Homecare Advocates Fight Drastic Shift in Medicare Policy

January 23, 2006

Congress is nearing a critical vote that would dramatically change Medicare policy for certain home medical equipment items, including CPAP and oxygen equipment.

The budget reconciliation bill, S. 1932, also called the Deficit Reduction Act, eliminates Medicare beneficiaries' option to continue to rent home medical equipment such as CPAPs. The bill eliminates the capped-rental category, requiring transfer of title for the equipment to the beneficiary after 13 months and ending the maintenance fee. The bill also makes home oxygen equipment a rent-to-purchase item, forcing transfer of ownership to beneficiaries after 36 months. 

While beneficiaries currently have the option of buying this home medical equipment, most choose to rent in order to ensure proper ongoing care and service through the provider.  The automatic transfer of oxygen equipment to the beneficiary raises numerous patient-safety questions since medical oxygen is a prescription drug.

The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) and numerous other homecare provider and patient stakeholders nationwide urge a vote “NO” on the bill. 

The vote final vote on this bill is scheduled for February 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Additional details about this issue is on the front page of the AAHomecare website at www.aahomecare.org. At the bottom of the frontpage of AAHomecare web is a Zip Code look up system that allows you to find out how to contact your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.