OXYGEN ALERT! PLEASE READ
Dear Oxygen Patient,
As your home medical equipment provider, I am writing you with some serious concerns.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have proposed changes in the way Medicare reimburses suppliers of oxygen equipment. If these changes become final TRIANGLE AFTERCARE may no longer be able to provide you, our patient, with all of the quality services that they have been accustomed to and deserve. Please read the following for important information.
What has changed?
Recent legislation has placed a “cap” or maximum allowed on the reimbursement rental payments we receive for your oxygen equipment. Specifically, in most cases Medicare will only make payments for your equipment for the first 36 months of service. While Medicare will continue to pay for your oxygen contents (refill of portable equipment), the reimbursement will no longer cover all of our services such as 24 hour emergency service, replacement supplies and our normal maintenance schedule. This affects ALL home medical equipment companies. Collectively, we have concern that the array of services that you have become familiar may be compromised. Our goal is to ensure that you receive optimal quality care.
How does this affect you, our patient?
· Seasonal traveling, or permanently relocating, may be more difficult due to your need of continued oxygen service outside of our service area. While the legislation requires that we make arrangements for Medicare beneficiaries to continue receiving the equipment at a new place of residence, we have concern that a new oxygen supplier may not be willing to provide you with the full services to which you are familiar. Depending of the length of time you have used your equipment, many of these suppliers may not accept you at all.
· The “24/7 on-call” services that we provide may no longer be available, or, we may be now required to charge you for these services.
· Your portable oxygen delivery may drop in frequency (e.g. weekly deliveries will go to monthly).
· The amount of portable oxygen tanks you receive (to enjoy your outside-of-home activities) may be reduced, and/or you may be required to pay out of pocket.
What can you do?
The changes noted above are not yet final. However, we only have a limited time to contact the elected officials that can affect this Medicare legislation. Please call your Congressional Representative in your home district and our two U.S. senators. Urge them to repeal this “36-month cap” on your oxygen services. Let them know that you are worried about how you receive care from your oxygen supplier. Contacting your legislators is not difficult. Dial the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask the operator to connect you to the office of your Congressional Representative or senator. If you do not know who your legislators are, simply give the switchboard operator your ZIP code.
Unfortunately, CMS has placed the DME Supplier Community in this position. Again, please contact your legislators today and ask them to repeal the 36-month oxygen cap to allow full continued full oxygen services. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 919-544-1336.
Sincerely,
The Staff of Triangle Aftercare
NC CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE
Raleigh: 859-5999
Durham: 688-3004
Chapel Hill: 967-7924
