Archive for August 2026
CQRC Commends CMS for Ending DME Enrollment Moratorium While Encouraging Medicare Program Reforms
The expiration of the six-month Medicare moratorium supports continued access to trusted durable medical equipment (DME) providers and the high-quality respiratory care WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) commends the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to allow the six-month moratorium announced in February on certain DME providers, including respiratory care…
Read MoreLiving with Alpha-1 and supplemental oxygen: Why we need the SOAR Act | Guest column
I live with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1)—a rare, progressive condition that affects the lungs and liver. While very few people have heard of Alpha-1, it has an enormous impact on individuals and families across Virginia. Following years of exposure to toxins like asbestos through my family’s work, my lungs were extremely compromised. When I was…
Read MoreCongress should protect patient access to oxygen through Medicare reforms
I’ve spent years caring for patients battling severe lung disease as a pulmonologist and sleep specialist, prescribing supplemental oxygen countless times and witnessing the life-changing impact it has on patients and families. I believe anyone who needs oxygen therapy at home should be able to access it—but this, sadly, is not the case for all…
Read MoreHow the SOAR Act Can Help Patients Breathe Easier
After having COVID-19 in 2021, I began experiencing consistent shortness of breath. Everyday activities like gardening started to leave me winded. Numerous trips to the emergency room and doctors’ visits concluded everything from anxiety to longterm-COVID. Until finally, a simple breathing test offered a life-altering diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1), a…
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