Tag: Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation
In brief: MACs miss standards, health spending stays low
January 10, 2014HME News Staff
BALTIMORE - Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) failed to meet one-quarter of CMS's performance standards, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). “Given the billion of dollars awarded to Medicare Administrative Contractors and the critical role they play in administering the Medicare program, effective oversight of performance is important to ensure that they are adequately processing claims,” the OIG states. The OIG based its findings on a performance...
Implantable device makes gains on CPAP therapy
January 9, 2014HME News Staff
CLEVELAND - A new device that stimulates a nerve at the back of the tongue to open a person's airway effectively treats obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), making it a viable alternative to CPAP therapy, researchers say in a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.The implantable device is called Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation. It delivers a mild electrical stimulation to the base of the tongue, preventing it from collapsing and blocking the airway. Patients turn the...