LAKE FOREST, Calif., Oct. 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Apria Healthcare Group Inc. (NYSE:AHG), the nation's leading home healthcare company, today commended the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for endorsing the need for an appropriate dispensing fee starting in 2005 in conjunction with the delivery by Medicare Part B pharmacy providers of inhalation therapies and patient support services to seniors. Such inhalation therapies are commonly prescribed to treat people who suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
"As one of the largest home inhalation therapy providers in the country, Apria Healthcare and its clinicians view first-hand how patients use these therapies to manage their chronic pulmonary conditions in the home, which is certainly the most low-cost setting possible," said Lawrence M. Higby, Apria's Chief Executive Officer. "We applaud the responsible leadership and policy work of Mark McClellan, MD, CMS Administrator; Leslie Norwalk, Deputy Administrator; and Herb Kuhn, Director; as well as the Government Accountability Office (GAO), congressional leaders and members of the Administration who also recognized the need for the dispensing fee. We appreciate the outreach efforts of CMS and the Administration to better understand all of the patient care and provider cost issues associated with this very important decision.
"Although we await the publication of the final rule later this month, we are optimistic that the service fee endorsement by CMS today ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will continue to have access to care and these drugs in 2005," Mr. Higby added. "We look forward to working with CMS leaders as they finalize the regulations, and are encouraged by the new spirit of open communication and data exchange demonstrated by healthcare policymakers during this process."
Apria Healthcare operates over 470 respiratory/medical equipment branches serving patients in all 50 states, as well as 31 home infusion pharmacies and a number of inhalation therapy pharmacies. The Company serves patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and managed care organizations nationwide.
This release may contain statements regarding anticipated future developments that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Results may differ materially as a result of the risk factors included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other factors over which the Company has no control.