Access to supplemental oxygen is a critical issue, demanding urgent reforms to eliminate persistent barriers for those depending on this life-sustaining resource.
Breathing is something most of us take for granted. However, for over 1.5 million Americans living with conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension, supplemental oxygen is a lifeline that helps them breathe. Yet, despite its critical importance, many of these individuals are confined to their homes because they cannot access the amount or type of supplemental oxygen they need to live full, active lives.
Imagine breathing through a cocktail straw while holding your nose. That’s how patients describe life without proper oxygen. While supplemental oxygen is as vital as any prescribed medication, securing it is far more difficult than it should be.
As Mal Doyle of Hartford, CT, says, “I rely on supplemental oxygen for any activity that requires exertion. Even something as simple as going to the grocery store can be daunting because I quickly become breathless, walking from one end of the aisle to the other. Without my portable oxygen tank, I would be trapped at home.”
The use of supplemental oxygen can reduce mortality, alleviate shortness of breath, and improve exercise capacity, yet too many patients remain unable to access the most effective forms of this treatment. Without access to the right equipment — like portable liquid oxygen — patients are often tethered to bulky machines, making it difficult or impossible to engage in daily activities outside their homes.
Ensuring accessible oxygen
To address this, leading health organizations, including the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, American Thoracic Society, American Lung Association, and dozens of others, have united to support the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act. The goal of this legislation is to ensure that all individuals who rely on supplemental oxygen have access to the medically appropriate oxygen they need. The coalition’s recommendations for oxygen reform focus on four key pillars:
- Make supplemental oxygen patient-centric.
- Change “home oxygen” to “supplemental oxygen” to ensure people requiring oxygen can live full lives outside their home
- Establish a patients’ bill of rights to ensure care is focused on patient needs
- Ensure access to liquid oxygen for patients for whom it is medically necessary.
- Introduce a statutory service element that ensures appropriate reimbursement for respiratory therapists. These professionals are critical in guiding patients on how to use their oxygen therapy effectively and safely, and they should be accessible to all patients who need them.
- Create national standards for documentation and reimbursement, reducing fraud and abuse while ensuring that patients receive timely access to necessary oxygen supplies.
The lack of consistent access to supplemental oxygen remains a major barrier for millions of Americans who need it to survive. With these reforms, patients can better manage their conditions and experience improved quality of life, making it possible to engage in daily activities that most of us assume are always within reach.
We need your help! Reach out to your elected officials and urge them to support supplemental oxygen reform that will ensure access to medically appropriate supplemental oxygen for all who need it. By raising our voices together, we can create lasting change and improve the lives of those living with chronic lung and respiratory diseases.
