SOAR Act of 2025
House Bill Would Remove Home Oxygen from Medicare Bidding, Boost Supplier Payments
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Starting in 2026, Medicare would stop buying home oxygen through the competitive bidding program, aiming to improve access for people who need oxygen at home or on the go.
- The bill sets new payment rules for oxygen suppliers, including yearly cost-of-living updates, and special payment rules for liquid oxygen to help keep it available.
- Suppliers would have to meet clear service requirements to get paid, like portable oxygen access, 24/7 on-call help, safety education, timely repairs, and support when a patient travels or moves.
- Medicare would start paying separately for respiratory therapist services and add a monthly payment boost to cover those services when they’re medically appropriate.
- To reduce fraud and confusion, doctors would use an electronic form to prove medical need, and patients would get clearer notices about copays and new rights like choosing or switching suppliers and filing complaints.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Bill introduced to 'maintain and stabilize' oxygen reimbursement
The Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act has been reintroduced to remove oxygen from Medicare's competitive bidding program. The bill aims to establish separate payment rates for liquid and non-liquid oxygen and create an add-on payment for respiratory therapy services.
Protecting patients' rights: Pulmonary nurse urges Congress to pass SOAR Act
The SOAR Act is built on four pillars: making supplemental oxygen more patient-centric, addressing liquid oxygen access for high-flow patients, recognizing respiratory therapy services, and implementing standardized electronic templates to protect against fraud.
SOAR Act in limbo while legislators ride out government shutdown
The SOAR Act would remove oxygen equipment from Medicare competitive bidding and establish a separate payment rate for liquid oxygen. Experts argue the current system creates 'needless suffering' by providing bulky equipment that limits patient mobility.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SOAR Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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