Relationship increases access to testing for sleep-related illnesses
SleepQuest, a national provider of comprehensive sleep screening, testing, therapy and compliance services for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), has been selected for a national contract with Aetna, one of the nation's largest healthcare benefit providers.
SleepQuest will now be able to serve more patients with sleep-related illnesses such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) who are in need of sleep testing services and CPAP treatment.
"This marks a momentous step forward for the recognition of in-home sleep testing as an effective, cost-efficient means of diagnosing sleep-related illnesses," said Robert Koenigsberg, President of SleepQuest. "Aetna has taken a national leadership position in increasing access for diagnosing sleep-related illnesses like Sleep Apnea. It is our hope that if these conditions are diagnosed sooner, patients will receive treatment which could improve their quality of life. SleepQuest is very excited to be in a position where we can reach out to more physicians and patients to help fight these debilitating disorders."
While Aetna has contracts with Sleep Apnea testing providers, and Durable Medical Equipment providers of Sleep Apnea therapy devices, SleepQuest was selected as Aetna's only national provider because SleepQuest has a unique and highly successful comprehensive Sleep Management Program providing screening, diagnostics, therapy, patient education, compliance and monitoring (disease management). The SleepQuest program is entirely focused on achieving improved patient outcomes and better patient quality of life.
"While overnight laboratory testing is certainly appropriate for some patients, Aetna has recognized the problem of higher cost and patient inconvenience," said Lori Schulman, SleepQuest's Director of Contracting. "As one of the first national insurers to provide increased access to in-home testing, therapy and management, Aetna is ahead of the curve."
Aetna is also a major proponent of empowering primary care physicians to improve patient care coordination and management. Instead of the highly fractured and expensive approach of patients being handed off to specialists, the primary care physician is empowered to effectively and efficiently direct care by using technology to lead a team of providers. See:
http://www.aetna.com/news/newsReleases/2009/0423_Medical_Home_Model.html
By working with Aetna on a national basis, SleepQuest continues to demonstrate its dedication to patients in need of Sleep Apnea diagnosis and therapy. "With our ability to employ both in-lab and at-home testing, not only can we reach more of those suffering from this illnesses," said Koenigsberg, "but also, if we're successful, other insurers will surely replicate the model Aetna has adopted. This could help even more people suffering from Sleep Apnea who are currently undiagnosed and untreated."
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates.
About SleepQuest
Since 1996, SleepQuest has been providing accurate portable home sleep testing and successful therapy to thousands of patients suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). As prevalent as Asthma and Diabetes, Sleep Apnea is a chronic condition that remains vastly undiagnosed, even though it affects tens of millions of Americans and is associated with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack or stroke, memory/performance problems, depression and higher accident rates. Through a comprehensive "continuum of care" approach that includes screening, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care, SleepQuest is able to achieve high compliance rates and successful medical and quality-of-life outcomes for Sleep Apnea patients. For more information, please visit www.SleepQuest.com.
