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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Mar
14
2008
This entry was posted by admin on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 9:31 am (UTC), and is categorically filed in Insurance, Top News.
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.
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Interesting Apnea Statistics
~~ Apnea in United States ~~
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.
