Portable Oxygen: A User's Perspective

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NEW - Motoring with Oxygen (This presentation is now also viewable online)


July 6, 2010 - Medicare Update

Beginning Jan 2011, competitive bidding will replace the current "standard fee" system in selected areas. This was briefly implemented in 2008, then stopped by congress with the passing of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. This marks the beginning of implementing Medicare's competitive bidding program, which will be used to determine the price Medicare pays for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies

The cuts will go into effect at the beginning of 2011 in the following cities: Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Dallas; Kansas City, Mo.; Miami; Orlando; Pittsburgh; and Riverside, Calif.

It is anticipated that it will result in a 31-32% reduction in the rates for the DME suppliers.

The American Association for Homecare, which opposes competitive bidding, said the new bidding program relies on "suicide bids" that will drive DME suppliers out of business.


Medicare also claims that the new competitive bidding program, which will eventually expand to 91 regions in mid-2012, will help lower costs of the system by32 percent. Since patients pay on a percentage basis (up to 20 percent of the costs) , if Medicare sets lower prices than the consumer also pays less.

 



January 6, 2010

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that passengers needing medical oxygen now have the option of using four additional portable oxygen concentrators while traveling, bringing the total number of approved units to 11.

Added today:

  • DeVilbiss Healthcare’s iGo
  • International Biophysics Corporation’s LifeChoice
  • Inogen’s Inogen One G2
  • Oxlife’s Independence Oxygen Concentrator
  • The FAA previously approved these portable oxygen concentrators for use:

  • Delphi Medical Systems RS-00400
  • Invacare XPO2
  • AirSep Lifestyle
  • AirSep Freestyle
  • Inogen One
  • SeQual Eclipse
  • Respironics EverGo
  • Full FAA Press release:
              http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11083&print=go


    Buying or Renting a Personal Oxygen Concentrator?

    Compare 12 different models and their features.

    Revised 11/15/2011

    CLICK Here for PDF

     

    New Guidelines for Flying:
    Starting May 13, 2009 - there are some new rules - 2 most important ones:

    1) You will need your O2 prescriptions to be written within 10 days of your 1st leg of your trip.  Note: You do not need new prescriptions for the balance of a trip. Some airlines will accept a Doctors note (on letterhead) with specifics.

    2) You will be required to carry enough POC batteries to last 150% of predicted length of your flight.

    Be sure to check with your airline well in advance
     

    Featured Article:

    New Oxygen Guidelines from Medicare

    As a result the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, there were several changes effecting services on or after January 1, 2009. The changes are being made to comply with the Act's requirements, but also take into account the patients needs for life-sustaining oxygen.

    CLICK HERE


    This website was created by Dr. Peter Wilson, a COPD patient receiving Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT). Though retired, he had a Ph.D. and a background in instructional development. He created this website to help patients and health care professionals deal with the many complex issues of oxygen therapy. His detailed and in-depth analysis and information on oxygen therapy qualified Dr. Wilson to be considered an authority in this field. The value of this website as a resource both for patients and for health care providers will continue, not simply in a historical nature keeping the original format and information, but as an active source of current information, focusing primarily on the practical aspects of oxygen therapy.
     
     
     

    Best Web Site!

    The American Thoracic Society (ATS) selected this web site as "Best Web Site" in its Pulmonary Rehabilitation category with a four-star rating.

    Star star star star
      According to ATS, a 4-star site, "is an excellent site with much useful information. It should be worthy of being 'book-marked.' Most of the subcategory ratings are good to excellent. It may be the best in its field. All of the material is reliable, authoritative, current and useful."

    Using this Web Site

    Select the topic you want by using

    • the buttons (above).
    • the index (below), or
    • use the Google search engine.
    Google
      Web www.portableoxygen.org

    Index

    Oximeters

    Oximeters: Part 1 of 2
    Oximeters: Part 2 of 2  
    Transtrachael Oxygen (TTO2) "Scoop"

      Oxygen Without "Nose Hoses"
    LifeStyle Issues
    NEW New Medicare Guidelines for Oxygen
      Information on Flying When You Have Lung Disease

    Why Product Prices Not Shown Here?

    Understanding Your Breathing

    The Good, Bad, and Ugly About Oxygen Therapy

    Replacing Cannulas, Tubing & Other Disposables

    Mobility for the Oxygen User
     
    Options for the Active High-Flow User

    Flying with Oxygen

    NEW
    Motoring with Oxygen (for Download)
    Motoring with Oxygen (View this presentation online)


    Portable Oxygen: Weights and Durations
    Featuring portables weigh less than 5 pounds and last longer than 5 hours.
    Safety Issues

    Rosemarie's Story by Rosemarie Leatham (Whitedove)

    Safe Handling of Portables

    Packing for Safety

    Smoking & Oxygen: A Terrible Mixture  

    Smoker Denied Access to Oxygen

    Smoker's Home Destroyed and Neighbor Injured 

    Smoker Dies in House Fire 

    Smoking Shortens Oxygen Patient's Life 

    Oxygen Is Not Flammable

    Oxygen Stops, Patient Dies

    Preparing for Power Outage

    Oxygen Shortens Patient's Life

    User Obligation & Liability
    Oxygen Suppliers

    About Oxygen Providers

    Selecting a Provider

    Is Your Provider Accredited?

    What Other Users Say About Oxygen While Traveling
    Oxygen Concentrators
     

     

     

    NEW

    Concentrators: Portable & Transportable
      Contains review of portable oxygen concentrators
     

     Compare 9 different Portable Oxygen Concentrators
     


    Home Use: Compressed, Liquid, or Concentrator?
     
    Making O2 at Home: The Homefill Concentrator
     
    Making O2 at Home: The Total O2 Concentrator
    Oxygen Portables

    Portable Use: Compressed, Liquid, or Concentrator?

    Liquid Portables

    Compressed Portables--Pick Your Conserver

    Compressed Oxygen--Pick Your Size Cylinder

    Tomorrow's Cylinders, Today

    What Do the Numbered Settings Really Mean?
    Motoring with Oxygen
    What Users REALLY Want 
    Miscellaneous

    About Pete Wilson
      
    Results: Oxygen Therapy Survey

    Survey of Educational Resources Available to Oxygen Users  
    The Voices of Others

    Bill Horden

    Mark Mangus

    Bob McCoy & Peter Bliss

    Tom Petty, M.D.

    Send mail to Webmaster@PortableOxygen.org
    with questions or comments about this website

    Last modified: August 30, 2011

    Title and buttons courtesy of Ben Ledet,  <benledet@parkermedical.com> Creative Director, Parker Medical, Englewood, CO. 80112