Schwarz, Price Ask Congress to Repeal DRA Oxygen Policy

WASHINGTON–Reps. Joe Schwarz, R-Mich., and Tom Price, R-Ga.,
have sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to other members of Congress
urging them to co-sponsor a bill that would repeal the oxygen
capped rental provision in the Deficit Reduction Act.

The congressmen, who are both physicians, introduced the bill
earlier this month (see HomeCare Monday, June 5).

The text of the letter follows:

“As physicians, we are writing you today to urge you to
cosponsor H.R. 5513, the Home Oxygen Patient Protection (HOPP) Act.
The HOPP Act aims to protect the nearly one million oxygen patients
in the Medicare program who receive oxygen therapy in their
homes.

“As you may know, a provision that was added to the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005 changes oxygen from continuous rental to a
rent-to-purchase model so the beneficiary will be required to
assume ownership of oxygen devices after 36 months of rental.
Congress did not have any time to consider the impact of this
policy through hearings or any other deliberative process before
the vote.

“Medical oxygen is a highly regulated drug that requires a
prescription. A number of organizations, including the American
Lung Association, have expressed serious concerns about the health
and safety aspects of the new policy, which will require Medicare
beneficiaries to own the complex oxygen equipment required for
their therapy.

“This very simple bill repeals the change in Medicare policy for
oxygen therapy enacted in the DRA.

“We are keenly interested in making Medicare more efficient and
less costly. However, policy that affects treatment for Americans
who require oxygen because they suffer from chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer or other
respiratory diseases must be considered from both a clinical as
well as an economic perspective. Congress has not considered the
clinical dimensions of this issue.”