Acelleron Medical Products

Category: News

  • French Named Regional Director of Acelleron

    Nicole E. French, Manalapan, New Jersey, has been named regional director of Acelleron Medical Products, the durable medical equipment (DME) division of Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), with headquarters in Eatontown.

    As regional director, French is responsible for the establishment and growth of the maternal health platform in New Jersey and Pennsylvania markets. French will create strategic partnerships with hospitals, OBGYN centers, pediatrician offices and mothers’ groups in effort to educate and promote the new maternal benefits within the Affordable Care Act. She will also explain how Acelleron can provide services, such as breast pumps, to these organizations and their communities.

    Before joining PHHC, French worked for 15 years in the financial industry at Goldman Sachs & Co. and Citigroup Inc., specializing in financial planning and analysis, corporate strategy, vendor management, expense management, performance reporting, and risk and controls. On Wall Street, she was a member of Goldman Sachs’ Finance Women’s Networking Steering Committee that sponsored, promoted, and retained women in their career advancement, particularly for events geared towards working mothers.

    She left the financial industry as a divisional CFO of Goldman Sachs to dedicate her time to her young family. As an active member of her community, French is a member of the PTA and has served on a committee to help facilitate changes needed to the safety and security policy and procedures of her town’s school district, post-Newtown. She is also an American Red Cross certified lifeguard trained in CPR and deep water rescue.

    French holds a B.S. in accounting from St. Francis College, New York, and an MBA in finance from St. John’s University, New York.

    French said, “Joining Acelleron and Preferred Home Health Care provides me with the unique opportunity to use my professional experience combined with family life and motherhood. Being a mother of three children and having worked in a demanding industry, I am passionate about the needs and challenges that new mothers face as they prepare for a baby and their return to the work force. The vision of Acelleron and Preferred Home Health Care for their new maternal services provides me the chance to use my expertise in a way that will positively impact women at a very critical time of their lives.”

    French lives in Manalapan, N.J., with her husband Patrick, three children, and two beagle and basset hound rescue dogs. French spends her free time training for her first triathlon and enjoying her children’s sports and hobbies.

    About Acelleron Medical Products
    Acelleron Medical Products, a Preferred Home Health Care Company, has focused on the distribution of nebulizers, breast pumps and other medical products throughout New England since 2004. In 2013, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services, a medical and non-medical home health care company with headquarters in Eatontown, N.J., acquired Acelleron in order to expand its home care expertise to its clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    About Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services
    Since 1987, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), 45 Main Street, Eatontown, N.J., has provided a wide range of medical and non-medical home health care services from pediatric to geriatric care throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHHC is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program), an accrediting organization for the home health care industry.

    Preferred works collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and facilities to ensure a smooth transition to one’s home. In-house services include skilled nursing care for infants, children, adults, and seniors; personal care services, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, etc.; private duty nursing services; and at-home physical therapy, among others. All of the care can be provided in-house and is coordinated by registered nurses, with clinical supervision available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit Preferred at PreferredCares.com for more information.

  • Acelleron Hires a Director of Education

    ANDOVER, Mass. and EATONTOWN, N.J., Feb. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Holly Mielcarz, RN, IBCLC* and a certified childbirth educator, Andover, Mass., has been hired by Acelleron Medical Products, a home medical equipment provider, as its director of education. In this role, Mielcarz will create and maintain relationships with OBGYN centers and hospitals throughout New England. She will also advise nursing advocacy and support groups, educating them about the Affordable Care Act, the availability of breastfeeding support, and breast pumps for new and expectant mothers through Acelleron, a Preferred Home Health Care company, Eatontown, N.J.

    Mielcarz, who has a passion for educating breastfeeding women in the workplace, will be partnering with corporations to offer this valuable information to employees. Breast pumps are now covered by most major health insurance plans with no out-of-pocket costs as long as they are obtained from a durable medical equipment (DME) company, such as Acelleron.

    Before joining Acelleron, Mielcarz, who has 18 years of experience as an RN, worked at Concord Hospital for six years where she provided maternal and child health information, lactation support, and evidence-based childbirth education to expecting parents.

    Mielcarz said, “I am excited to be part of the Acelleron team, and I am confident that we can continue to grow as we support, educate and serve as a resource to so many families, businesses and healthcare organizations throughout New England.”

    *International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants

    About Acelleron Medical Products
    Acelleron Medical Products, a Preferred Home Health Care Company, has focused on the distribution of nebulizers, breast pumps and other medical products throughout New England since 2004. In 2013, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services, a medical and non-medical home health care company with headquarters in Eatontown, N.J., acquired Acelleron in order to expand its home care expertise to its clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    About Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services:
    Since 1987, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), 45 Main Street, Eatontown, N.J., has provided a wide range of medical and non-medical home health care services from pediatric to geriatric care throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHHC is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program), an accrediting organization for the home health care industry.

