“With the transfer of ownership of the medical oxygen
equipment to the patient, important preventive maintenance mandated
by manufacturers and currently performed by oxygen providers shifts
to the patient. This increases the risk of patients self-medicating
or not getting enough oxygen due to equipment malfunction. This is
an unreasonable burden and worry for seniors who are very
ill.”
— Sen. Pat Roberts, R.-Kan., who recently introduced
S. 3814 to repeal provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act that cap
Medicare oxygen rental at 36 months, then transfer equipment
ownership to the beneficiary. The bill — a companion to H.R.
5513, also introduced to prevent the DRA's oxygen cuts —
would restore ownership of oxygen equipment to providers.
“The home will be as important a health care facility
as physician offices, clinics and hospitals.”
— Harry Wang, of Parks Associates, in a white paper that
predicts the digital home health market, estimated at $461 million
in 2005, could hit $2.1 billion by 2010.
Mississippi is the heaviest state, with an adult obesity rate of 29.5 percent. Colorado is the lightest, at 16.9 percent.
Source: Trust for America's Health
72 million Projected population of people age 65 years and older in the U.S. by 2030, up from 35 million in 2000
Source: U.S. Census
65% of people in a 2005 national survey approved the idea of the U.S. government guaranteeing health insurance for all citizens, even if it means raising taxes.
Source: The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
6 Rank of diabetes among leading causes of death in the U.S. in 2004
Source: Centers for Disease Control
13 million baby boomers are caregivers for their parents, a number that will keep growing over the next decade as the youngest boomers reach age 50 and beyond.
Source: Campbell-Ewald Health
