locations nationwide, including recruitment.

TYLER, Texas (July 28, 2021)—Choice Health at Home, LLC, formally announced the acquisition of Oklahoma-based Alpha Home Health and Hospice. For Choice, the transaction marks the third in Oklahoma since Jan. 1, 2021, creating a substantial service footprint in the state.

David Jackson, founder and CEO of Choice Health at Home made the announcement and commented on this flurry of activity.

WASHIGNTON, D.C. (July 23, 2021)—A bipartisan group of Senators led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) have introduced the Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act (S. 2344), a bill to provide $1 billion in grants to states and other eligible entities to support innovative projects and programs focused on recruitment, retention and training for direct care workers, as well as family caregivers.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (July 23, 2021)—IntellaTriage, a provider of after-hours nurse-based triage and telehealth solutions, announced the addition of Rob Queener as vice president of operations. Queener will preside over all non-clinical operations at the company, ensuring the development and implementation of efficient, cost-effective systems that will drive IntellaTriage’s financial and patient care objectives.   

NEW YORK (July 22, 2021)—The national, independent nonprofit FAIR Health has recently been awarded a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, a national organization dedicated to improving the care of older adults, to pilot a new set of shared decision-making (SDM) and other health care engagement tools geared toward older adults with serious illness. The initiative, which launched on July 1, will include a robust dissemination campaign and evaluation of the new tools.