123 Representatives Ask for Change in O2 Reimbursement Rules

WASHINGTON — When it was all said and done last week, 123
members of the House of Representatives had signed on to a “Dear
Colleague”
letter to ask that CMS revise the post-36-month oxygen payment
rules.

The letter, authored by Reps. Tom Price, R-Ga.; Mike Ross,
D-Ark.; Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.; and Heath Shuler, D-N.C., urges
leadership of the powerful House Ways and Means and Energy and
Commerce committees to recommend to CMS that appropriate payments
for home oxygen therapy be continued through the beneficiary’s
period of medical need.

According to the letter:

“Home oxygen providers are more than just suppliers of
equipment, they are also front-line caregivers. They educate
patients on the proper use their equipment, answer patients’
questions, make repairs and adjustments, and ensure that patients
are receiving the prescribed amount of oxygen. These providers are
on the first line of care for Medicare beneficiaries who require
home oxygen therapy. They take calls at all hours and in rural
areas drive long distances to make sure that their patients receive
the care they need. Without reimbursements for these visits,
suppliers will not be able to afford to provide the current level
of care for many of these oxygen patients …

Without immediate changes to the Medicare oxygen policies,
patient care will be compromised and Medicare costs will
increase.”

Read the
full text of the letter.

See a complete list of
representatives who signed on to the letter, posted on the
AAHomecare Web site.

On Feb. 13, CMS issued a change request transmittal on payment
for repair, maintenance and servicing of oxygen equipment as a
result of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act
of 2008. Read a Medicare
Learning Network article related to CR6297.

CMS has also released information on the use of certificates of
medical necessity related to its new oxygen rules. View a PDF of
the
full message on the Jurisdiction A (NHIC) Web site.