Archive for July 2025
INDUSTRY URGES CMS TO SET CLEAR TIMELINE FOR NIPPV COVERAGE CHANGES
WASHINGTON – Four major health care organizations—AAHomecare, the COPD Foundation, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care, and VGM Government Relations—have formally requested that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) establish a clear implementation timeline for the new national coverage determination (NCD) for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). In a letter sent July 23,…
Read MoreOpinion: Congress must reform home access to medical oxygen
As a patient living with a chronic respiratory condition, the constant news about cutting government programs and improving efficiencies can honestly be a bit anxiety-provoking. While these are worthy goals, reforms should be implemented in a way that does not disrupt patient care—especially when it comes to medical oxygen. I am a longtime patient advocate,…
Read MoreCQRC SAYS BID PROGRAM COULD HARM ACCESS, UNDERSCORES NEED FOR SOAR ACT
WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) is concerned that Medicare’s proposed competitive bidding program could have substantial negative consequences on patient access and quality of care. The council says it’s time to pass reform that permanently removes the supplemental oxygen benefit from the program. “While we continue to review the proposed rule to…
Read MoreVOICES: Supplemental oxygen reform needed for stronger patient protections
Respiratory and pulmonary conditions can be complex, often misunderstood, and may even go undiagnosed for years. Having lived with the rare autoimmune disorder scleroderma since I was 19, I started experiencing breathing difficulties and a persistent cough in 2023. I even began sleeping outdoors to try and get more fresh air into my lungs. But…
Read MoreSupplemental Oxygen Leaders: CMS’s Proposed Competitive Bidding Policy Underscores Urgent Need for Medicare Oxygen Reform
Oxygen leaders warn proposed CBP could again result in artificially low rates, further limiting patient access to care across the country WASHINGTON – Following a preliminary review of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Updates, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC)…
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