Tag: Oxygen

WASHINGTON – CMS has published an adjusted fee schedule for oxygen therapy for April 2021 that doesn’t include a percentage reduction to meet the budget neutrality requirement. The adjustments result in an increase in fee schedule amounts ranging from $6.72 to $8.19 in former competitive bidding areas; $5.17 to $5.43 in other non-rural areas; and $4.14 to $6.82 in non-contiguous and rural areas, according to the VGM Group. The fee schedule amounts are not retroactive –...

GOLETA, Calif. – Inogen reported a 17.9% increase in sales of portable oxygen concentrators to HME providers in the fourth quarter of 2020, a sign of just how much the pandemic is straining the supply of stationary oxygen concentrators, a more common therapy for COVID-19 patients.  That’s compared to a 25.2% decrease in direct-to-consumer sales for the quarter.  “Traditionally, these patients are treated...

GOLETA, Calif. – Inogen’s new CEO, Nabil Shabshab, says the company may be “placing its bets a little differently” in 2021.  During a recent conference call to discuss the company’s latest financial results, Shabshab’s first, an analyst asked how he planned to balance Inogen’s various business segments – direct to consumer, business to business and rental.   “Of course, (the...

BALTIMORE – The founders of OxyGEN will use their recent prize money to turn their prototype portable oxygen concentrator into an actual product.  Jessica Dakkak, Jonathan Smith and Wilson Tang were recently named the winners of an Innovation Challenge hosted by Three Lakes Foundation and MATTER for their POC combining high-flow ambient air with pulses of concentrated oxygen to provide more efficient...

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...

CHICAGO – Three Lakes Foundation and MATTER have named OxyGEN as the first-place winner in their Innovation Challenge to accelerate new solutions in diagnosing, treating and managing pulmonary fibrosis.  OxyGEN, a med-tech venture out of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, has produced a POC that tracks, monitors and automatically adjusts the oxygen level for each patient, improving mobility and quality of life. OxyGEN, along with three other winners, will receive...

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Allina Health is selling its HME division to AdaptHealth, according to ABC Newspapers. The purchase includes Allina's Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment Division, also known as HOME. “We are extremely proud of the work and commitment of our Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment staff,” said Lisa Shannon, president and COO of Allina Health. “We are excited about AdaptHealth's deep industry expertise and resources to grow and invest in the division.” HOME has a showroom...

IRVINE, Calif. - Masimo has filed a legal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California claiming Apple infringes on 10 of its patents with its Apple Watch, according to news reports. The complaint charges Apple with stealing trade secrets by hiring key personnel from Masimo, including Michael O'Reilly, its former chief medical officer and executive vice president for medical affairs. Masimo claims the Apple Watch, including the Series 4 and 5 models, uses technology...

WASHINGTON - The Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives is now on the hunt for a vehicle for H.R. 8158, a bill that would eliminate the budget neutrality requirement for home oxygen therapy. Industry stakeholders say it's unlikely the bill will be attached to a continuing resolution that must be passed by Sept. 30, because Congress wants a “clean CR,” but there are other options, including possibly another COVID bill and a Medicare extenders package. “This...

ST. LOUIS - Responsive Respiratory has expanded its website to include online ordering. RRI's website, www.respondo2.com, now features a personalized account portal that allows registered providers to access pricing and to order online. “We recognize that a high percentage of the population utilizes the Internet to place orders, especially during this time of remote work arrangements,” said Thomas Bannon, president. The portal allows providers to: mark products as a frequently ordered...