Medtrade: DeVilbiss Crafts Back-to-the-USA Message for Nation’s Largest HME Event
SOMERSET, PA - When DeVilbiss Healthcare makes its annual trek to Medtrade, scheduled this year for Oct 8-10 in Orlando, Fla, it will be able to tell attendees that all of its products are made in the United States. more »

IDTFs and Referrals: Some Legal Considerations
- Jeffrey S. Baird, JD
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First Quarter Revenue Up for ResMed
SAN DIEGO - First quarter revenue for ResMed Inc hit $383.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The total marks a 10% increase over the same period last year. more »

Sleep Nation Inc Nabs All 100 Medicare CBAs
FRANKLIN, TN - The contracts affect nearly 50% of the approximately 49 million people enrolled in Medicare and will become effective on July 1, 2013. more »

ResMed Alleges Patent Infringement
SAN DIEGO - ResMed filed the actions against Taiwanese manufacturer APEX Medical and its U.S. distributor, Medical Depot Inc, doing business as Drive Medical Design and Manufacturing. more »

ResMed Names New CEO
SAN DIEGO - Effective March 1, San Diego-based ResMed will have a new leader when Michael Farrell succeeds Dr. Peter C. Farrell as ResMed's CEO. more »

NFL Players Share Personal OSA Stories
- Randy Clare
PHOENIX - Attendees wanted to be around their football heroes, and share their common experiences with OSA diagnosis and treatment. more »

ResMed Fourth Quarter Revenue Up 13%
SAN DIEGO - ResMed revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 was $376.5 million, a 13% increase over the same period last year. more »

Sleep Remains Hot Topic for Media and Medtrade
LAS VEGAS - For weight loss resolutioners, renewed interest in quality sleep, perhaps even a focus on CPAP and/or oral sleep appliances, could be in the offing. more »

OIG Says No to Physician CPAP Dispensing
WASHINGTON, DC - Officials at the American Board of Sleep Medicine hoped the OIG would clear the way for physicians to sell PAP devices. more »

Home Town Oxygen Acquired by DHS
HARRISBURG, PA - Dynamic Healthcare Services Inc (DHS), a portfolio company of GMH Ventures LLC, has acquired Pittsburgh-based HomeTown Oxygen. more »

Can an Electronic Nose Actually Detect OSA?
PARIS – Everyone knows about home sleep testing, but what about electronic nose testing? more »

Revenue Up 8% at ResMed
SAN DIEGO - ResMed Inc reported $339.7 million in revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, an 8% increase over the quarter ended September 30, 2011. more »

CPAP Payment Prohibition: Applicable to Hospital-Based DMEs?
- Jeffrey S. Baird, JD
AMARILLO, TX - The short answer is “yes.” Some hospitals have taken the position that this prohibition does not apply to hospital-based sleep labs more »

Medtrade Award Winner Somnetics International Joins Wave of Sleep-Focused Companies
“The presence of other small- and mid-size companies shows that the sleep market is big enough to sustain a lot of healthy competition,” says Kevin Gaffney, group show director, Medtrade. more »

Sleep Apnea in Pediatric Population on the Rise
SAN FRANCISCO - According to Practice Fusion’s Research Division, obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, type II diabetes, and sleep apnea have reached alarming rates among children more »

New F&P Nasal CPAP Mask Continues Sleep Momentum
AUCKLAND, NZ - Earlier this year, a Texas-based firm predicted an $11 billion jump in the global sleep market. The pace of new product development at various companies seems to back up this confidence. more »

Home Sleep Testing and OIG Comments Regarding IDTFs
AMARILLO, TX - DME suppliers are becoming more aggressive about expanding business by seeking to identify patients that may qualify for CPAP equipment. more »

The MED Group Expands MED Suppliers Network to add Ventilator Program
LUBBOCK, TX - Health care professionals with complex respiratory patients may find it easier to locate good DME providers thanks to a new ventilator program from The MED Group. more »

Aggressive Marketing for Oxygen Patients: There Is a Line That You Cannot Cross
- Jeffrey S. Baird, JD
AMARILLO, TX - In the wake of competitive bidding and reimbursement cuts, DME suppliers are becoming more aggressive about expanding business by identifying patients who may qualify for oxygen. more »

Research Company Predicts $19 Billion Sleep Market
DALLAS - A Texas-based firm is predicting an $11 billion jump in the global sleep market in the next 5 years. more »

New Full Face Mask Features “Simplified Design”
MURRYSVILLE, PA – Officials at Philips Respironics are touting a new simplified design for full-face masks. With a modular design, the new Amara full-face mask is the “smallest and lightest” among traditional full-face masks. more »

Somnetics Earns Frost & Sullivan Award
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Frost & Sullivan has recognized Somnetics International Inc with the 2012 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Differentiation Excellence. more »

Revenue Boost at Lincare Tops 10%
CLEARWATER, FL - Lincare Holdings Inc reported a 10.5% revenue increase for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, with net revenues topping $496 million for the second quarter of 2011. more »

