Tag: Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC)
Respiratory organizations reiterate call for support of SOAR Act
October 2, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – In honor of World Oxygen Day today, 30 leading patient, provider and professional organizations have united to call on Congress to pass the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform or SOAR Act (S. 3821/H.R. 7829). This legislation seeks to ensure that individuals enrolled in Medicare who rely on supplemental oxygen can access the proper type and level of oxygen they need to live full, healthy lives. Among the organizations endorsing this reform are the American Association for Respiratory...
CQRC: ‘We are optimistic’
September 10, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – With limited time remaining in the 118th Congress, the Council of Quality Respiratory Care is thanking new supporters of the SOAR Act and calling on the rest of legislators to join them in restoring patient access to all supplemental oxygen modalities.
The new co-sponsors of S. 3821 and H.R. 7829 are:
Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Gary Peters, D-Mich.
Reps. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., Donald G. Davis, D-N.C., Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, Darren...
Jeff Barnhard commits to aligning industry’s message
June 28, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – Jeff Barnhard says he will bring a broad perspective to his new role as chairman of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care, thanks to a resume that includes roles at providers big and small.
“What I’ve seen that’s been common throughout all those different roles is there’s always a drive for patient care and patient excellence in care,” said Barnhard, who was named CEO of Lincare in 2023 and who previously worked at Praxair. “We continue...
In brief: CMS to end CHOPD, Lincare CEO to lead CQRC
June 19, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS has announced that payments under the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program for the Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) will conclude on July 12, 2024.
Launched in early March, the CHOPD payments were designed to ease cash flow disruptions experienced by some Medicare providers and suppliers, such as hospitals, physicians and pharmacists, due to the unprecedented cyberattack that took health care electronic data interchange Change Healthcare...
CQRC names Lincare CEO as new chairman
June 17, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care recently named Jeff Barnhard, CEO of Lincare, as chairman of the board. “It is an honor to serve as the next chairman of CQRC,” said Barnhard. “In this role, I look forward to advocating for reforms to protect the delivery of care to home respiratory patients and the stability of our profession. I am excited to engage with stakeholders across our diverse community to promote a greater understanding of our patient population...
Health care groups push for oxygen reform in new letter
June 5, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – A coalition of patient, provider and professional organizations called on Congress to support and cosponsor the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, legislation that seeks to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the correct type and levels of oxygen, in a new letter.
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, COPD Foundation, Council...
In brief: Walgreens creates new pharmacy biz, CQRC contributes to hearing, OIG contacts CGM providers
May 1, 2024HME News Staff
DEERFIELD, Ill. – AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy will become Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy effective Aug.1, 2024, in a move that Walgreens says will expand care for patients with complex, chronic conditions.
Walgreens will now have nearly 300 community-based specialty pharmacies nationwide, with more than 1,500 specialty-trained pharmacists, 5,000 patient advocacy support team members and dedicated Specialty360 teams that support all specialty conditions and therapies.
“With...
CQRC pushes SOAR Act as part of hearing
April 29, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Council for Quality Respiratory Care submitted a statement highlighting the need for Medcare to standardize the process for determining medical necessity for home oxygen therapy as part of a recent congressional hearing on “Examining How Improper Payments Cost Taxpayers Billions and Weaken Medicare and Medicaid.”
In the statement, the CQRC recommends CMS require Medicare contractors to use the clinical data element templates already created by the agency...
CQRC leads way on oxygen reform
April 12, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – The fact that the HME industry, physician groups and patient groups are all in alignment on what needs to be done to fix the Medicare oxygen benefit should help to propel a new bill forward, says Dan Starck, interim chair of the Council for Quality Respiratory Care.
The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act, introduced in late February in the Senate and in late March in the House of Representatives, has support from heavy hitters like the American Lung Association,...
In brief: HCD’s big buy, Brightree’s new leader, CQRC’s letter
October 18, 2023HME News Staff
RICHMOND, Va. – Home Care Delivered, a provider of diabetes, incontinence, wound, urological and ostomy supplies, has bought the DMEPOS supplier business unit of Medline Industries.
HCD says the strategic move will enhance its market presence, expand its geographical footprint and provide access to a broader customer base, while reinforcing its relationships with patients, health care plans and manufacturers.
"By integrating Medline's DMEPOS supplier assets, we are accelerating...