Apria Units Trying to Collect From Debtor

Subsidiaries of Costa Mesa-based Apria Healthcare Group Inc. are trying to force a Denver provider of outpatient services into bankruptcy to collect as much as $2.1 million in overdue bills, Apria executives announced Thursday.

Apria’s subsidiaries were hired in 1998 by Coram Resource Network Inc., a subsidiary of Coram Healthcare Corp. of Denver, to provide home medical services to patients referred to Coram by Aetna U.S. Healthcare. But when a dispute arose between Coram and Aetna, Coram stopped paying Apria and several other subcontractors, Apria executives say.

When negotiations failed to result in payment, Apria and other Coram creditors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Coram Resource Network in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, Apria said.

The Apria subsidiaries also have filed a lawsuit against Coram in Orange County Superior Court to compel the company to honor the contracts.

Apria, the nation’s leading home health care company, provides respiratory therapy, home infusion and home medical equipment at 320 branches. In late 1997, Coram Healthcare considered making a bid for Apria, which was struggling and seeking a buyer. Subsequently, Apria opted to remain independent.