Skip to Content

Briefs

Briefs

Sleep Solutions aids national OSA program ANNAPOLIS, Md. - In response to the growing number of adults needing access to affordable testing for OSA, Sleep Solutions has announced a new grant program in association with Awake In America to provide free diagnostic testing services to qualified people. ‘'Traditional sleep studies to diagnose apnea can cost up to $2,500 per test,'' said David Jackson, the national coordinator for Awake In America. ‘'Some patients travel long distances, take time off from work, and, in the case of two-night sleep studies, they and their family face transportation, hotel and meal expenses.'' Sleep Solutions will donate its at-home testing services in support of Awake In America's ‘'xPAP Donation and Relief Program,” designed to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of OSA. Gentiva launches home cardiopulmonary program MELVILLE, N.Y. - Gentiva Health Services in January launched a national cardiopulmonary program to prevent the progression of heart- and lung-related diseases, assist patients and their physicians in managing those diseases, and control costs for health insurers by limiting the need for institutional care. Under the program, Gentiva employees will work with physician to provide patients with a wide variety of disease management choices, including early detection and intervention and daily in-home health monitoring. The company opened seven cardiopulmonary program locations in five states, including three in Florida, and more are planned in 2005. CMS expands infusion pump coverage WASHINGTON - CMS expanded its coverage of insult infusion pumps for diabetes in December. Medicare has covered insulin pumps since 1999 for diabetic patients who had specific levels of C-peptide in the blood. The final NCD expands coverage by allowing an alternative test, called the beta cell autoantibody, to identify beneficiaries with type 1 diabetes who would benefit from the pump. The decision will also expand the coverage of insulin pumps for patients with type 2 diabetes by standardizing the C-peptide testing and relaxing the criteria for those with kidney disease.

Comments

To comment on this post, please log in to your account or set up an account now.