At the expense of those who pay premiums: Lung League makes millions from ventilators

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It is a machine that can save lives. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea, i.e. suddenly stopping breathing while sleeping, are dependent on a ventilator at night. These CPAP devices (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) are often rented; the market leader is the Swiss Lung League.

For the non-profit organization, leasing is a multi-million dollar business, according to research by newspapers from Tamedia.

Many patients need the device for a longer period of time, often years. It would be much cheaper for them if they bought it instead of renting it. The newspapers report about a man whose health insurer charged more than 6,000 francs in rental costs. The purchase price: approximately 1,000 francs.

Another affected person says he really had to fight with his health insurer to buy the device instead of renting it – even though the health insurer claims to have saved R30,000 from it.

It is better to rent rather than sell

An evaluation by health insurer CSS, the largest basic insurer in Switzerland, shows that more than 38,000 policyholders have rented a CPAP machine in the past 12 years. A purchase was only billed about 2,800 times.

The devices can be purchased from doctors and medical companies. However, according to the report, the Lung League is the largest player in CPAP machine rentals. The rental of home therapy equipment would represent up to 80 percent of the cantonal associations’ revenues.

For example, the Aargau Lung League earned 8.8 million francs in 2022 from the rental of ventilators. The lung competitions sometimes receive the devices at a special price, which makes the rental even more lucrative.

Negotiations are ongoing

The Lung League emphasizes that all profits will be used for club purposes. She is defending herself against accusations of making excessive profits from the Tamedia newspapers. The decision to purchase or rent a device is not made by her, but in consultation between the patient and the doctor. Rental prices are also determined by the Federal Office of Public Health.

However, the regional lung leagues recommend the rental model because it allows patients to receive advice and active care.

Negotiations between the CSS and the Lung League have been going on for years – so far without any results. Premium payers are footing the bill for the billing madness. (lha)

Source:Blick