The American Sleep Apnea Association Receives Unprecedented ResMed Donation That Will Save Lives

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) today announced that ResMed (NYSE: RMD), a leading manufacturer of devices for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, has donated more than 10,000 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices to the ASAA CPAP assistance program (CAP).

CAP is just one of the support programs offered to patients by the ASAA. It provides a package containing a CPAPdevice, tubing, filters and mask to patients who otherwise would not be able to afford this vital and lifesaving equipment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapy.

"A donation of this magnitude is unprecedented," said ASAA Executive Director Tracy R. Nasca. "The number of patients that will be touched is truly amazing; their quality of life will be improved, but more importantly, lives will be saved. We are so grateful to ResMed for recognizing the need and providing the solution."

"Making CPAP accessible to those who are in need helps us in our mission to improve the lives of those who are challenged by OSA and other sleep and respiratory conditions," said ResMed Chief Executive Officer Mick Farrell. "We're grateful that the ASAA has a program that allows us to deliver donated devices to those who need them most."

CAP was launched in 2010 as the ASAA became aware of the many sleep apnea patients who were out of work, without insurance, or facing high deductibles and thus, who through no fault of their own, simply could not afford CPAP therapy equipment. The ASAA has relied on the public and the commercial sleep industry to help with equipment donations to the program.

"Supply has always been our challenge, but thanks to ResMed, we will now be in a position to increase the reach of our program," said Nasca. Physicians and social workers can refer patients to apply for assistance at www.sleepapnea.org where forms are provided. Inquiries may be sent to CAP@sleepapnea.org.

Another support program of the ASAA is the A.W.A.K.E. network. A.W.A.K.E. stands for Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic. Its education and support groups are available in nearly every state, helping people face to face and free of charge. A.W.A.K.E. gives people with sleep apnea the educational tools to help manage their own diagnosis successfully.

"Our goal is to grow the number of A.W.A.K.E groups across the United States and incorporate a disaster relief program. We want to partner with groups like the American Red Cross to coordinate efforts to reach out to sleep apnea patients in dire need when disasters strike such as floods, tornados or hurricanes that devastate their communities. The ResMed donation will help the ASAA move forward to achieve that goal," Nasca said.

Nasca encourages other corporations, foundations and individuals to provide product or funding for the masks, tubing and humidifiers needed to complement and complete the package for OSA therapy. Interested parties may contact Nasca at tnasca@sleepapnea.org or 331-234-0091.

About The American Sleep Apnea Association: The American Sleep Apnea Association, founded in 1990, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes public awareness of sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing, works for continuing education and improvements in treatments for this potentially devastating and life threatening sleep disorder. It supports and advocates for the best interests of sleep apnea patients and their families to improve quality of life. www.sleepapnea.org

About ResMed:
ResMed changes lives by developing, manufacturing and distributing medical equipment for treating, diagnosing, and managing sleep-disordered breathing, COPD, and other chronic diseases. We develop innovative products and solutions to improve the health and quality of life of those who suffer from these conditions, and we work to raise awareness of the potentially serious health consequences of untreated sleep-disordered breathing. For more information on ResMed, visit www.resmed.com. 

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SOURCE ResMed Inc.; American Sleep Apnea Association