A service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) has partnered with a Minneapolis medical technology company to help provide a sleep apnea treatment device to veterans and federal healthcare systems in the United States.
On Thursday, Lovell Government Services Inc. announced its new partnership with Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
Through the collaboration, Inspire’s implanted medical device system will be listed on major government contract vehicles (purchase avenues) which Lovell says will easily allow government customers to order the technology for their patients.
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Inspire has created the first FDA-approved sleep apnea treatment device to help combat the negative impact of the disease. The device gets implanted in an individual during a short medical procedure and helps stimulate the airways during sleep enabling oxygen to flow more freely without the uncomfortable use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
Patients simply activate the device via a handheld remote before and after sleep and government customers will now be able to purchase the technology through government vehicles such as the Department of Defense’s distribution and pricing agreement (DAPA), the Department of Veterans Affairs federal supply schedule (FSS) and the Defense Logistics Agency’s electronic catalogue (ECAT).
Lovell says the addition of the Inspire device to ECAT is particularly significant because it will create a new procurement channel for government customers dealing with orders that are time-sensitive or exceed credit card limits.
Struggling with #CPAP? Inspire works inside your body while you sleep. If you want to find out if Inspire may be right for you, visit https://t.co/RlidSupnaH pic.twitter.com/Ea9IeFeebX
— Inspire Sleep Apnea Innovation (@inspiresleep) May 25, 2021
Lovell claims to be a trusted vendor for many government agencies such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Indian Health System and the Military Health System. The company is a “service-disabled veteran-owned small business” (SDVOSB) that has partnerships with pharmaceutical, surgical and dental companies that take pride in serving military and veteran patient populations, acquiring government contracts and increasing their overall revenue.
Lovell cites that according to the Veterans Administration (VA), approximately 1.3 million Americans enrolled in the VHA were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 2019. The SDVOSB says that veterans are more susceptible to sleep apnea than average people because of the difficulties and trauma they encounter during their service and that PTSD and sleep apnea can have negative “cyclical and compounding effects on each other.”
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“Lovell is honored to work with Inspire to assist with government access. This distribution partnership gives VA and Department of Defense (DoD) physicians yet another way to procure Inspire’s technology for their patients,” said Chris Lovell, chief executive officer of Lovell and retired major from the United States Marine Corps.
“Many Veterans and service members with obstructive sleep apnea feel they must choose between risky, disruptive sleep or an uncomfortable CPAP mask. Inspire provides another option for certain individuals with OSA that are unable to tolerate CPAP.”
Lovell has a mission to serve veterans and military communities through the integration of high-grade medical products into the federal market.
“As we strive to make the Inspire therapy system available to all Veterans, active military members and their families, we are excited about our partnership with Lovell Government Services,” said Tim Herbert, president and CEO of Inspire.
“Lovell is working hard to ensure that Inspire is available through the right federal contracting platforms as well as providing excellent service to our VA and Military customers.”
