OXYGEN BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE HME News Staff
Updated 9:53 AM CDT, Mon April 1, 2024
WASHINGTON – A bill to reform the home oxygen therapy benefit has now also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, H.R. 7829, introduced by Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif.; Julia Brownley, D-Calif.; Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., would:
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Remove supplemental oxygen from Medicare’s competitive bidding program
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Permanently extend Medicare’s blended reimbursement rates
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Establish a separate payment system for liquid oxygen
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Reimburse for respiratory therapist services
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Mandate the use of a template for documentation
“CQRC applauds Representatives Valadao, Brownley, Bucshon, and Smith for their leadership on this important bill and calls upon Congress to support comprehensive oxygen reform,” said Dan Starck, interim chair of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care. “Doing so will help protect access to respiratory care for patients. CQRC is proud to advocate for this bill alongside patients, family advocates, physicians, and providers, and we urge lawmakers to pass the SOAR Act.”
Sens. Bill Cassidy, MD., R-La., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced a similar bill in the Senate earlier this year.