NovaSom, Inc. Moves the Test for Obstructive Sleep Apnea from the Sleep Lab to the Home

15 Million Undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea Sufferers in the U.S.; 80% Clinically Appropriate for Home Sleep Testing

GLEN BURNIE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NovaSom, Inc., the leader in home sleep testing and cost-saving solutions for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) management, is helping major health insurers and the Federal government reduce significant economic waste associated with OSA in-facility sleep lab diagnosis. Home sleep testing is appropriate for the majority of adult OSA sufferers and costs a fraction of sleep lab testing with clinically equivalent results. The Company provides a unique payer program to rationalize spend by redirecting sleep testing to the home.

“OSA is one of the most serious and under-diagnosed medical conditions in the U.S., known to aggravate or even cause co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and heart failure,” said Richard Hassett, MD, CEO, NovaSom, Inc. “With sleep test utilization increasing dramatically due to the high prevalence of untreated OSA and related conditions, NovaSom identified an opportunity to leverage proven managed care utilization tools that enable payers to realize cost savings through home testing. With the addition of government insured OSA sufferers, we intend to continue to bring affordable, efficient, accurate and consumer-friendly OSA diagnosis to payers and patients alike.”

NovaSom has already significantly reduced OSA diagnosis costs for a broad array of national and regional payers by driving the awareness and availability of in-home testing, and access to NovaSom service is currently offered in-network to more than 165 million Americans. NovaSom also makes available its home sleep test to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; it is estimated that up to 36% of U.S. veterans may suffer from sleep apnea.¹

Brian Merritt, 34, Navy veteran and sleep apnea sufferer from Atlanta, Georgia recalls, “I found myself increasingly challenged by sleep problems, going to bed around 11:00 pm only to wake up gasping for breath two hours later and being tired all day. When I found out through the VA Hospital in Dublin, Georgia that I could test at home, I was highly interested, whereas the notion of a sleep lab and a bed that’s not my own was unappealing. Now the VA physician is guiding my OSA treatment, and already I’m sleeping far more soundly.”

Currently, an estimated 90% of all sleep tests are done in overnight facilities at great cost and inconvenience to the patient, and often with waiting lists and limited access in rural areas. "Sleep lab testing is necessary for certain patients, but it is estimated that approximately 80% of patients tested are suspected of having uncomplicated adult OSA that is appropriate for home testing. NovaSom offers a testing solution clinically equivalent to polysomnography testing for uncomplicated adult OSA, along with tools for the primary care community to help streamline OSA diagnosis,” said Dr. Bertrand de Silva, Medical Director, NovaSom, Inc.

The NovaSom^® Home Sleep Test (HST) is an alternative to in-facility testing, and has been shown to ensure a highly accurate diagnostic outcome. With the capacity for multiple nights of data, the NovaSom test can virtually eliminate the false-negative burden associated with one-night, in-facility sleep testing. NovaSom is the leader in OSA home sleep testing, with the first FDA-cleared system. The Company is fully accredited by the Joint Commission as an Ambulatory Care Sleep Diagnostic Center and is CMS approved as an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility.

For more information about NovaSom and home sleep testing, please visit www.NovaSom.com.

About OSA

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects 18 million Americans. However, a startling 85% of sufferers are undiagnosed and therefore untreated, generating significant medical expense for patients and the healthcare system. Nearly half of all OSA patients also suffer from one or more serious health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or heart failure that is either aggravated or caused by OSA. Treating OSA reduces medical expenses, improves patient quality of life and lowers associated health risks.

About NovaSom, Inc.

NovaSom, Inc. is the market leader in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) home testing, with the first FDA-cleared system. Its NovaSom^® Home Sleep Test and MediTrack^® portal have been shown to provide in-home, clinically equivalent diagnosis of OSA at a significantly reduced cost as compared to sleep lab testing. Through partnerships with major health insurers, the NovaSom HST is currently covered for more than 165 million U.S. lives. NovaSom also offers comprehensive service programs that are utilized by payers and physicians nationwide, including its unique Payer Solutions Program that enables health insurers to realize significant cost savings by leveraging proven managed care utilization tools by redirecting OSA testing to the home. NovaSom is accredited by the Joint Commission as an Ambulatory Care Sleep Diagnostic Center and is approved by CMS as an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility. For more information, visit www.NovaSom.com.

¹ P Samson et al. Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Response to Treatment of Veterans With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2005-2007. Prev Chronic Dis 2012; 9:110117

NovaSom, Inc.Isabel Portieles, 410-590-0443
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The Ruth GroupKimberly Muscara, 646-536-7011
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Source: NovaSom, Inc.