Advocates Ask Congress to Prioritize Medicare Oxygen Modernization in Honor of National COPD Awareness Month
Supplemental oxygen leaders encourage lawmakers to advance SOAR Act to remove barriers to care for patients living with complex respiratory disease, including COPD.
WASHINGTON – In recognition of National COPD Awareness Month, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) is urging lawmakers in Congress to support comprehensive Medicare supplemental oxygen reform to stabilize the Medicare benefit and improve access to life-sustaining care for respiratory patients across the U.S. For older individuals living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), approximately 20% of patients depend on some sort of medical oxygen, underscoring the importance of access to quality supplies and services.
The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (H.R. 2902/S. 1406), bipartisan legislation to stabilize patient access by locking in savings for supplemental oxygen obtained from previous rounds of Medicare’s competitive bidding program and establishing of a separate payment rate for liquid oxygen to address chronic underfunding, is strongly supported the CQRC, patient advocacy groups, physicians, and medical societies. The SOAR Act also recognizes the vital role of respiratory therapists and requires the adoption of a documentation template to protect patients against fraud and abuse.
COPD is a chronic respiratory condition that affects nearly 16 million adults and is a top 10 cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COPD prevents airflow to the lungs, causing breathing problems and, at times, requiring supplemental oxygen, including compressed, liquid, or concentrated oxygen therapy. COPD is caused by swelling, irritation, and/or inflammation of the lungs that limit airflow into and out of the lungs, significantly affecting everyday breathing.
“For patients living with chronic diseases like COPD that inhibit their ability to breathe normally and maintain active, high-quality lives, reliable access to supplemental oxygen is crucial,” said Robin Menchen, CQRC Chair. “To ensure sustainable, reliable access to oxygen care in the home setting, CQRC urges Congress to prioritize the passage of the SOAR Act. We are continuing to work with our coalition partners and champions in Congress to build support for this patient-centered, commonsense Medicare reform.”
The bipartisan SOAR Act is supported by numerous respiratory and pulmonary organizations representing patients, providers, and suppliers who are committed to improving access to appropriate oxygen modalities for patients’ medical and quality-of-life needs, especially those requiring liquid oxygen.
For patients with complex respiratory conditions, including COPD or other diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, severe asthma, or lung cancer, using supplemental oxygen therapy can help reduce symptoms and enable individuals to live more active, independent lives without reliance on hospitals or nursing facilities. However, current Medicare policies often prevent patients from accessing medically necessary home respiratory treatments prescribed by their doctors.
To learn more about National COPD Awareness Month, click here.
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The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) is a coalition of the nation’s leading home oxygen therapy providers and manufacturing companies providing in-home patient services and respiratory equipment, including liquid oxygen, oxygen concentrators, and sleep therapy devices to Medicare beneficiaries who rely upon home oxygen therapy to maintain their independence and enhance their quality of life. Learn more at cqrc.org.
Media Contact:
Ellen Almond
202-271-0234