Getting Reimbursed for DME Expenses

PHILADELPHIA (December 30, 2003) — "Nasal xPAP Masks: Fitting, Selection, Coverage, and Reimbursement" will be the topic for this month's meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m., with refreshments available from 6:00 p.m. for those attending the meeting.

Anne Guarini, a registered respiratory therapist, as well as vice president for patient services at Air Products Healthcare in Conshohocken, will be the guest speaker at the January 14, 2004 Awake In Philly Community Education Group meeting. This meeting is being held in the Philadelphia Room of the Northeast Philadelphia Double Tree Hotel, located at Roosevelt Boulevard and Grant Avenue.

When it comes to nasal xPAP masks, fitting and selection are crucial elements in the process, as compliance with the nasal xPAP therapy often depends on comfort while wearing the mask.

Improper fitting of a nasal xPAP mask can lead to tenderness and skin abrasions, in addition to the biggest problem most users suffer: air leaks, which can cause conjunctivitis, as well as just be irritating.

Anne will bring a variety of nasal xPAP masks to the meeting for display and demonstration purposes.

Directly related to mask selection and fitting is paying for the mask. Most masks are priced over $150, so insurance reimbursement is a key issue for many people. Anne will share information to share about the actual reimbursement rates, which could lead to an understanding as to why some masks aren't carried by all home healthcare companies.

Anne, who earned her Master of Science degree in health education, also has a strong background in respiratory therapy. She has worked in the respiratory therapy field for 16 years, and held her current position for three years.

Accompanying Anne will be Sheila Conmy, the company's patient management coordinator, who has 11 years of experience in dealing with healthcare reimbursement.

Following Anne's presentation and a question-and-answer session, Larry Wright from Puritan-Bennett will do free pressure checks on your xPAP machine, so bring them along for this free checkup!

Sleep disorders, which contribute to the national sleep debt, are more prevalent than most people believe. In fact, approximately one in every five people suffers from at least one sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic leg movements, and insomnia are just a few of the many sleep disorders that can, and do, rob us of the sleep we need.

The impact of sleep disorders, especially apnea, on a person's life may be many, and appear in many forms, but there are some telltale signs. While the impact is unique in each person, some of the most common areas include causing excessive daytime sleepiness, heart and lung damage, greater risk of stroke and high blood pressure, memory loss, the potential for greater involvement in traffic accidents because of tiredness, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, a decrease in productivity, weight gain, among others.

Puritan-Bennett will be providing refreshments for the evening's meeting, and The CPAP Store is providing for the expanded meeting room for the meeting.

The Double Tree Hotel is conveniently located on SEPTA route 14, and close to route 19. For public transportation guidance to the Double Tree Hotel, please contact SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website at http://www.septa.org.

A Control 3 Home Care Kit, from Maril Products, will be given away at the meeting. Maril Products donated the Home Care Kit to Awake In Philly for giveaway at the meeting.

Awake In Philly sponsors, in alphabetical order, include B.F. Ascher & Co., Inc.; the Free Library of Phila. (NE Regional Library); Maril Products, makers of Control III Disinfectant; Puritan-Bennett (http://www.puritanbennett.com/); Respironics, Inc.; and The CPAP Center.

Awake In Philly meetings are designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of sleep disorders, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker or supervisor, researchers, physicians, attorneys, among others. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meetings.

As of July 15, 2005 at 11:31:27 p.m. (-0500), the U.S. population was 296,628,635. With new estimates that about
seven percent of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially 20,764,004 apneics in the U.S.

As of July 15, 2005 at 11:31:27 p.m. (-0500), the world population was 6,454,147,062. With new estimates that about
seven percent of the population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially 451,790,294 apneics in the world.

Awake in Philly is a community education group for individuals who have been diagnosed with at least one of the recognized sleep disorders, as well as anyone else impacted by those with sleep disorders. The information contained in this site is intended to provide support, guidance, and encouragement to others contending with the many challenges of sleep disorders. The goals of Awake in Philly are to support, educate, and inform those who feel the impact of sleep disorders, as well as the general public, and is not intended to replace medical advice, nor is any information to be misinterpreted as an attempt to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

If you have questions about any of the medical conditions mentioned on this website, especially if you suspect that you (or someone you know) has sleep apnea, please contact a qualified medical professional immediately. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained healthcare professionals.

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