    Preferred works collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and facilities to ensure a smooth transition to one’s home. In-house services include skilled nursing care for infants, children, adults, and seniors; personal care services, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, etc.; private duty nursing services; and at-home physical therapy, among others. All of the care can be provided in-house and is coordinated by registered nurses, with clinical supervision available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit Preferred at PreferredCares.com for more information.

    Frances Kirschner
    Public Relations
    (732) 363 – 3988

  • Breast Pumps Now Covered Under Affordable Care Act

    Breast Pumps Now Covered Under Affordable Care Act

    What is the Affordable Care Act?

    According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, helps make prevention affordable and accessible for all Americans by requiring health plans to cover preventive services and by eliminating cost sharing. Preventive services that have strong scientific evidence of their health benefits must be covered and plans can no longer charge a patient a copayment, coinsurance or deductible for these services when they are delivered by a network provider.”

    What does it mean to me?

    It means that commercial and private insurers are required to cover comprehensive lactation support and counseling from trained providers, as well as breastfeeding equipment for pregnant and postpartum women.

    When did it take effect?

    This benefit applies to non-grandfathered plans with renewals starting on or after August 1, 2012. Your insurance provider is your source to confirm if your plan has renewed. To find out what a grandfathered plan is click here.
    http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/rights/grandfathered-plans/index.html

    Where can members purchase breast pumps covered under the ACA?

    Expectant and postpartum mothers can buy a breast pump from any in-network durable medical equipment (DME) supplier. It is important to know that many insurance companies require that you see an “in-network” or “participating” DME supplier. In-network simply means that the DME supplier has made an arrangement with the insurance company to provide services to its members. In some cases, going to an out-of-network DME supplier may mean that your breast pump may not be covered at all, or that you may have to pay a higher copay than if you went to an in-network provider.

    Will breast pumps be covered if purchased from a retail store?

    Retail stores such as Buy Buy Baby, Babies“R”Us and Amazon.com are not DME suppliers, so breast pumps purchased from these types of stores are not covered. However, some self-insured plans may grant exceptions to purchase breast pumps from retail stores.

    What does my insurance cover?

    Changes to coverage will vary among health insurance plans. The first thing you should do is to call your insurance member services and find out if your plan has renewed and if so, are you able to obtain a breast pump covered at 100%. Most insurance companies offer a toll-free member services number that you can call with specific questions about your health plan. This number is typically found on the back of your card.

    Is the coverage subject to deductibles and co-pays?

    You should not be subject to any deductible or co-pay. However, there are some variations, depending on your insurance carrier and plan. In some cases, going to an out-of-network DME supplier may mean that your breast pump may not be covered at all, or that you may have to pay a higher copay than if you went to an in-network provider.

    Is a prescription required?

    When purchasing a breast pump through a participating DME supplier, most if not all health insurance companies are requiring a physician’s prescription.

    Are all types of breast pumps covered?

    Standard manual and electric breast pump models are covered for purchase at 100%, up to the amount of the contracted allowable rate.

    Are breast pump supplies covered?

    Yes, breast pump supplies are covered with no cost share for mothers with expanded benefit when purchased from an in-network DME supplier.

    How do I get a breast pump through Acelleron Medical Products?

    When it comes to helping expectant and postpartum mothers get their breast pump, Acelleron tries to make the experience as easy and hassle-free as possible. Here’s how the ordering process works:

    1. Fill out our Breast Pump Request Form.
    2. Fill out Breast Pump Order. The form must be completely filled out, signed by you and prescribing physician/nurse practitioner.
    3. Completed form should be mailed, uploaded to our secure portal or faxed to Acelleron at 866-615-6082.
    4. Once fax is received and insurance benefit is verified, we call to help you pick out a breast pump that will best suit your breastfeeding needs.
    5. We ship the breast pump directly to you, free of charge!

    Why order your breast pump through Acelleron?

    • We verify and bill your health insurance company.
    • Free shipping.
    • Our breast pumps have been carefully selected from only the highest quality manufacturers.
    • We are committed to providing you with safe, effective and trouble-free products.

    What breast pumps are available from Acelleron?

    Acelleron carries double electric breast pumps from top brands in the industry, including Ameda and Medela. View our entire inventory of breast pumps.

    Can I return my breast pump?

    Breast pumps are non-refundable.