Congress asks CMS to delay home oxygen cap
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Letter to acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems, signed by 90 members of Congress, seeks a delay in implementation of a final rule that would cap Medicare reimbursements to home oxygen suppliers at 36 months and cut payments by 9.5% (1"The Gray Sheet" Nov. 10, 2008, p. 8). The rule is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2009. According to the Dec. 11 letter, a dramatic reduction in reimbursement for home oxygen suppliers would "result in a decreased level of care for oxygen patients, and will potentially greatly increase the incidence of emergency room visits.