The application of new coverage determination adherence criteria for continued reimbursement of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may have potential negative effects on patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and their clinical care. Adherence to therapy is defined as use of PAP more than four hours per night for at least 70 percent of [...]
On the heels of the new $856 billion health care bill proposed yesterday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, doubt over health care reform passing this year still looms across the American public.
Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults surveyed believe health care reform will not pass this year compared to 41 percent who do, according to the results of a new Deloitte Center for Health Solutions study.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revises the reimbursement rates for all services. During the review and revision process for the coming year, there’s often at least one or two areas that bring about heated discussion in the private sector over reimbursement, generally because of a reduction or a less-than-wanted/less-than-desired increase. This year, as over the past few years, home oxygen was a hot topic.
CMS announced late last year it was reviewing issues related to sleep apnea. The reason given was because the number of Medicare claims over the past few years have shot up like rocket. Much of that is attributed to patient education, community awareness, and various outreach efforts, such as those initiated by Awake In America and other organizations.
Americans are taking on more financial responsibility for their health care and, as a result, need access to a robust suite of tools and information in order to make informed decisions.
The insurance company, in a press release, says it is attempting to “support and encourage members to be informed health care consumers” in various initiatives, including “expansion of its health care transparency initiatives to additional markets,” which include Connecticut; Massachusetts; Fort Myers, Fla.; Colorado; Raleigh/Durham, NC; Ohio; Pittsburgh, PA; West Virginia, among other locations.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded Medicare coverage for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices to include beneficiaries who have been diagnosed, using a home sleep test, with obstructive sleep apnea. CMS also announced changes to simplify certain test requirements.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition characterized by the complete cessation of breathing for a period of at least 10 seconds (apnea) during sleep. In most instances, obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed by counting the number of sleep disturbances that occur during a specific time interval. Up to four million Medicare beneficiaries may suffer from some form of obstructive sleep apnea.
Previously uninsured adults who received Medicare coverage reported improvements in health, especially those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, according to a study published in the December 26 issue of JAMA.
“Uninsured near-elderly adults, particularly those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, experience worse health outcomes and use more health services as Medicare beneficiaries after age 65 years than insured near-elderly adults. Because chronic diseases are prevalent and insurance coverage is often unaffordable for older uninsured adults, the impact of near-universal Medicare coverage at age 65 years on the health of previously uninsured adults may be substantial,” the authors write.
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As of May 2, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (-0500) (ET), the U.S. population
was 306,340,710. Sleep researchers estimate approximately seven percent
of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. Using that
estimate, there are potentially 21,443,850 apneics in the U.S.
~~ Apnea around the world ~~
As of May 2, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. (-0500) (ET), the world population
was 6,777,286,604. Sleep researchers estimate approximately seven percent
of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea. Using that
estimate, there are potentially 474,410,062 apneics in the world.
