News Articles
- SeQual Tech. to Distribute Southmedic Oxygen Products March 1, 2008
- UDB Undergoes Phase 3 Clinical Trial March 1, 2008
- MAP Pharmaceuticals recently launched a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Unit Dose Budesonide (UDB), the company's nebulized version of budesonide, for the potential treatment of pediatric asthma.
- VGM Offers Fly-In Scholarships March 1, 2008
- RM Survey Asks Providers in First Round to Grade CMS February 15, 2008
- Are Snorers More Likely to Develop Chronic Bronchitis? February 15, 2008
- A report published in the Jan. 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, says that frequent snoring appears to be more common among individuals with chronic bronchitis.
- Attendance Soars for AAHomecare Legislative Conference February 15, 2008
- The mission for this year's American Association for Homecare Washington Legislative Conference is simple: Bring a united voice to the Hill. It's a mission that seems to be resonating with HME providers.
- CMS Proposes to Toughen Enrollment Standards for DME Suppliers February 15, 2008
- Late last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed yet another rule aimed at curbing fraud and abuse. The new rule would strengthen the enrollment standards for DME suppliers.
- Consumer Sleep Show Debuts in Chicago February 15, 2008
- A new consumer health expo for all things sleep hits Chicago May 9-10. The Big Sleep Show, which takes place at Rosemont's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, will offer displays of products and services and opportunities for consumers to meet industry and scientific experts and learn more about common sleep disorders.
- Study Shows Pharmacological Therapy May Protect Ventilator Patients February 15, 2008
- A study published in the February issue of Anesthesiology is the first to demonstrate that targeting the enzyme PARP using pharmacological therapy with PJ-34 might be a protective measure during mechanical ventilation.
- VGM's New Guide Helps Providers Explain HME Basics February 15, 2008
- As the industry moves toward the retail side of business to curtail potential reimbursement losses, vgm creative has launched a tool to help.
- Voters Favor Home Care in AAHomecare Poll February 15, 2008
- According to a recent poll commissioned by the American Association of Homecare, the majority of American voters (78 percent) say they would vote for congressional candidates who would strengthen Medicare coverage for power wheelchairs, oxygen devices, hospital beds and other DME and services used in the home. Three-quarters of voters believe home care is part of the solution to the problem of rapidly increasing Medicare spending.
- CMS Unveils Next 70 MSAs, Categories Up for Bid January 15, 2008
- Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 70 MSAs and the eight categories to be included in the second round of competitive bidding. The announcement came just weeks after CMS issued the final deadline for accreditation.
- AASM Issues New Clinical Guidelines for Home Sleep Testing January 15, 2008
- In December, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) published new clinical guidelines for home sleep testing in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, alongside the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) announcement of its preliminary approval of home sleep testing for diagnosing sleep apnea. The guidelines outline specific conditions for the use of portable monitoring systems for select adults.
- Nationwide Respiratory, Masimo Link Up for Pulse Oximetry January 15, 2008
- VGM's Nationwide Respiratory and Masimo have inked a preferred provider agreement that makes Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology available to Nationwide's network of more than 150 independent respiratory home care providers.
- New Therapy Reduces Mortality in Patients with Severe COPD January 15, 2008
- Patients with severe COPD may benefit more from therapy that combines salmeterol and fluticasone (SFC) than treatment with tiotropium, according to results from a long-term, multi-center study, which directly compared the two therapies. The results appeared in the first issue for January of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society.
- Respironics Acquired by Philips January 15, 2008
- In late December, Respironics announced plans for the company's acquisition by Royal Philips Electronics (Philips). Philips commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Respironics for $66 in cash per share, or a total purchase price of approximately $5.1 billion.
- Sleep-Disordered Breathing More Common in Obese Children January 15, 2008
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be increasingly common in obese children, according to a study published in the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
- Update: The Latest on the First Round of Competitive Bidding January 15, 2008
- In 2007, providers in the first 10 MSAs came under the gun to prepare bids for the first round of competitive bidding. The final bids were due September 25, 2007. Since that time, information has been scant, though the timeline indicates that CMS plans to announce the bid winners sometime in March.
- AARC Looks Back at 60 Years January 1, 2008
- AARC Sleep Specialty Section Update January 1, 2008
