Senators join fight to eliminate oxygen cap
By HME News Staff
Updated Sun May 27, 2007
WASHINGTON - Two senators introduced a bill last week that would do away with the 36-month cap on Medicare oxygen payments and eliminate the requirement that equipment ownership transfer to the patient following the cap, AAHomecare reported Friday.
On May 24, Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., introduced S. 1484, a bill that would restore Medicare policy for oxygen therapy to what it was before the Deficit Reduction Act. The DRA made sweeping changes to oxygen policy, including the 36-month cap and ownership-transfer.
S. 1484 is a companion bill to the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act, which was introduced in the House Jan. 22. H.R. 621 has 83 co-sponsors. The two bills are identical. They reflect growing support for a return to a patient-centered oxygen policy and signal to Congress that further erosion of oxygen reimbursement is unacceptable, according to AAHomecare.
The House and Senate versions of the legislation are top priorities for AAHomecare. The association urges every stakeholder to contact their representatives to express support for these bills, along with the competitive bidding bills, H.R. 1845 and S. 1428.
With Congress in recess until June 4, now is a good time to contact congressional district offices and meet with members in their home districts, AAHomecare stated.
For talking points, visit www.aahomecare.gov. To look up contact information for your representatives, visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov.
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