Tag: CPAP devices

WASHINGTON - Walmart has removed CPAP devices from its website, after hearing concerns from AAHomecare. Last week, the association had sent a letter to Walmart, reminding the retail giant that both federal and North Dakota laws prohibit the sale of CPAP devices without prescriptions. AAHomecare wrote the letter after a provider in the state, Sanford Healthcare, reported being approached by someone who had purchased a CPAP device from Walmart.com. North Dakota also requires that clinically trained...

When it comes to encouraging people with COPD to exercise, a mobile phone app with dialogue support works best, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. As part of the study, researchers reviewed three prototypes for mobile apps using different persuasive technology: dialogue support, primary task support and social support. They assessed opinions on these prototypes through 28 interviews with COPD patients, caretakers and healthcare professionals, and through 87...

SAN DIEGO - ResMed aims to blow up the market for travel CPAP devices with its soon-to-be launched AirMini, company officials said during a conference call Jan. 23 to discuss second quarter earnings.When an analyst on the call asked how big the market is for travel CPAPs, CEO Mick Farrell acknowledged that it's a “a very small niche,” but that HME providers and their customers are increasingly embracing cash sales, and that ResMed is ready to leverage that changing mindset.“We think...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The International Trade Commission plans to investigate certain sleep apnea devices manufactured by Fisher & Paykel, it announced Sept. 19. The investigation is in response to a complaint filed by ResMed in August seeking to ban imported products Simplus full face mask, Eson nasal mask and Eson 2 nasal mask, that it says infringe on various ResMed patents. That complaint came after Fisher & Paykel filed patent infringement proceedings against ResMed, saying that ResMed's AirSense...

OKLAHOMA CITY - The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is urging Oklahoma Medicaid program to reinstate coverage for sleep studies and CPAP devices for adult patients. Although the Oklahoma Health Care Authority has indicated it recognizes the benefits of sleep therapy, it cited a severe budget crisis in its decision to eliminate coverage for what it considers “optional” services, according to a press release from AASM. “These cuts will lead to increased medical expenses over time...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Group 2 pressure reducing support surfaces had a claims error rate of 73.7% from April 1, 2014, to June 30, 2014, the Jurisdiction B DME MAC has reported. Top denial reasons included insufficient documentation of larger or multiple stage III or stage IV pressure ulcers on trunk or pelvis that have not improved over the last month, and insufficient documentation due to a missing signature. CPAP devices had a claims error rate of 67% for the same timeframe, the MAC reported. Top denial...