Charlotte, NC, Jan. 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carolina's Home Medical Equipment, Inc. announced today they have partnered with Medela, Inc. to offer their industry leading breast pumps and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy devices. The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurers pay the full cost of breast pumps for nursing mothers, and Carolina's HME will be the first authorized Medela DME provider in the Charlotte market.
"We are very excited to be a Medela partner in the Charlotte market. Medela sets the standard with the most technologically advanced, superior quality pumps around the world. Our core values and quality standards align remarkably well," said Frank Trammell, President & CEO of Carolina's Home Medical Equipment, Inc.
Previously, nursing mothers were expected to pay out of pocket for breast pumps and breastfeeding accessories. Carolina's Home Medical Equipment will now file the pumps to its customers' insurance in North and South Carolina. "This changes the market entirely, shifting a business previously dominated by retail, to an insurance covered item that generally must be billed via a DME provider," said Andrew Trammell, CFO. Carolina's HME will supply breast pumps in Charlotte, NC and the surrounding areas beginning first quarter next year.
NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY - CHARLOTTE, NC
Beginning first quarter 2014 Carolina's HME will begin supplying Medela Negative Pressure Wound Therapy devices in the Charlotte market. Carolina's Home Medical Equipment, Inc. was awarded Round 1 Recompete Medicare Competitive Bidding contracts for Respiratory, Mobility and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy products.
ABOUT MEDELA, INC.
Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson in Zug, Switzerland, Medela continues to grow under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves customers through a worldwide network of distribution partners in more than 90 countries and its 13 subsidiaries in the United States, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Sweden, France, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, China and Spain. The company entered the United States more than 25 years ago; its U.S. headquarters are located in McHenry, Illinois.
About Medela Breastfeeding U.S.
Medela provides the most technologically advanced, superior-quality breastpumps and breastfeeding accessories to nursing mothers around the world. A longtime champion of breastfeeding, Medela is the only company to develop products based on research by the world's leading lactation experts. As a result, Medela's breastpumps are the number one choice of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities worldwide, including 80 percent of U.S. hospitals.
Medela has developed an extensive line of products to meet the diverse needs of nursing mothers. These products include hospital-grade, double and single electric and manual breastpumps; breastfeeding accessories such as pump cleaning products, breast care products and specialty feeding devices; and maternity and nursing intimate apparel.
About Medela Healthcare U.S.
Medela is constantly setting new standards with innovative product developments. Medela's medical suction devices and systems are reliable. Medela Suction Technology also meets the most demanding economic and ecological requirements. With the modern Fluid Management System and revolutionary Invia Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System, Medela provides high-performance system components -- from safe, hygienic suction to the environmentally friendly disposal of blood and other body fluids.
ABOUT CAROLINA'S HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, INC.
Founded in 2003, Carolina's Home Medical Equipment, Inc. is a
private, for-profit North Carolina corporation collectively holding
nearly two centuries of healthcare industry experience. They strive
to provide the highest quality in home healthcare equipment,
supplies, and services, in a cost-effective manner, to all of their
clients in the Charlotte region. Carolina's HME specializes in
respiratory and
mobility equipment including
power wheelchairs,
CPAP and
Oxygen therapy. Carolina's HME improves the health of its
patients in a manner that distinguishes them in the
durable medical equipment industry. In summary, they treat
every customer as if they were family.
Carolina's Home Medical Equipment ranked number 231 overall and
number eight in North Carolina in the health industry by Inc.
magazine in 2012.