Tag: Respiratory Therapy
Sleep & respiratory: Stay informed & advocate
April 8, 2025Colleen Lance
Q. What are some of the proposed changes to the NCD for NIPPV in COPD patients?
A. At the time of writing, CMS is in the comment period for the proposed NCD on non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) for patients with chronic respiratory failure due to COPD. The final policy is expected in June. While CMS is to be commended for removing outdated requirements, the proposed policy introduces logistical challenges for HME providers.
To qualify for a bilevel device with a...
Philips says ‘momentum’ continues for sleep business
February 28, 2025Liz Beaulieu, Editor
AMSTERDAM – With its recent clearance in France, the Sleep & Respiratory Care business at Philips can once again sell products in all countries except for the United States.
“If you talk about S&RC, indeed, the momentum is coming into that business again,” said Roy Jakobs, CEO, during a Feb. 19 conference call to discuss the company’s fourth quarter and full year financial results for 2024. “(It’s) driven by the return to the market outside of the U.S.,...
ACHC names new associate director
February 11, 2025HME News Staff
CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care has hired Deborah Panza, BS, RRT, RPSGT, as its associate director of DMEPOS, sleep and mobile dentistry. She brings 25 years of experience working within the respiratory therapy, sleep and DMEPOS programs in the University of North Carolina health System. “We are excited to welcome Deborah to the ACHC team,” said José Domingos, president and CEO of ACHC. “Her leadership experience, clinical expertise, and deep...
Inogen names Pauls to VP role
September 9, 2024HME News Staff
GOLETA, Cailf. – Inogen has appointed Eric Pauls, formerly of Tactile Medical and Philips, as its vice president of sales, North America. “Eric’s extensive experience at Tactile Medical and Philips will be a powerful addition to our existing U.S. business-to-business and prescriber sales teams,” said Gregoire Ramade, chief commercial officer. “As we advance toward the introduction of Simeox to the U.S. market, Eric’s experience with the respiratory business will...
ALS report urges better access to respiratory care
June 27, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have published “Living with ALS,” a report on improving the quality of care for individuals with ALS that includes specific recommendations to strengthen access to respiratory care.
The report includes a policy brief that urges CMS and private insurers to act quickly to expedite access to essential ALS medical and support services, including:
Requiring expedited (within 72 hours)...
VGM names Lockard to lead respiratory division
April 12, 2022HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – VGM & Associates has named Boone Lockard, CRT, as its new director of VGM Respiratory. Lockard, who started his career as a respiratory therapist at Lehan Drugs, has more than 12 years of experience in the DME industry. He also worked on the manufacturer side with Philips Respironics for three years as a key account manager. “I am looking forward to working with the VGM membership on building additional value and navigating challenges in the industry,” said Lockard....
CQRC warns of possible access issues
March 18, 2022HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Patient access to in-home respiratory care may be negatively impacted if a shortage in semiconductor chips is not addressed, warns the Council for Council for Quality Respiratory Care.
In a March 15 letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, CQRC and nine other respiratory care stakeholders urge the administration to use its authority to help address the shortage of semiconductor chips used in home...
Philips: Sales were down, orders were up in Q4, 2021
January 24, 2022HME News Staff
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – Philips’ comparable sales decreased 32% in the fourth quarter of 2021 for the Connected Care business due, in part, to a double-digit decline in Sleep & Respiratory Care associated with the recall.
For the full year, the Connected Care business recorded a 23% comparable sales decrease.
“Patient well-being is at the heart of everything we do at Philips, and we remain extremely focused on repairing and replacing the devices related to...
Study: RT home visits can reduce COPD readmissions
January 12, 2022HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine - At-home interventions by a respiratory therapist can reduce hospital readmission rates among patients with COPD, according to a new study published in Respiratory Care. Study authors looked at outcomes in patients enrolled in a respiratory therapist-led COPD Disease Management Program, comparing outcomes of 658 patients who were discharged from five hospitals in the Atlantic Health System with outcomes of 435 patients who were discharged and then enrolled in the management program....
Encore is NEXUS between respiratory therapy, outcomes
December 17, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
LIVINGSTON, Tenn. – With more than 27,000 patients now managed through NEXUS, Encore Healthcare was able to publish studies in CHEST and other journals recently that show its respiratory therapy management software improves outcomes.
Among the key take-aways from the studies: NEXUS can reduce hospital admissions by about 60% and it can improve medication management by about 41%.
“We’re at a tipping point,” said Zach Gantt,...