CQRC backs AHRQ report

WASHINGTON - The Council for Quality Respiratory Care has highlighted a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that found patients who use home respiratory therapies tend to experience better health outcomes than those who do not. The AHRQ, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, analyzed 68 studies covering 53,733 patients to evaluate home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in adults with chronic respiratory failure in terms of initiation, continuation, effectiveness, adverse events, equipment parameters and required respiratory services. The agency specifically examined home mechanical ventilators (HMV), bi-level positive airway pressure devices (BPAP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. Specifically, it found patients with COPD who used BPAP devices experienced lower mortality, intubations and hospital admissions compared to COPD patients who did not use a device, while patients who used an HMV experienced fewer hospital admissions on the whole. “The results of AHRQ's rigorous analysis show once again the tremendously positive clinical impact home respiratory supplies and equipment have on Americans with chronic respiratory failure,” said Dan Starck, chairman of CQRC. “The importance of home respiratory therapies in significantly decreasing mortality, intubations, and hospital admissions rates cannot be overstated. Because these therapies help chronic respiratory patients live longer, healthier lives, the Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that reimbursement for home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation systems remains adequate—both in the competitive and noncompetitive bid areas.” CMS included non-invasive vents in Round 2021 of competitive bidding, slated to start Jan. 1.