Are you and your sleep lab BFF? According to Ann Tisthammer, BS, RRT, vice president of clinical education at ResMed, you should be. She says to have a successful partnership, sleep providers must become the “best friend” of the sleep lab.
Respiratory Funding Update
By Elisha Bury
Big news on competitive bidding came in July when, after an industry-wide push, CMS granted HME providers a third extension in the first round. The 60-day extension pushed the due date for bids back to Sept. 25 and the registration deadline back to Aug. 27.
By Elisha Bury
In an April 2007 Wachovia study on the HME sleep market, 47 percent of HME providers surveyed reported that their businesses had been impacted by sleep labs that sell sleep equipment.With sleep labs taking up that much of the market, are providers in danger of losing profitability and viability in the sleep market? Respiratory Management went to sleep providers and industry experts to find out what providers are doing to maintain a mutually rewarding relationship with sleep labs. If done right, the relationship could boost business for both parties while driving patient compliance.
By Elisha Bury
To reimburse or not to reimburse? That is the question that has the sleep industry on the edge of its seat as CMS reconsiders its policy for in-home sleep testing. The question is also at the center of debate for sleep labs, sleep physicians and clinicians concerned about how the delivery of in-home tests might impact the health of sleep apnea patients.
Respiratory Funding Update
By Elisha Bury
For nebulizer medications, this year has been one of refinement. After many changes since the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, reimbursement for nebulizer medications was further adjusted in the first half of the year.
Funding Focus
By Kelly Riley
Coaches, medical professionals, teachers and parents have all been reminded that attitude can lead to success or failure. The workplace is no exception.
Dealers Discuss
On June 16, Regional Medical Supply (RMS) in Ypsilanti, Mich., hosted a free educational presentation on the Basics of Sleep and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The event brought in approximately 50 new and current CPAP users from the community. The presentation addressed compliance issues and offered information on the benefits of quality sleep as well as the consequences of unrecognized and untreated sleep disorders.
Legal Speak
By Asela Cuervo
Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated a national coverage analysis (NCA) of the national coverage determination (NCD) for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices.