Philips Respironics has distributed a letter to its HME provider customers stating that it in no way plans on directly selling products to patients.

“While it’s true that Philips offers consumer products, our core products in sleep and home respiratory are prescribed medical devices that require specialized care to help ensure effective therapy and compliance,” reads the letter, which is signed by new Philips Respironics CEO Donald Spence. “We will continue to work to provide solutions to providers and clinicians that expand the home healthcare channel.”

The letter attributes the rumor to misinformation being spread by Philips Respironics’ competitors. It also sought to address possible confusion regarding two of its programs, Supply Direct and EncoreAnywhere.

The letter asserts that Supply Direct is a drop ship service that lets providers order OSA replacement supplies and have them shipped directly to patients. “This program was developed for and with the input of our customers to help them focus on patient care, while reducing costs and inventory investments,” the statement reads.

EncoreAnywhere lets various caregivers use a secure web portal to gather, access and share patient sleep therapy compliance data and information. “This system is intended to provide a lower cost, more timely and accurate methodology for monitoring patient acceptance to their therapy over manually intensive legacy alternatives,” the letter reads. “It also provides a lower cost when changing prescriptions in the field.”