Tag Archives: Heated Breathing Tube

New Rules to Empower Patients to Increase Secure Access to their Health Information

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today proposed new rules that would expand the rights of patients to access their health information through the use of health information technology (IT). Specifically, the new rules would empower patients and allow them to gain access to test results reports directly from labs. They would ensure that labs covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) provide such information, upon request, directly to patients or their personal representatives. The announcement came at the kick-off of the first-ever HHS Consumer Health IT Summit, which brought consumers, providers, and the public and private sectors together to discuss how best to empower consumers to be partners in their health and care through health IT.

“When it comes to health care, information is power. When patients have their lab results, they are more likely to ask the right questions, make better decisions and receive better care,” said Secretary Sebelius.“This Summit offers a unique opportunity for the public and private sectors alike to share strategies to improve consumer access to their health information, while safeguarding the privacy and security of their data.”

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), jointly drafted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proposes to amend the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) regulations and HIPAA privacy regulations to strengthen patients’ rights to access their own laboratory test result reports.

Secretary Sebelius also announced the appointment of Leon Rodriguez as the new Director of the Office for Civil Rights. Rodriguez brings his Department of Justice experience to HHS and will be dedicated to ensuring consumers’ health information is kept private and secure.

“Consumers need to know that private and secure access to their health information is a given,” stated OCR Director Rodriguez. “The privacy and security of health data will be a top priority for OCR during my tenure.”

Secretary Sebelius also unveiled today an innovative voluntary Personal Health Record (PHR) Model Privacy Notice, which creates an easy-to-read, standardized template allowing consumers to compare and make informed decisions based on their privacy and security policies and data practices about PHR products. The new template is similar to the Nutrition Facts Labels in that it presents certain complex information in a simple way to improve transparency and consumer understanding about data practices. By making this Model Privacy Notice available, PHR companies can help build greater trust in PHRs.

“As technology improves more aspects of our daily lives, it makes sense to marry cutting-edge technology with our medical and personal health records so that we can improve both the quality and efficiency of the care that people receive,” said National

Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Farzad Mostashari, M.D., Sc.M. “We are encouraging everyone to visit our website at www.HealthIT.gov to read our newly released Strategic Plan that sets forth our comprehensive plans for consumer empowerment for the next five years.“

The Summit highlighted vital benefits of electronic health records and health IT, including:

  • Health IT empowers patients. For example, people at risk for heart attacks may use mobile health applications to manage their weight, diet, and medication adherence.
  • Health IT can facilitate lasting quality improvements, which can lead to greater efficiency and cost savings in the long-term.
  • Health IT is driving innovation in all parts of consumers’ lives – from new interactive applications to devices like digital pedometers and other devices that capture important health information from everyday experiences.
  • Health IT helps coordinate better care, and can be a powerful tool if you or a loved one is managing a serious medical condition.
  • Health IT has robust security and all users, from patients to caregivers to doctors, can easily and safely access and share health information electronically.
  • Health IT may help diagnose health problems sooner, avoid medical errors and provide safer care which can result in lower costs.

For more information about the proposed amendments to the CLIA and HIPAA Privacy regulations, please visithttps://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp.

US Medicare Coverage Decision: SomnoDent Assigned Medicare Code

SomnoMed provides diagnostic and treatment solutions for Sleep Breathing Disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and manufactures the SomnoDent product range. SomnoMed announces that the Pricing, Data Analysis, and Coding (PDAC) Medicare Contractor and each of the four Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have determined that the appropriate Medicare Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) code to use when billing for the SomnoDent product range is E0486.

SomnoMed, Inc., manufacturer of the world’s leading oral appliance, SomnoDent for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea announces that the PDAC Medicare Contractor and each of the four DME MACs have determined that the appropriate HCPCS code to use when billing for the SomnoDent Classic, SomnoDent Flex, and SomnoDent Edentulous is E0486.

According to each of the four DME MAC jurisdictions, in order to be designated code E0486, the oral appliance must be used to reduce upper airway collapsibility, be adjustable, and custom fabricated. A custom-fabricated oral appliance is defined as one that is individually made for a specific patient.

“SomnoMed appreciates the timely decision made by PDAC and the DME MACs and especially those Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clinicians involved in reviewing SomnoMed’s evidence based application”, said Ralf Barschow, CEO. “SomnoMed would also like to recognize the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for continuing to develop new standards of practice as well as the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) for their continued dedication to inform and enhance the well-being of those affected by this chronic disease.”

Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects tens of millions of Americans and is associated with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, stroke, memory/performance problems, depression and higher accident rates (J Clin Sleep Med 2009:5(3):263-276). SomnoDent is a medical device used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Considered a sleeping disorder, this medical condition must be treated with a medical device.

