CMS Gives Go-Ahead to Delivery of Home Oximetry Tests

BALTIMORE–On Friday, CMS notified providers that they can
deliver home oximetry tests to Medicare patients to help speed up
the process of qualifying beneficiaries for home oxygen
therapy.

According to a CMS program transmittal, DME suppliers may
deliver overnight pulse oximetry testing units to patients’
homes–so patients can self-test–if the tests are ordered by a
physician and performed under the direction and/or instruction of a
Medicare-approved Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility.

Last year, CMS began allowing home oximetry testing with some
devices such as the Power Ox, distributed by The Letco Companies,
Decatur, Ala., and Elyria, Ohio-based Invacare Corp.’s Web Ox, but
questions about delivery and pick-up of the units, along with
patient instruction, remained.

CMS’ new transmittal clarifies the policy, stating, “because the
DME supplier cannot access the test results, and is acting merely
as a courier of equipment, and is not involved in instructing the
beneficiary how to perform the test, this does not violate the
prohibition.” According to the transmittal, the IDTF must provide
written instruction to the beneficiary on proper operation of the
test equipment, and suppliers “may not create this instruction nor
participate in the conduct of the test.”

CMS also said it “does not intend to regulate the ownership of
either the testing unit or the technology used to transmit test
results.”

CMS requires that the test unit is sealed and tamper-proof so
results cannot be accessed by anyone other than the IDTF; however,
providers can download results from the testing unit to transmit to
the testing facility. The entire process can be completed in about
24 hours.

“This is perfect. It clarifies that suppliers are able to
[deliver home testing devices] to the applicant then transfer the
results electronically to a testing facility,” said Cara
Bachenheimer, vice president of government relations for
Invacare.

Providers have complained about long waits for a local IDTF to
qualify patients, leading to lost revenues since they are unable to
bill Medicare until their patients are qualified.