Posts by schmidtpa
31 National Health and Advocacy Organizations Urge to Congress to Pass Life-Changing Oxygen Reform This Year
WASHINGTON, DC – (November 10, 2026) – Today, 31 leading patient, provider and professional organizations sent a letter to Congress urging them to include the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (H.R. 2902/S.1406) in an end-of-year legislative healthcare package. The bipartisan legislation would ensure that Medicare beneficiaries who need supplemental oxygen can access the correct type and levels of oxygen to live…
Read MoreHow the SOAR Act Would Improve Access for Rural Communities
By Kathleen Haduck When I think back to my diagnosis of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) in 1995, I’m struck by how much has changed since then. This rare genetic condition affects each patient differently – for my sister, it caused liver cirrhosis, and for me it caused lung damage. When my sister urged me to…
Read MoreCQRC Applauds E&C Committee for New Report Detailing CMS’s Fraud Investigations and Recommendations for Ceasing ‘Pay and Chase’ Model
Improper payments highlighted in House E&C’s Majority Staff Report underscore the need for continued program integrity efforts and legislative solutions, including the SOAR Act WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) – a coalition of the nation’s six leading home oxygen therapy provider and manufacturing companies – today commended the House Committee on…
Read MoreHundreds of Patients and Advocates Call on Congress to Pass Life-Changing Oxygen Reform Before End of Year
WASHINGTON D.C. – (September 15, 2026) – With just months remaining in the 119th Congress, patients, caregivers and advocates across the country are calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (H.R. 2902/S.1406).This year alone, more than 300 people living with chronic conditions who rely on supplemental oxygen, and other community advocates,…
Read MoreCQRC Commends Trump Administration for Continued Fight Against Fraud
Adopting a template like the one included in the SOAR Act (S. 1406/H.R. 2902) would end the “pay and chase” model for addressing fraudulent entities, protect taxpayer dollars, and strengthen Americans’ access to care from legitimate suppliers The following statement is attributed to the Council for Quality Respiratory Care: CQRC firmly supports the Trump Administration’s…
Read MoreCQRC 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…
Read MoreMy daughter shouldn’t have to fight for oxygen | Opinion
Oxygen keeps my daughter Lily alive. Policy holds her back. As a pediatric intensive care unit nurse, I’ve spent my career caring for children with complex medical needs. I thought I understood what it means to navigate the health care system − until my young daughter Lily was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension: a serious condition…
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