While there are an increasing number of generic oral appliances available, only SomnoDent is independently clinically validated, has a three year warranty and incorporates proprietary materials and design features to maximize patient comfort. SomnoMed firmly believes that dental sleep medicine clinicians will continue to embrace patient-focused and evidence-based medical devices.

Read full announcement

Source: Frisco, TX (PRWEB)

Overlooked No More – Hybernite Rainout Control System

 

ScreenShot146 Overlooked No More   Hybernite Rainout Control SystemCould a Different Tube Actually Make the Difference in the Battle for Compliance?

The CPAP compliance equation usually hinges on a common belief: find the right mask and comfort will follow. Comfort equals compliance, and compliance equals reimbursement. The strategy makes sense, but variables can complicate matters.

For example, what if the “best” mask is still too uncomfortable? Johan Verbraecken, MD, a pulmonologist and medical coordinator at the Belgium-based Sleep Disorders Centre, has seen this scenario on many occasions. One recent patient wanted to stop CPAP treatment after many failed attempts. “I asked him to try one more thing before he stopped,” says Verbraecken. “The only thing we changed was adding a heated tube. The patient was comfortable and happy with this intervention. We focus so much on changing masks, but tubes are often overlooked.”

Using the heated tube from the beginning, along with the heated humidifier, can also benefit sleep labs economically since fewer patients are likely to stop due to condensation. “Patients get moisture on their face at night, and it is not comfortable,” says Verbraecken. “The condensation can also make noise in the tube, similar to the sound of boiling water. This noise can often lead to stopping CPAP use, but the right tube can completely prevent it.”

New Respect

A few companies have been paying close attention to tubes, and clinicians are now looking to the technology in an effort to find any edge in the race to boost compliance. The transfer of air from machine to patient is no longer overlooked. In fact, the field is literally getting hotter with heated tubes reducing the pesky problem of condensation.

A company called Plastiflex Healthcare, a division of Plastiflex Group NV, decided to use its considerable experience manufacturing industrial flexible hoses and apply it to CPAP. Plastiflex contacted Verbraecken’s Centre about 2 years ago as it reached out to the European market.

Plastiflex offered the Hybernite® Rainout Control (ROC) System, which includes the proprietary Hybernite® Heated Breathing Tube (HBT) and Hybernite® Power Supply Unit (PSU). The HBT connects to the PSU via a plug-and-play connector, with copper wires embedded in the tubing wall.

The wires generate heat that maintains air temperature inside the tube, ultimately warding off problematic condensation. Verbraecken notes that the wires are positioned for uniform heating along the tube’s entire length, a system that avoids water droplets on the wall of the tube—and the resulting accumulation of moisture. The combination of the heated tube and the humidifier works to control condensation.

Ludo van der Poel, area manager at Netherlands-based Vivisol, a home care company that supplies Hybernite systems to patients, agrees that the seemingly minor detail of the tube can make a major difference. “The old saying about the weakest link in the chain also applies here,” says van der Poel. “If you have a superior mask and a superior CPAP device, but a bad tube, you will not get the best results.”

Universality is Key

With critical CE approval in hand, Verbraecken says the Hybernite’s appeal stems from its ability to be used with each kind of humidifier. Other heated tubes on the market can only be used on one machine. “This tube is universal,” says Verbraecken. “That is a major advantage.”

Some manufacturers choose to make tubes that are only compatible with their own machines—a mistake in Verbraecken’s eyes. “I think it’s the wrong decision,” he says. “You are obliged to use their machine, and it’s protection for them. The market is so huge that it does not make sense anymore.”

Titrations with Humidification?

At the moment, titration with humidification and heated tubing is not common. However, in cases involving chronic sinusitis and nasal obstruction, Verbraecken contends that the ScreenShot145 Overlooked No More   Hybernite Rainout Control SystemHybernite could be an advantage. “You could eliminate specific side effects that could be disturbing and that could make a difference,” he says. “For many people, condensation feels as if the water is running from their nose and on to their face. It is like being in a swimming pool, and for many it is unacceptable.”

Better tubes have the potential to enhance CPAP and ultimately improve patient care, although studies must be done to back up this notion. “There is room to use these tubes in a routine setting and not just as an escape tool,” says Verbraecken. “We need large trials to look at the effects of routine application, which has the potential to enhance the objective of compliance.”

Nuts and Bolts

Close proximity to Plastiflex’s European headquarters fostered a relationship with officials at Vivisol who were able to give advice during Hybernite’s development. “We discovered this product before it was launched,” reveals van der Poel. “We were involved in the early stages, giving input from the field to the developers at Plastiflex to further refine the product prior to its launch.”

