There is an emerging shortage of home oxygen right now in the US.

@CapeMedical does not provide oxygen any longer, even though we were founded as an oxygen company, we exited the market due to reimbursement issues w Medicare.

But I am hearing from a lot of smart people.

There are significant issues in the supply chain for concentrators, hospital discharge planners are frustrated and the majority of #COVID19 discharges are not in fact needing ventilators, they need home oxygen.

These shortages are not the responsibility of the HME market, it is the result of years of atrocious policy making at Medicare, their ridiculous policy of auctioning off services to the lowest bidders and audits that would make your head spin.

Short term relief around some of the policy specifics is a helpful first step - but nowhere near enough.

Reimbursement must be addressed - there isn't enough capacity currently and it will become a much more public issue in the weeks to come.

Acute care needs the HME market right now - a market that has been decimated by bad policy making at the federal level.

If you hear about issues - and you will - remember Medicare has spent almost a decade auctioning off oxygen services to the low bidder, including the expertise of respiratory therapists in the home.

Don't blame the local HME, who is lucky to still have their doors open.

This is at the feet of @CMSGov and a rush to the bottom that gutted capacity and marginalized service.

Be safe everyone