Tag: neb-meds

FORT PAYNE, Ala. - An increase in hospital readmissions for COPD patients could open the door for HME providers to re-enter a nebulizer medication market that has been dominated by national providers, says Marcus Kruk.“There was a full complement of care that used to exist when reimbursements were good,” said Kruk, national sales and marketing director and business development for ABC Plus, an independent respiratory medication pharmacy. “Now, patients are having difficulty finding...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Lincare Pharmacy Services generally complied with Medicare requirements when billing for inhalation drugs, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General. Of 100 claim lines sampled, three did not comply because the beneficiaries medical records did not support medical necessity, resulting in $48 in overpayments. The OIG recommends that Lincare ensure that medical necessity is adequately supported in medical records before billing Medicare. Lincare concurred.

BALTIMORE - With few exceptions, the average sales price (ASP) figures for nebulizer medications don't change much from quarter to quarter. That doesn't mean the market is stagnant, says Wayne Vega, senior vice president of the Inhalation Drug Group. He recently offered HME News his take on the fourth quarter numbers—and the market.WinnersBudesonide (J7626) increased 85 cents, to $5.95 per dose. The entry of another generic version of the drug into the market earlier this year didn't have the...

BALTIMORE - Things are looking up for several respiratory medications in the latest average sales price (ASP) figures. For the fourth quarter 2013, budesonide (J7626) took the biggest leap, up 85 cents to $5.95 per dose. Also getting an increase: brand name drugs Brovana (J7605) and Perforomist (J7606), which saw increases of 12 cents and nearly 39 cents per dose. Pricing stayed relatively flat for albuterol (J7613) and ipratropium (J7644) were both hovering around 12 cents per dose.

SOMERVILLE, N.J. - It's not easy being a smaller provider of nebulizer medications in the world of “Big Pharma.”That's why Inhalation Drug Group (IDG), a group purchasing organization, has rolled out a program targeting these smaller providers, giving them access to volume discount pricing, extended terms and sampling programs.“We're reaching out to the smaller end, because they're almost the more important players,” said Wayne Vega, senior executive vice president of IDG...

BALTIMORE - Brand-name Brovana took a hit in the latest average sales price (ASP) figures for nebulizer medications, but otherwise there were few major changes.The long-acting beta agonist Brovana (J7605) decreased 24 cents to $5.11 per dose in the latest figures, released in March.Between the lower reimbursement and a price increase from the manufacturer, you won't see many providers supplying the drug, said Sam Jarczynski, who blames market consolidation for the change.“There are so few respiratory...