Re: Medicare to allow home studies
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Re: Medicare to allow home studies


Posted by bob on May 07, 2004 at 04:12:46:

In Reply to: Re: Medicare to allow home studies posted by Old Sleeper on May 04, 2004 at 11:01:25:

I agree with all the above. But then again the present situation is also unacceptable - I have also heard of the patient receiving CPAP in the parking lot, fly-by-night unattended screenings billed at 4000$ each etc. My point is that the present structure and rules ( if there really are any!) have not stopped unscrupulous operators anyway. Are we to say that because some people will abuse the new system we should not progress? I will grant you that it takes a little more effort and a few (not a multitude) of new techniques to make unattended studies a success. The benefits though are substantial - even huge - for both the patient, the physician, the technologist (except those who live for nightshift work!)and the healthcare system as a whole. Insofar as unattended autopap is concerned there we are on less-traveled ground, but we should not simply say no and give up. I have experience with unattended autopap studies - though far fewer than diagnostics. The approach with this should perhaps be to start with follow-up efficacy-of-treatment studies and progress to unattended home titrations. Obviously this would need to be done in a proper way by properly trained professionals in an effective and proper way with patients prepared and selected etc. But this goes for any procedure in medicine. Interestingly enough I have noted that it is often research studies where quality is crucial that are the pioneers in ambulatory/unattended PSG's - one would think that it would be the other way around - at least in purely practical terms anyway.

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