HME News in 10

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May 2026

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About the show

Long-time editors Liz Beaulieu and Theresa Flaherty discuss the HME industry’s top news, and call on experts to provide context and add color to the stories they’re writing for HME News. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from HME News, just in podcast form, in about 10 minutes or less. HME News, www.hmenews.com, is the leading source of news for the home medical equipment industry.

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May 13, 2026Episode 6715 min

Mitch Yoel on high-growth clinical partnerships

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Rhythm Healthcare. In this episode, Mitch Yoel, chief operating officer at Rhythm Healthcare, shares what it really takes for durable medical equipment (DME) providers to rise to the top of a hospital’s referral list. His starting point is simple but critical: Does your messaging sound transactional, or does it sound clinical and compelling? “I believe the future winners – especially in oxygen therapy – won’t just be equipment distributors,” he said. “They’ll be clinically fluent partners, helping hospitals improve outcomes after discharge.” Yoel breaks down what it takes to become that partner, from leveraging evidence-based decisions to eliminating disconnects around equipment selection. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Mitch Yoel

April 15, 2026Episode 6610 min

Lauren Barranti on the cost of disorganization

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Tactical Back Office. Today’s guest is Lauren Barranti, payor relations with Tactical Back Office. Long-term price compression, closed payer networks and third-party administrator models create burdens for smaller HME providers, who may not have the resources to juggle everything from credentialing and contracting to managed care strategy in a competitive market, Barranti says. That can be costly. “Payers and customers will get mixed signals,” she said. “It will be obvious that things are not organized and flow will be affected. Ultimately, what happens is trust erodes. And that's probably the worst thing that can happen.” What's the path forward for these providers? Ensuring that back-office people, processes and technology are intentionally integrated, Barranti says. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Lauren Barranti

March 20, 2026Episode 6515 min

Ronda Buhrmester on the bottleneck that’s costing you

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Prochant. Today’s guest is Ronda Buhrmester, vice president of client experience, for Prochant. As a 30-year veteran of the HME industry, she knows intake has always been a headache, but today it’s a full-blown pressure point that’s on a collision course with surging referrals, increasingly complex payer rules and ongoing staffing shortages. In this episode, Buhrmester breaks down what’s really driving denials and delays, and more importantly, what providers can do about it. Her top takeaway? The providers who win are the ones who get proactive, dig deep and fix intake at the root. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Ronda Buhrmester

February 16, 2026Episode 6414 min

Justin Lewis provides an AI reality check

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Brightree. Today’s guest is Justin Lewis, senior director of Brightree’s ReSupply LiveCall Service. He offers a reality check on AI and how to use it in a way that actually improves patient experience. “We put a lot of thought into how a call should actually feel from the patient’s perspective – where it should start, how we should ask questions, what decisions need to happen in the background, and what a smooth handoff looks like when a human is needed,” he said. When providers move past common misconceptions about AI, Lewis says they can use it to: • Handle routine requests, like order status, more efficiently • Free up agents to focus on complex conversations • Better manage call volume spikes • Extend service capabilities Ultimately, Lewis says AI is at its best when it delivers real, measurable value – not hype. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Justin Lewis

January 15, 2026Episode 637 min

CGM Competitive Bidding

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by DDP Medical Supply. Today’s guest, Brian O’Neill, president of DDP Medical Supply, says providers of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are at a fork in the road. With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adding CGMs to the next round of the Medicare competitive bidding program, providers must choose: • Step away before bidding begins; or • Scale up to compete for one of the limited contracts O’Neill shares why DDP is focused on partnering with those aiming to win – and how its expanded distribution network and other upcoming initiatives are designed to help providers deliver nationwide efficiently and economically. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Brian O’Neill

December 17, 2025Episode 6218 min

Mitch Yoel on the hidden economy of POCs

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10, sponsored by Rhythm Healthcare. Today’s guest, Mitch Yoel, COO of Rhythm Healthcare, pulls back the curtain on what he calls the “hidden economy” of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs). Beyond the purchase price, providers often absorb the cost-of-service calls, tech labor, RMAs, loaners and downtime – expenses that can crush margins. Yoel’s advice: Measure service costs like you measure reimbursement Partner with manufacturers who share downstream risk Implement SLAs with exchange-for-new warranty programs “I think providers who reframe oxygen as an uptime program – not just a product purchase – are going to own disproportionate referral share,” Yoel says. “They’ll enjoy better financials and deliver better outcomes for patients.” Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Mitch Yoel

November 19, 2025Episode 6114 min

Steve Cela on why you can't fix what you can't see

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10 sponsored and developed by Strategic Office Support (SOS). Today’s guest is Steve Cela, CEO of SOS. He joins HME News in 10 to expose the invisible workflow leaks quietly draining revenue from even the best HME providers. His message is clear: It’s not staffing or reimbursement holding you back - it’s the leaks you can’t see. In this episode, Cela encourages providers to embrace: Visibility; Automation; and Operational discipline. As Cela puts it, “Change is a heavy lift, but the market is moving fast. The next five years will separate the winners from the watchers.” Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Steve Cela

October 23, 2025Episode 6013 min

Nick Bush on trust and speed in HME

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10 sponsored and developed by Direct Supply. In this episode of HME News in 10, Nick Bush, vice president of sales, Smart Products & Special Markets, at Direct Supply, explores how the growing trend of consumerism in health care is strengthening—not weakening—the role of HME providers. “I think a big portion of it goes to the service side of it,” he says. “Medical equipment is really a local game (because) there is so much emotion tied to health care product decisions. It’s a decision people want to make where they trust who they’re deciding to work with. Price becomes less relevant in those situations.” Bush also shares insights on: • How distributors and providers can collaborate to leverage their unique strengths • Why speed has become the new currency in HME • What it means to approach the future with “eyes wide open” and a readiness to embrace new care models Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Nick Bush

September 24, 2025Episode 5914 min

Doug Francis on the POC ‘tipping point’

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10 sponsored and developed by Rhythm Healthcare. In this episode of HME News in 10, Doug Francis, CEO of Rhythm Healthcare, talks about the HME “trailblazers” who are embracing portable oxygen concentrators. “This is a provider who has invested, not only in the efficiencies that can be derived from POCs, but also turning that into clinical messaging to tell referral sources, ‘We’re a technology-forward company,’” he said. “When they take the time to educate on the benefits to the patient, and when they tell that story, they are seeing a 30%-plus increase in respiratory referrals.” For Francis, the industry is at a tipping point where both the clinical community and the consumer are going to start demanding POCs – a great time to make the switch. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Doug Francis

August 20, 2025Episode 5814 min

Jim Dragatsis on the nuance of resupply

Welcome to a special episode of HME News in 10 sponsored and developed by ACU-Serve. In this episode of HME News in 10 Jim Dragatsis, president of resupply at ACU-Serve, drills into the art of patient engagement and its impact on the success of an HME provider’s resupply program. What makes a resupply program thrive? Dragatsis shares how providers must tailor their communication strategies to patient demographics and preferences, continuously monitor attrition rates, and refine their approach to keep patients engaged. The payoff? Enhanced CPAP therapy adherence and consistent monthly revenue. Tune in for practical insights and a candid look at what it takes to make resupply work. Hosts: Liz Beaulieu Theresa Flaherty Guest: Jim Dragatsis