Official Launch for Medtrade Spring Award Winner
MINNEAPOLIS - A few months after the Medtrade Spring preview, the Portable Solar Charger™ Battery Recharger for CPAPs is now available after an official launch last week. more »

Seasonal Element for Sleep Apnea?
PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL - Does sleep apnea worsen during the colder months of the year? A study out of South America suggests the answer is yes. more »

Breach in Lincare Deal?
Despite ominously worded missives from two law firms, Jeffrey S. Baird, JD, believes the Lincare deal will continue without a problem. more »

Be Aware of CMS’ Payment Prohibition Regarding CPAPs
- Jeffrey S. Baird, JD
AMARILLO, TX - A common question in the CPAP arena is whether CPAP suppliers can have a business arrangement with the home sleep testing company. more »

Questions Remain on Resupply
NASHVILLE, TN - An audit webinar presented by CGS Administrators last week yielded clues to the thinking behind new resupply rules, but additional “clarification” is necessary. more »

Oral Appliance Alliance Takes Shape
FRISCO, TX - Oral appliances took another step toward prominence when SomnoMed and Sleep HealthCenters partnered last week. more »

Plastiflex Touts Universal Compatibility for Hybernite Heated CPAP Tubing
BOSTON - Belgium-based Plastiflex Healthcare exhibited its Hybernite Rainout Control System, which includes the proprietary Heated Breathing Tube and Power Supply Unit, at SLEEP 2012. more »

ResMed Enters the Oral Appliance Market
SAN DIEGO – West coast giant ResMed Inc launched the Narval™ CC, a mandibular repositioning device, at last week’s American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine's annual meeting. more »

Canadian Trucking Focuses on Sleep Apnea
CANADA - The focus on sleep apnea extended north of the border last week when the Canadian Trucking Alliance planned to deliver a full service sleep apnea program to commercial truck drivers. more »

Record Operating Revenue for Fisher & Paykel
AUCKLAND, NZ - The company reported net profit after tax of NZ$64.1 million, compared to NZ$52.5 million for the prior year. more »

Sleep Apnea Linked to Cancer
MADISON, WIS - Add cancer to the daunting list of diseases linked to sleep disordered breathing. more »

Quarterly Revenue Up 11% at Apria
LAKE FOREST, CA – Apria announced net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012, of $595.7 million. more »

Truckers Balk at OSA-Related Recommendations
WASHINGTON, DC - A spokesman for commercial truckers accused Medical Review Board members of trying to “make some money” with a list of new recommendations. more »

ResMed Introduces Patient Compliance Management Solution at Medtrade Spring
LAS VEGAS - ResMed Inc has released EasyCare Online, a patient compliance management solution that aggregates usage and efficacy data. more »

New POC at O2 Concepts
OKLAHOMA CITY - O2 Concepts has reached full production on its new portable oxygen concentrator. more »

Fourth Quarter Revenue Edges Up at Apria
LAKE FOREST, CA - Apria Healthcare Group Inc saw 2011 fourth quarter revenues of $603.4 million, compared to $527.7 million in the three months ended December 31, 2010. more »

Sleep Awareness Goes Global
AMSTERDAM – Royal Philips Electronics joined the World Association of Sleep Medicine last week as an official sponsor of World Sleep Day 2012. more »

Sleep Apnea Contributes to Student Behavior Problems
BRONX, NY – The negative effects of sleep apnea seem to spread further with each new study. more »

DeVilbiss Introduces CPAP Masks with Enhanced Cushions
SOMERSET, PA - Company officials touting an ultra-soft coating for smooth mask and forehead cushions. more »

Graphic Photos on Cigarette Packs off the Table
WASHINGTON, DC – Photos of diseased lungs and large-font words of warning will not appear on cigarette packs, at least for the foreseeable future. more »

Transcend CPAP Aims for Travel Market
NEW BRIGHTON, MN - Somnetics is looking to capitalize on move toward retail cash market. more »

New POC from Philips Respironics
MURRYSVILLE, PA - Philips Respironics introduced its new SimplyGo, a POC that offers continuous flow (up to 2 liters per minute) and pulse-dose delivery. more »

More Evidence for Pediatric PAP Benefit
PHILADELPHIA - Children and adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea had substantial improvements in attention, anxiety, and quality of life after PAP treatment. more »

New Extended Warranty for DeVilbiss Healthcare IntelliPAP CPAP
SOMERSET, PA – A new Extended Warranty Plan for DeVilbiss Healthcare IntelliPAP CPAP systems lengthens the company’s 3-year warranty for an additional 2 years. more »

CareFusion and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Renew Distribution Agreement
SAN DIEGO - CareFusion and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare have renewed a 3-year distribution agreement. more »

Income Down, Revenue Up at Lincare
CLEARWATER, FL - Lincare reported 2011 fourth quarter net revenues of $492.2 million, a 16.6% increase over the same period last year. more »