Tag: home oxygen therapy

NEW YORK – Providers expect high-single digit growth in sleep patient volumes in the next year, according to Needham’s “1Q21 HME Oxygen and Sleep Survey.”  Respondents saw their sleep patient volume increase by only 0.8% in the last 12 months but expect it to grow by 7.6% over the next 12 months, the survey says. These rates are mixed from the prior survey results of 5.5% and 5%, respectively.  Overall, respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has...

NEW YORK - The American Thoracic Society has posted online its latest clinical practice guideline on home oxygen therapy, addressing long-term and ambulatory therapy for adults with COPD. The guideline makes the following recommendations: In adults with COPD who have severe chronic resting room air hypoxemia, we recommend prescribing long-term oxygen therapy at least 15 hours per day. In adults with COPD who have moderate chronic resting room air hypoxemia, we suggest not prescribing LTOT. In adults...

WASHINGTON - The Council for Quality Respiratory Care recognizes November as National COPD Awareness Month by commending CMS for its plans not to award competitive bidding contracts to 13 product categories, including oxygen supplies and equipment, in 2021. If finalized, the proposal would ensure that patients will be able to continue accessing oxygen supplies and equipment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the CQRC says. “We applaud CMS for properly addressing policies that could have threatened...

Oxygen therapy has always been the lifeblood of the HME respiratory provider's business as companies offer a range of therapies, modalities and services to their patients. And the wireless connectivity that is ubiquitous in the modern world adds an important new dimension to the market that has the potential to boost efficacy and efficiency while reducing costs and better managing outcomes.The sophisticated connectivity infrastructure that has revolutionized communications has had a distinct and...

LONDON - A patient dies every four days in fires involving home oxygen in the U.S., according to a new report from BPR Medical. During a 20-month period, 311 incidents resulting in 164 deaths were recorded. The majority of deaths (145) were the oxygen users themselves, while 18 were family members or other residents. Exploding cylinders are referenced in 33% of reported incidents, creating a high risk for emergency services and members of the public. BPR Medical is a manufacturer of medical gas therapy...

WASHINGTON - CMS has added seven codes for complex rehab power mobility devices and five codes for support surfaces to the national prior authorization program, AAHomecare reports.The agency will roll the PMD codes into the program within 90 days, or July 21 by the association's estimates.The support surface codes will added in two phases, within 90 days in California, Indiana, New Jersey and North Carolina, and within 180 days, or Oct. 19, 2019, by AAHomcare's estimates, in all states.The codes...

GOLETA, Calif. - It will only help Inogen that more manufacturers are deciding to raise awareness among consumers for their own POCs, CEO Scott Wilkinson says.Invacare plans to spend $2 million to $3 million in the third and fourth quarters to build brand awareness among consumers for its POC, the Platinum Mobile Oxygen Concentrator with connectivity.“Anything that anyone does out there, whether it's Inogen or another manufacturer, that helps drive awareness of POCs, we believe will benefit...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Home oxygen therapy has been hit especially hard by competitive bidding, so CMS's plans to retool its program are encouraging, says Dan Starck, chairman of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care.“It's good to see the administration listening to the industry and working with the industry,” he said. “Our goal now is to get it finalized and make sure we have a sustainable long-term process available to us.”The CQRC is a coalition of leading home oxygen...

A. Telehealth solutions were the talk of Medtrade and one of the major features highlighted by oxygen therapy manufacturers. The role of telehealth can enable the provider and clinician to review data transmitted via the equipment user's smart device connected to the oxygen therapy equipment at their home. Telehealth is emerging as a critical component of our health care system and it has the potential to significantly improve some of the most challenging problems of health care networks and HMEs. ...

BOSTON - Home oxygen patients say they are unable to access equipment to meet their needs, according to a new survey unveiled at ATS 2017 this week. The ATS Nursing Assembly Working Group surveyed 1,926 people and unearthed equipment issues like heaviness of tanks and portable oxygen concentrators that don't meet their needs; and access issues like not being able to change suppliers, according to an article in RT Magazine. As a result, patients say they have lower quality of life. “Patients...