Supporters of respiratory care reform celebrated as the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (H.R. 2902/S. 1406) passed the 50-cosponsors mark in Congress.
In a May 13 news announcement, 13 patient, physician and provider organizations praised the bipartisan support and “legislative momentum” of the bills, which now have 48 sponsors and cosponsors in the U.S. House, and six sponsors and cosponsors in the U.S. Senate.
“The SOAR Act would ensure more individuals with chronic lung and respiratory conditions can access the supplemental oxygen they need to survive and live independently — something that has become increasingly difficult under the current Medicare system,” the announcement noted. “For too many people, access to the right kind of supplemental oxygen is unreliable, delayed or simply unavailable to them. The SOAR Act is a critical step toward fixing a broken system and ensuring patients can get the care they need when they need it.”
Supporters say the bills would “modernize” Medicare’s oxygen benefit while improving patient access to respiratory therapists. The SOAR Act, advocates add, would also strengthen patient protections, would help to reduce preventable hospitalizations and give patients the ability “to remain active and independent.”
Critically, the SOAR Act “would also restore access to liquid oxygen, which has become nearly impossible to obtain in many parts of the country, despite being essential for patients with the highest needs,” the announcement said. “By passing the SOAR Act, Congress can help the more than 1.5 million individuals living with COPD, heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, people awaiting lung transplants and other advanced chronic respiratory diseases who rely on supplemental oxygen live independently and healthily. This bill also addresses challenges faced by people who are low income and rural and medically underserved who currently struggle to secure adequate care.”
The supporting organizations are Alpha-1 Foundation, American College of Chest Physicians, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for Respiratory Care, American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, COPD Foundation, Council for Quality Respiratory Care, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, and Running On Air.
