Oxygen Talks Continue

ATLANTA — Providers and others on either side of the
debate over oxygen reform continued talks last week as the American Association
for Homecare reconvened its New Oxygen Coalition, whose members
crafted the initial 13-point
reform plan.

In conference calls held Tuesday and Friday, the NOC panel began
working through issues that have divided providers over H.R. 3220, the bill introduced by Rep. Mike Ross,
D-Ark., that would essentially reconstruct Medicare’s oxygen
benefit. Among those issues, the proposed legislation would require
a change of status from oxygen supplier to provider and
cost-reporting measures that some small providers oppose.

“Our goal is to reach agreement on issues of concern,” said the
association’s Tilly Gambill, manager, marketing and communications.
“AAH believes it is important we work through the issues and show a
united front.”

Wayne Stanfield, president and CEO of the National Association of
Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers, which opposes
AAHomecare on the bill, reported after the Tuesday call that “a
very constructive discussion resulted with compromises made on both
sides on some key issues.”

Some NOC members will carry on the discussion at a face-to-face
meeting scheduled tomorrow with another group of oxygen
stakeholders — clinical and patient organizations. To be
hosted by the American Lung Association in its Washington offices,
Stanfield said the meeting was suggested by Phil Porte, a leader of
the National Home Oxygen Patients Association (NHOPA) and the
National Association of Medical Directors in Respiratory Care
(NAMDRC).

In July, those three groups, along with the American College of
Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society, sent a letter
to Ross and other legislators saying they could not support
H.R. 3220.

Stanfield, co-owner of two DME companies and sole owner of two
other DME businesses, said he will lead a group of small providers
who have been invited to attend the meeting, including Mike
Calcaterra, RTP, of Norco, Billings, Mont., legislative chair of
Big Sky AMES; Jason Rogers of Care Medical, Athens, Ga., past
president of GAMES; Esta Wilman of Medi-Source Equipment and
Supply, Yucca Valley, Calif., a member of the PAOC; and David
Petsch of Petsch Respiratory, Martinez, Ga., managing director of
CSI:HME.

Providers Tom Ryan of Homecare Concepts, Farmingdale, N.Y., and
Joel Marx of Medical Service Co., Cleveland, will represent
AAHomecare at the all-day meeting along with the association’s Walt
Gorski, vice president, government relations.

According to Stanfield, “All of the current issues being debated
by the various sides will be topics during the meeting.”