CHEST Joins in Support for Bill to Ease Barriers to Oxygen Access

SEPTEMBER 2020

CHEST Joins in Support for Bill to Ease Barriers to Oxygen Access

CHEST joined 10 other organizations in signing a letter to US House Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) supporting HR 8158, the bill she and co-sponsor Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) introduced on September 4 to suspend the budget neutrality requirement for supplemental oxygen under current Medicare rules.

The letter describes the current barriers to the supplemental oxygen delivery systems, particularly liquid oxygen, that the Medicare competitive bidding program inadvertently introduced. The decrease in reimbursement resulted in lack of access and service to many Medicare beneficiaries whose quality of life is dependent on supplemental oxygen. While CMS has recognized the problem and made changes in payment policy, the budget neutrality requirements still hinder access. HR 8158 would provide administrative flexibility to CMS to restore Medicare beneficiary access in a meaningful way.

The following organizations are signatories to the letter on behalf of their patients:

Alpha-1 Foundation, American Association for Respiratory Care, American College of Chest Physicians, American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, COPD Foundation, Dorney-Koppel Foundation, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Respiratory Health Association, and US COPD Coalition.

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