The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act aims to modernize Medicare benefits, restore access to liquid oxygen, and increase the availability of respiratory therapists for patients.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Bipartisan Support: The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act has surpassed 50 bipartisan cosponsors in Congress, indicating significant legislative momentum for respiratory care reform.
- Patient Access: The proposed legislation aims to restore access to liquid oxygen and increase the availability of respiratory therapists to support over 1.5 million individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.
- Medicare Reform: By modernizing the Medicare oxygen benefit, the act seeks to reduce avoidable hospitalizations and allow patients to maintain independence in rural and underserved areas.
The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act (HR-2902 / S-1406) has surpassed 50 bipartisan cosponsors in Congress, according to 13 leading respiratory patient, physician, and provider organizations advocating for its passage, including the AARC.
The legislation is designed to ensure individuals with chronic lung and respiratory conditions can access the supplemental oxygen required for independent living. According to the organizations, the act would modernize the Medicare oxygen benefit, improve access to respiratory therapists, and strengthen patient protections to help reduce avoidable hospitalizations.
A significant component of the bill involves restoring access to liquid oxygen. Proponents noted that liquid oxygen has become nearly impossible to obtain in many regions of the US, even though it remains essential for patients with the highest clinical needs.
In a letter to Congress, a coalition of 13 healthcare and industry organizations highlighted the potential impact on more than 1.5 million individuals living with COPD, heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, and those awaiting lung transplants.
“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,” said thirteen patient, healthcare professional, and industry organizations in a news release.
The SOAR Act was reintroduced last year and currently has 48 House sponsors and six Senate sponsors. The coalition also stated that the bill addresses challenges faced by people who are low-income, rural, and medically underserved who currently struggle to secure adequate care.
“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 organizations wrote in a news release.
Organizations Supporting the SOAR Act
- 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
- Running On Air
