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Oxygen providers call new Medicare rules “wholly inadequate”
ARLINGTON, VA—Medicare’s new regulations for providing home oxygen therapy to seniors are alarming and wholly inadequate, according to the American Association for Homecare. The Association expects that approximately one-third of all patients who rely on the Medicare home oxygen benefit will be affected by the new rules, which address the 36-month cap on home oxygen payments.
“Once again, CMS has discounted the important role that homecare providers play in the provision of care to Medicare patients on home oxygen therapy,” said Tyler J. Wilson, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare.
Medicare’s new oxygen payment rules and responsibilities were included as part of the final 2009 physician fee schedule that will require oxygen providers to arrange for continued care to patients moving outside of the provider’s service area and mandate routine maintenance of oxygen systems.
