Posts by schmidtpa
World Oxygen Day: National Health Groups Amplify Patient Voices to Stress Importance of Oxygen Reform
WASHINGTON, DC – (October 2, 2025) – Today, in honor of World Oxygen Day (October 2), leading patient, provider, and professional organizations are amplifying the voices of people on supplemental oxygen to stress the critical importance of oxygen reform and the urgent need for legislative action. These advocates, representing the 1.5 million people in the U.S. who rely…
Read MoreLung Patient Community Calls for Supplemental Oxygen Reform
Mary was diagnosed with a rare lung disease at 40 years old. Beverly loves playing tennis but struggles to do so with an oxygen tank. Sarah’s active lifestyle depends on access to liquid oxygen so that she can leave the house for more than a few hours. These stories are similar to many more shared on Capitol Hill for the American…
Read MoreCQRC OFFERS UP SOAR ACT AS WAY TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO NEW TECH
The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) shared a letter with the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee in advance of its hearing “Examining Policies to Enhance Seniors’ Access to Breakthrough Medical Technologies” to promote its SOAR Act. In the letter, the CQRC makes the case that the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (S. 1406/H.R. 2902) would: “Earlier…
Read MoreSOAR Act Would Help Individuals Relying on Oxygen Thrive
For many, going to the grocery store, stopping by the post office, or attending a college class barely requires a second thought. But for patients like me who rely on supplemental oxygen, these activities require careful consideration about how many tanks of oxygen I’ll need to bring and whether I can make it back home…
Read MoreIndustry Calls on Congress to Support SOAR Act
More than a dozen national healthcare organizations are pressing Congress to support the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, which would ensure Medicare patient access to life-saving oxygen therapy. Sixteen leading patient, provider and professional organizations are calling for Congressional support and cosponsorship for the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (S. 1406/H.R. 2902), bipartisan…
Read MoreNational Health and Advocacy Organizations Call on Congress to Support Life-Changing Oxygen Reform
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, 16 leading patient, provider and professional organizations are calling for support and co-sponsorship for the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (S. 1406/H.R. 2902), bipartisan legislation that would ensure people enrolled in Medicare who need supplemental oxygen can access the correct type and levels of oxygen needed for them to live full and active…
Read MoreNEXT ROUND OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING: COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES
VGM Group, the Council for Quality Respiratory Care and Cardinal Health at-Home Solutions have all shared the comments they submitted in response to CMS’s plans to resurrect the national competitive bidding program. The deadline for submitting comments was Friday, Aug. 29. Key recommendations in VGM’s comments include: Key points made by Cardinal Health at-Home Solutions: …
Read MoreCQRC CHAIR MENCHEN WANTS TO PROTECT PATIENT ACCESS AMID BIDDING, OTHER CONCERNS
As the new chair of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care, Robin Menchen has a lot of irons in the fire, including the SOAR Act, the new national coverage determination for non-invasive ventilation and the return of competitive bidding. Menchen, who is also president and CEO of Rotech Healthcare, spoke with HME News about the…
Read MoreINDUSTRY 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,…
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