Tag: Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act (SOAR)
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...
Oxygen stakeholders plan awareness day
September 30, 2024HME News Staff
MIAMI – The second annual World Oxygen Day, led by the COPD Foundation and supported by Nonin, will be held Oct. 2. The day brings together more than a dozen global patient advocacy organizations and professional societies to recognize and raise awareness of the importance of oxygen and oxygen therapy. “Oxygen is a fundamental need for human life, but our global health care infrastructure does not always reflect that,” said Mike Hess, MPH, RRT, RPFT, senior director of advocacy...
In brief: Apple Watch, SOAR Act, Abbott Lingo, MAC consolidation
September 11, 2024HME News Staff
CUPERTINO, Calif. – Apple on Sept. 9 unveiled Apple Watch Series 10, which among other things, features a new sleep apnea feature.
Building on the intelligent health features already available to track key overnight metrics such as heart rate, respiratory rate and wrist temperature, the watch’s new sleep apnea feature can help identify signs of sleep apnea, the company says, by using the accelerometer to monitor small movements at the wrist that are associated with interruptions...
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...
In brief: Oxygen reform, POC efficacy, O&P WOY
June 7, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – A coalition of patient, provider and professional organizations calls 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...
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...
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,...
Oxygen bill introduced in House
April 1, 2024HME News Staff
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:
Remove supplemental oxygen from Medicare’s competitive bidding program
Permanently extend Medicare’s blended reimbursement rates
Establish...