Years prior to contacting Verbraecken, Plastiflex officials also underwent an exhaustive fact-finding period that took them to numerous trade shows and visits with industry professionals. Designers narrowed down CPAP tubing complaints to condensation and comfort, and refining technology to deal with these two problems has remained the top priority.

After taking into account all this information, engineers developed a Hybernite® ROC that essentially consists of two main parts; one is a heated breathing tube and the other is a power supply. With standard conical connectors, company engineers claim that the Hybernite® ROC can fit the role of a universal solution that can be fully integrated into any humidifier—including all types of masks that use standard tubes. “We like the flexibility of the tubing and the high quality plastic,” adds van der Poel. “A tube that is not flexible or long enough could prevent patients from moving in an easy way. Poor quality can also lead to breakage.”

The system itself does not take power or require power to be taken from the humidifier. It takes the energy straight out of the socket in the wall via the Power Supply Unit (PSU). The system works with all humidifiers that currently use standard tubing—which is 99% of the market.

————————————————————–

Johan Verbraecken, MD, is a pulmonologist and medical coordinator at the Multidisciplinary Sleep Disorders Centre, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp. He also serves as vice president of the Belgian Association for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine.

 

A New Solution for CPAP Tubing – Hybernite

The ®  (ROC) System

Flashy  units and masks dominate the sleep technology landscape, but the right tubes can mean the difference between compliance and failure. engineers and market experts examined the sleep technology market and determined that their expertise in industrial tubing systems could bolster the all-too-common weaknesses found in  systems

After an exhaustive fact-finding period, designers narrowed down  tubing complaints to condensation and comfort. According to Rik Langerock, marketing manager for Plastiflex Healthcare, condensation in the breathing circuits was a persistent problem, and a key area where his Belgium-based company could make a difference.

“We spoke to many different people in the supply and value chain and it was condensation in the respiratory tubes that we found to be significant,” says Langerock. “A second related need was about bringing more comfortable air to the patient.”

Comfort usually means warmer and/or more humid air, and this is where Plastiflex is able to use its considerable expertise. Other factors such as mask materials and proper fit play a role, but Langerock and his team were determined to only tackle what they knew best. “You must understand what matches with your core competency as a company,” says Langerock. “Our core competence is in the design and manufacturing of  solutions.”

Plastiflex engineers ultimately came up with the ®  (ROC) System, which includes the proprietary ®  (HBT) and ® Power Supply Unit (PSU). The HBT connects to the PSU via a plug and-play connector, with copper wires embedded in the tubing wall. These wires generate heat that maintains air temperature inside the tube, ultimately warding off problematic condensation. The wires are positioned for uniform heating along the tube’s entire length, a system that avoids water droplets on the wall of the tube and the resulting accumulation of moisture.

Read full article: Tubes the Unsung Heroes

Don’t Overlook Tubes – Hybernite Rainout Control System

 

The Hybernite® Rainout Control (ROC) System

Flashy CPAP units and masks dominate the sleep technology landscape, but the right tubes can mean the difference between compliance and failure. Plastiflex engineers and market experts examined the sleep technology market and determined that their expertise in industrial tubing systems could bolster the all-too-common weaknesses found in CPAP systems

After an exhaustive fact-finding period, designers narrowed down CPAP tubing complaints to condensation and comfort. According to Rik Langerock, marketing manager for Plastiflex Healthcare, condensation in the breathing circuits was a persistent problem, and a key area where his Belgium-based company could make a difference.

“We spoke to many different people in the supply and value chain and it was condensation in the respiratory tubes that we found to be significant,” says Langerock. “A second related need was about bringing more comfortable air to the patient.”

Comfort usually means warmer and/or more humid air, and this is where Plastiflex is able to use its considerable expertise. Other factors such as mask materials and proper fit play a role, but Langerock and his team were determined to only tackle what they knew best. “You must understand what matches with your core competency as a company,” says Langerock. “Our core competence is in the design and manufacturing of hose systems solutions.”

Plastiflex engineers ultimately came up with the Hybernite® Rainout Control (ROC) System, which includes the proprietary Hybernite® Heated Breathing Tube (HBT) and Hybernite® Power Supply Unit (PSU). The HBT connects to the PSU via a plug and-play connector, with copper wires embedded in the tubing wall. These wires generate heat that maintains air temperature inside the tube, ultimately warding off problematic condensation. The wires are positioned for uniform heating along the tube’s entire length, a system that avoids water droplets on the wall of the tube and the resulting accumulation of moisture.

Read full article: Tubes the Unsung Heroes

 

Related posts