FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: CMS Office of Media Affairs
December 17, 2008 (202) 690-6145
MEDICARE CONSUMER ALERT
FOR BENEFICIARIES WHO USE OXYGEN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
A recent Medicare law changes how Medicare pays for oxygen equipment and
supplies, but beneficiaries will still have continued Medicare coverage for
oxygen equipment and related supplies. More information will be available in
the near future. For now, beneficiaries and their caregivers should know
three things:
1.
Beneficiaries will continue to get oxygen as long as they need it.
2.
Medicare is required to make 36 monthly payments to oxygen equipment
suppliers and suppliers must continue to provide beneficiaries with properly
functioning oxygen equipment and associated supplies after the three-year
payment period. The supplier is required to perform any repairs or provide
replacements at no cost to beneficiaries until the beneficiary has used the
equipment for 5 years. After 5 years, the supplier may replace the
equipment, but a new 36-month rental period will begin at that time.
3.
If a supplier refuses to comply with these rules, please notify us
immediately by calling:
1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or, for users of TTY, 1-877-486-2048
Your call will be referred to the appropriate place to be sure that you
continue to receive your oxygen without interruption.
More information is available at:
www.medicare.gov/Publications/pubs/pdf/11405.pdf
December 17, 2008 (202) 690-6145
MEDICARE CONSUMER ALERT
FOR BENEFICIARIES WHO USE OXYGEN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
A recent Medicare law changes how Medicare pays for oxygen equipment and
supplies, but beneficiaries will still have continued Medicare coverage for
oxygen equipment and related supplies. More information will be available in
the near future. For now, beneficiaries and their caregivers should know
three things:
1.
Beneficiaries will continue to get oxygen as long as they need it.
2.
Medicare is required to make 36 monthly payments to oxygen equipment
suppliers and suppliers must continue to provide beneficiaries with properly
functioning oxygen equipment and associated supplies after the three-year
payment period. The supplier is required to perform any repairs or provide
replacements at no cost to beneficiaries until the beneficiary has used the
equipment for 5 years. After 5 years, the supplier may replace the
equipment, but a new 36-month rental period will begin at that time.
3.
If a supplier refuses to comply with these rules, please notify us
immediately by calling:
1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or, for users of TTY, 1-877-486-2048
Your call will be referred to the appropriate place to be sure that you
continue to receive your oxygen without interruption.
More information is available at:
www.medicare.gov/Publications/pubs/pdf/11405.pdf