Hundreds 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,…

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CQRC 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…

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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…

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CQRC Joins Coalition of Stakeholders Urging CMS to Clarify Guidance on Continuing Use Criteria for HMV and RAD Equipment 

With deadline looming, groups urgently request clarification on the National Coverage Decision (NCD), citing risks to patients’ access to respiratory equipment WASHINGTON, DC –The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today joined four stakeholder groups in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urgently calling for clarifying guidance for the continuing…

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In Response to CRUSH Initiative, CQRC Offers Concrete Solutions to Preserve Program Integrity and Protect Patient Access

The CQRC submitted comments to CMS’s Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative, proposing opportunities to eliminate fraud and waste WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) submitted formal comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Request for Information (RFI) on the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare…

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CQRC: Medicare’s Oxygen E-Template Offers Available Solutions to Combat Fraud & Abuse 

As E&C lawmakers examine policies to detect, prevent, and fight fraud impacting Medicare beneficiaries, CQRC calls for immediate adoption of the oxygen template for e-prescribing. WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) commends the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, including E&C Chair Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Subcommittee Chair John Joyce,…

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CQRC Commends CMS for Locking in Existing Savings for Supplemental Oxygen and CPAP Devices by Excluding Them from Next Round of Competitive Bidding

Supplemental oxygen leaders urge Congress to pass the bipartisan Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act to address outstanding patient access barriers WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) commends the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for not including supplemental oxygen and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and supplies in the next round of Medicare’s Competitive…

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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…

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CQRC Commends W&M Health Subcommittee Leaders for Chronic Disease Care Hearing, Underscoring Need for Medicare Oxygen Modernization

In a letter to the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, the CQRC applauds the Health Subcommittee’s focus on chronic disease management and urges passing the bipartisan SOAR Act. WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today sent a letter to the U.S. House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Vernon Buchanan and Ranking Member Lloyd…

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New PRI Issue Brief Supports Reforms to Medicare’s DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Process for Improved Quality and Sustainability

The Pacific Research Institute’s recent report on CMS’s reimbursement system details flaws in Medicare’s competitive bidding methodology, including supply shortages, and outlines needed reforms to ensure Americans’ access to care. WASHINGTON, DC –– A issue brief published by the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) this week highlights flaws in the Centers…

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