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AAHomecare Lists Problems with Proposed Oxygen Rule
Oct 2, 2006 2:38 PM
ALEXANDRIA, Va.--The American Association for Homecare recently outlined its top concerns with CMS' proposed implementation of new oxygen policy (see HomeCare Monday, July 31). The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which was issued in July, implements the 36-month capped rental provision in the Deficit Reduction Act that transfers equipment ownership to patients and calls for overhauling the oxygen payment system, creating new categories and fees. The comment period on the draft rule closed last week.
In comments submitted to CMS Sept. 25, AAHomecare said the proposed rule:
--does not comply with the congressional requirement that changes oxygen payments to budget-neutral;
--compounds the flawed oxygen policy enacted by the DRA because it does not recognize the full array of professional, administrative and other non-equipment costs of furnishing oxygen to Medicare beneficiaries; and
--runs counter to the goals of preserving beneficiary choice of equipment and modality, high-quality care and continued development of new oxygen technology.
The association recommended that CMS:
--reallocate the monthly payment amounts for oxygen equipment to support portable oxygen contents and the continuing development of new oxygen technologies, after CMS revises reimbursement policy to make it budget-neutral;
--revise payments based on accurate and complete data on the current costs of providing oxygen therapy to Medicare beneficiaries in the home; and
--delay implementation of the changes in the proposed rule and grandfather those beneficiaries currently on oxygen to promote a smooth transition to the new policies, avoid disruptions, minimize impact on providers and allow CMS to work with stakeholders to revise the new methodology.
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