CQRC Commends House E&C Health Subcommittee for Highlighting Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act at Jan. 8 Hearing
E&C lawmakers set to examine policies for improving Medicare payment and access for American seniors includes bipartisan bill to reform the program’s oxygen benefit.
WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) commends the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, including House E&C Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health Morgan Griffith (VA-09), for holding a January 8 Legislative Hearing on Improving Medicare Payment Policies for Seniors. Thursday’s hearing is scheduled to include discussion of the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, bipartisan legislation supported by patients, providers, suppliers, and a coalition of advocates that aims to enhance supplemental oxygen access for Medicare beneficiaries. The comprehensive reform legislation includes provisions to address barriers to care for individuals who need medical oxygen to manage their respiratory and pulmonary diseases.
The SOAR Act (H.R. 2902), introduced last year by Representatives David Valadao (R-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Gabe Evans (R-CO) in the U.S. House, would improve the ability of providers and suppliers to reach patients with complex respiratory and pulmonary conditions by permanently removing supplemental oxygen from Medicare’s competitive bidding program and extending Medicare’s blended payment rates while establishing clear patient protections and improving access to oxygen equipment that has been historically inaccessible, including liquid and high-flow oxygen modalities.
“We are very pleased that the committee is prioritizing Medicare reforms to support patient access to care, particularly the SOAR Act and its focus on improving payment policies and strengthening access to supplemental oxygen supplies and services for the nearly 1.5 million seniors who depend on home-based oxygen therapy,” said Robin Menchen, Chair of the CQRC. “The CQRC will continue to work with lawmakers and our coalition partners to build support for the SOAR Act to reform the Medicare oxygen benefit, stabilize reimbursement, and increase protections for beneficiaries so they can access the right oxygen delivery modality they medically require.”
The CQRC also supports the extension of the 75/25 blended payment rate for Medicare reimbursement of durable medical equipment (DME) to support access in rural and other areas outside of densely populated urban areas.
The CQRC encourages the Subcommittee to work with the Congress and stakeholders to stabilize supplemental oxygen reimbursement rates and improve Medicare access to medical oxygen for seniors living with chronic respiratory and pulmonary conditions.
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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.
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Ellen Almond
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