Bill to Restore Home Oxygen Equipment Rules Introduced

January 30, 2007

On January 25, Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) introduced HR 621 the Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act of 2007. This bill, if enacted, will rescind a Medicare provision enacted last year that now requires Medicare home oxygen patients assume ownership of their oxygen equipment after 36 months of renting the equipment.

Recognizing how detrimental this new provision could be to the elderly and sick Medicare beneficiary, some members of Congress introduced Senate and House bills requesting repeal of that provision.. Because this is a new Congress, the legislation must be reintroduced again, and, for the House of Representatives, that bill is HR 621.

If passed, HR 621 will restore the previous payment method for home oxygen equipment and relieve the Medicare beneficiary from having to assume responsibility for determining if their equipment is functioning properly, is in full working order, or is in need of servicing.

“The AARC was and is concerned that the patient ownership provision leaves many important questions unanswered,” said Cheryl West, AARC’s Director of Government Affairs. West and we concur with Congressman Price who said upon introduction of HR 621:"Home oxygen therapy is an extremely important and essential treatment for many of our nation’s seniors, Medical oxygen is a complicated treatment and requires a prescription. Forcing individuals to own the equipment necessary to deliver oxygen treatment raises serious health and safety concerns. Our seniors do not deserve this undue burden. H.R. 621 will help ensure a life-saving benefit and service for those in need.”