Dealers Discuss: Jessica McMillan, Respiratory Care Manager, Meriter Home Health July 1, 2007 by HME Business -->
, memory loss, hypertension, any underlying things associated with sleep or possible sleep problems. The indicator will come out as a normal range or suspected breathing disorder. In that case, it gives (the physician) more information to refer (the patient) to a sleep doctor. </p>
<p><b>What is your opinion of CMS’ review of in-home sleep testing?</b><br />I think it would be very good for the home care companies to be able to provide that service, but I do have mixed feelings because of the thoroughness of the sleep labs and the polysomnographs. I think you’ll see a decrease in the actual sleep labs and the polysomnographs.</p>
<p><b>Describe your relationship with sleep labs in your area.</b><br />We’re very close. We have a very good working relationship. We try to attend the quarterly physician meetings, and we go over reimbursement, technology — anything new We try to keep an open communication. We want to be their resource for any new equipment, information (and) education to help them have better clinical outcomes for their patients.</p>
<p><b>What do you believe are the most pressing challenges facing respiratory today?</b><br />Right now, I really believe it is the Medicare oxygen reimbursement. My director actually went to Washington to try to fight it today (AAHomecare Legislative Fly-In, June 6-7). We just feel that with the transfer of ownership of an oxygen concentrator, we see so many patients that just can’t take care of the equipment like it should be taken care of. It’s life-dependent, and it can be life-threatening to them. I would rather see it go into a maintenance program instead of an ownership transfer. I think that’s our biggest challenge because oxygen has always been the backbone of the industry. </p>
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