Ask your Representative or Senator to Co-Sponsor the SOAR Act.

Background:

Currently, Medicare covers oxygen as a durable medical equipment (DME) benefit for patients who experience oxygen desaturation, a lower level of oxygen in the blood due to lung disease or other chronic conditions. Supplemental oxygen can be delivered in several forms, including compressed or liquid oxygen, and portable or stationary oxygen. Since 2011, CMS implemented the competitive bidding process for supplemental oxygen, causing payment rates for all types of oxygen to drop substantially. Liquid oxygen is lightweight, portable and can deliver oxygen at higher levels for people with more advanced lung disease, which is almost impossible for patients to access.

The SOAR Act aims to address these challenges in accessing supplemental oxygen:

·     Removes all oxygen and oxygen equipment from Medicare competitive bidding;

·     Establishes a separate payment rate for liquid oxygen;

·     Creates a new add-on to the supplemental oxygen rate to reimburse for respiratory therapist services to Medicare beneficiaries; and

·     Establishes protections for Medicare beneficiaries who use supplemental oxygen.