“Under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Congress
merely considered the economic issues of home oxygen therapy, and
not the clinical aspects. This legislation to repeal this provision
of the DRA is in the best interest of patients, the medical
community and Medicare.”
— Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., minority whip in the House
(shown with a local constituent at a Medicare seminar). In January,
Price reintroduced the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act, which
would repeal the Deficit Reduction Act's 36-month rental cap on
Medicare home oxygen and restore ownership of equipment to
providers. H.R. 621, its official designation, is a carbon copy of
legislation introduced last year by Price, a physician, and former
Michigan Rep. Joe Schwarz, also a physician.
“Isn't this the United States? We are supposed to be
innocent until proven guilty, and that's not what is going on
here.”
— Joan Cross, president of C&C Homecare in
Bradenton, Fla., current president of the NSC board and former
president of the Florida Association of Medical Equipment
Suppliers, on letters the National Supplier Clearinghouse recently
sent to some 200 HME providers in the Miami area suspending their
provider numbers. Cross said most providers could not afford to
defend themselves against such actions, many of which, if not all,
were without appropriate cause, according to attorneys and
providers.
Tennessee has the highest rank in the country for
prescription drug use, with residents averaging 17.3 prescriptions
per person compared to the U.S. average of 11.3 prescriptions.
However, the state ranks 47th in health status for its
citizens.
Source: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
15% of people on Medicare (nearly 7 million in 2006) are
under age 65 and permanently disabled.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
43% of people surveyed who had assets of $500,000 to
$999,999 said health care costs would ultimately consume a major
portion of their financial assets, up significantly from the 36
percent who expressed the same concern a year ago.
Source: PNC Wealth Management
$22.7 billion The money Medicaid spent to help poor,
frail elders stay in their own homes in 2005, an amount that has
tripled since 1996.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
