CLEARWATER, Fla.--Respiratory giant Lincare has acquired certain assets of Home Oxygen 2-U, a Lincare spokesman confirmed last week.

According to the Lawrence, Kan., Journal-World, about 70 employees at Home Oxygen's call center in Lawrence were laid off, though workers were told that Lincare may have new positions opening up during the next several months.

Home Oxygen 2-U--launched by Bill Kennedy, who founded Rotech Healthcare and later sold it in 1997--has drawn revenue from direct-to-consumer cable TV advertisements offering home oxygen filling systems, the newspaper reported.

In other news, Lincare has announced plans to open a billing center in North Sioux City, Iowa, that could eventually employ up to 40 people, the Sioux City Journal reported.

Lincare officials had no further comment on either transaction.