Tag: Home Oxygen

 The respiratory market has undergone a series of shifts over the past two-and-a-half years, due to the pandemic and other issues, like supply chain disruptions. But now it appears that external forces have waned, creating a more stable environment for providers, respiratory manufacturers say.  Jim Worrell, chief commercial officer for Pinellas Park, Fla.-based Quality Biomedical, called the past couple of years “a roller coaster ride” as the industry continues to emerge...

WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care used a recent Request for Information from CMS to push for clear, objective clinical data elements for oxygen that are consistent with existing CMS-developed “templates” to ensure access to care for home respiratory patients.  In its comments on “Make Your Voice Heard: Promoting Efficiency and Equity Within CMS Programs, the CQRC also urges CMS to issue clear guidelines about what to expect after the COVID-19 public...

ST. LOUIS – Responsive Respiratory has created a new showroom floor display to broaden its Boost Oxygen portfolio. “The showroom display is a natural extension of our Boost Oxygen portfolio,” said Steve Bannon, president.  “We are pleased to offer providers a new eye‐catching tool to drive cash sales of Boost Oxygen for the holiday season.” The display, which features Boost’s signature green color, assembles quickly and easily. The sturdy corrugated floor...

NEW YORK – HME providers saw a 6.3% decline in their sleep patient volume in the last 12 months, but they expect double-digit growth in the next 12 months, according to the third quarter HME Sleep and Oxygen Survey from Needham.  The decline in sleep is mainly due to a shortage in flow generators. The eventual re-entry of Philips into the flow generator market appears likely to come mostly at the expense of smaller competitors rather than ResMed, according to the survey.  Respondents...

WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care applauded the 22 bipartisan House lawmakers for urging the CMS to protect patients’ access to home oxygen. In a letter, spearheaded by Reps. Terri Sewell, D.-Ala., and Larry Bucshon, R.-Ind., to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, they wrote in support of reforms to the home oxygen therapy benefit, and asked the agency to ensure that Medicare contractor documentation...

WASHINGTON – Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., have released a Dear Colleague letter asking CMS to adopt a clear, easy to understand template letter for home oxygen equipment and supplies that asks for specific, standardized information to ensure patient needs are met.  CMS in July 2021 issued a proposed national coverage determination for home oxygen therapy that removes the CMN requirement, but industry stakeholders believe the agency needs to determine...

WASHINGTON – CMS on Feb. 10 published a change request notifying the DME Medicare Administrative Contractors of the agency’s new national coverage determination for home oxygen therapy.  CMS notes the following changes are effective for claims with dates of service starting Sept. 27, 2021:  expansion of oxygen coverage for acute and chronic conditions;  expansion of coverage for short and long-term need (when hypoxemia exhibited);  the ability of the...

NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline opened five newly constructed distribution centers in 2021, with two more scheduled to be completed in 2022, as part of its $1.5 billion Healthcare Resilience Initiative.  The newest LEED-certified distribution center, set to open in the first quarter of 2022, is in Richmond Hill, Ga., less than 30 miles from the Port of Savannah. It will provide an additional 1.2 million square feet of space to stockpile supplies for customer distribution centers throughout...

YARMOUTH, Maine – Andrea Stark says the HME industry hasn’t experienced a coverage expansion like what’s in the new NCD for home oxygen therapy in recent history.  Stark, the head of reimbursement at MiraVista LLC, was a guest on a recent HME News in 10 podcast to talk about the ripple effects of the new NCD, which expands coverage to acute conditions and eliminates the CMN requirement, and how the DME MACs will interpret the new policy.  Caught by surprise  “CMS...

WASHINGTON – AAHomecare and the American College of Chest Physicians have released an Oxygen Toolkit to support oxygen users and clinicians.  “We’re excited to collaborate with the CHEST Foundation to educate patients with lung disease about oxygen therapy,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO. “Better-informed patients and caregivers will allow suppliers to more effectively support individuals who depend on home oxygen. These new guides are a terrific...