WASHINGTON - A bill to repeal the 36-month cap on Medicare oxygen reimbursement got a boost in early July when various grassroots efforts garnered in additional co-sponsors.
The Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act, or H.R. 5513, now has 34 co-sponsors.
Recent grassroots efforts have included a "Dear Colleague" letter from the bill's sponsors, Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Mich., and Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga.; AAHomecare's congressional fly-in, which featured an Oxygen Patient and Technology Fair and an oxygen patient call-in; and an AAHomecare-commissioned study (see related story).
In addition to repealing the cap, H.R. 5513 would restore ownership of oxygen equipment to providers. Currently, providers are required to transfer the title of equipment to beneficiaries after three years. The cap was passed earlier this year as part of the Deficit Reduction Act.
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