5 Steps to Qualifying for Home Oxygen Therapy

If you think you have a health condition that would benefit from oxygen therapy and you are interested in getting oxygen at home, talk to your doctor about whether you meet the criteria for oxygen therapy. Ask about how to get an oxygen tank for home use, about home O2 requirements and anything else you need to know about getting oxygen at home.

If you are wondering, “Do you need a prescription for oxygen?”, the answer is yes. There are several factors for both you and your doctor to consider before you can obtain a prescription for supplemental oxygen. Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance companies may pay for home oxygen, but there are specific Medicare oxygen requirements, as well as requirements unique to other insurance companies. Payment for your oxygen supplies is based on each company’s unique criteria for oxygen therapy, which may include diagnosis, laboratory results and other information as summarized below.

The 5 Steps Needed to Qualify for Home Oxygen Therapy

To qualify for home oxygen therapy, consider taking the following 5 steps:

1. Talk to your doctor about whether you have a qualifying medical condition for getting oxygen at home. This includes a lung condition or other condition that impairs your breathing. You may qualify for home oxygen therapy if you have symptoms and/or findings related to low oxygen levels such as pulmonary hypertension or recurring congestive heart failure due to right-sided heart failure.
2. Be sure there is well-documented evidence of the qualifying medical condition as mentioned above in your medical file. If you are looking into how to get an oxygen tank at home, you will need to fulfill home O2 requirements and prove that you require treatment for your medical treatment at home.
   
3. Obtain an arterial blood gas study. Typically, to qualify for home oxygen therapy, you must have either:
   • An arterial blood gas (PaO2) at or below 55 mm Hg or an oxygen saturation at or below 88%, taken at rest (awake)
   • An PaO2 at or below 55 mm Hg, or an oxygen saturation at or below 88%, taken during sleep for a specified duration for a patient who demonstrates a PaO2 at or above 56 mm Hg or an oxygen saturation at or above 89% while awake
   • A greater than normal fall in oxygen level during sleep (a drop in PaO2 of more than 10 mm Hg, or a decrease in oxygen saturation of more than 5%) associated with symptoms or signs reasonably attributable to low blood oxygen levels
   • A PaO2 at or below 55 mm Hg or an oxygen saturation at or below 88%, taken during exercise for a patient who demonstrates a PaO2 at or above 56 mm Hg, or an oxygen saturation at or above 89%, during the day while at rest, with improved results when oxygen is administered.
4. Obtain a written prescription from a qualified health care professional who has recently examined you (generally within the last month). The prescription should include a diagnosis of the condition requiring the use of home oxygen, the oxygen flow rate in liters per minute and an estimate of the frequency and duration of use (for example, 3 liters per minute, 50 minutes per hour, 12 hours per day) and duration of need (for example, 6 months or lifetime).
5. Make sure your doctor completes a Certificate of Medical Necessity and/or other forms as required by insurance indicating your diagnosis, length of need, oxygen blood gas level or pulse oximetry reading and the testing facility from which the readings were obtained, how the test was taken (room air, at rest, during exercise or while asleep), portability (if needed), liter flow prescribed, doctor’s signature and date. Make sure you know your insurance company’s requirements and, if you qualify, the Medicare oxygen requirements.
   

Qualifying for Portable Oxygen

If you enjoy the freedom and independence that comes from using oxygen on the go, you may want to consider a portable oxygen concentrator like one of the Inogen One models. Inogen products can be covered by insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, to help with payments or rental of our oxygen products. With an Inogen One, Medicare will pay for portable oxygen rental if all of the following apply to you:

• You meet the aforementioned daytime arterial blood gas testing criteria 
• Your doctor provides a prescription saying that you require supplemental oxygen and/or have a severe lung disease
• Your medical documentation indicates that you are mobile in your home and would benefit from the use of a portable system
• Alternative treatments have failed

If the above conditions apply, you meet the medicare oxygen requirements and may be able to rent an Inogen One with Medicare.

With an Inogen One Medicare rental, you will qualify for getting oxygen at home with a monthly rental of oxygen supplies. You will pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount, with the Part B deductible still applying. You will be able to rent your oxygen equipment for 36 months, after which time your supplier must continue to provide oxygen equipment and related supplies for an additional 24 months, and up to 5 years, as long as you have a medical need for oxygen. Even with state of the art equipment like the Inogen One, Medicare offers rental coverage for getting oxygen at home. 

How Does Home Oxygen Work?

Once you qualify for home oxygen and receive your oxygen prescription, you might wonder, “So, how does home oxygen work?” After you receive your prescription, you should start looking for an oxygen provider that can help you get the oxygen delivery device you need. You should have a clear understanding of your oxygen prescription and the flow dosing and flow settings you will need. If you are not clear on your prescription, contact your doctor’s office so they can clarify the information for you before you look for your ideal oxygen delivery device. Consider what you need in an oxygen delivery device, including ease of use, size, weight, oxygen capacity (if you are considering an oxygen tank), battery duration (if you are considering a portable oxygen concentrator) and required service and maintenance. If you like the freedom to get out and about or travel frequently, you should consider the portable options available to you. If you are homebound, your needs may be different. Most importantly, your oxygen delivery device should work for your life. When you contact oxygen providers, make sure to ask about how their products work with your daily activities. Ask them, “How does home oxygen work with this oxygen device?” That way, you can envision life with that particular oxygen device before making a final decision. If you will be using insurance to pay for the cost of your oxygen therapy supplies, make sure you contact your insurance company before making a final choice as well, as they may have certain requirements you need to fulfill. Ask oxygen providers if they will help you navigate insurance or Medicare as well. 

How Does Home Oxygen Work with a Caregiver’s Help?

If you need a caregiver’s help to navigate the home oxygen process for you, consider taking a number of different actions. First, bring your caregiver to your doctor’s appointments so that they can ask any questions they might have and get a thorough understanding of how to help you with your home oxygen therapy. If you want to give your doctor permission to communicate directly with your caregiver, or to give your caregiver the ability to make medical decisions for you, you should consider completing a document called a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, identifying your caregiver as a Health Care Agent for you.^[1][2] This person then has the ability to make medical decisions on your behalf, which can be especially important if your medical condition is debilitating and makes it difficult for you to think clearly. All of this should be carefully considered and discussed with your doctor, your lawyer and your caregiver before completing any paperwork. You can also contact your oxygen provider to find out what they might need if your caregiver will be navigating your home oxygen process for you. Make sure your caregiver has all the information they need, including your full prescription and the time at which your oxygen prescription expires. The majority of prescriptions expire after one year, when you will need to be reevaluated, but it is a good idea to find out for sure.^[3]

The Inogen One: The Right Choice for Home Oxygen

An Inogen One Medicare rental can help you enjoy the benefits of an innovative portable oxygen concentrator at a reduced cost. The Inogen One can help you discover what it is like to enjoy improved freedom, mobility and independence, all while receiving your oxygen treatments. If you are concerned about how to get an oxygen tank in and out of your home or car, a portable oxygen concentrator is a great choice for you. Small, compact and lightweight, Inogen’s portable oxygen concentrators allow you to get the oxygen you need at home or on the go. If this sounds like the right choice for you, look into your Medicare oxygen requirements and find out if you can get an Inogen One Medicare rental today. Contact Inogen to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions: Getting Oxygen At Home

How can I get oxygen at home?

In order to qualify for home oxygen, you must first see your doctor to discuss the reasons you believe you need oxygen. If you or your doctor suspect that you would benefit from oxygen therapy, you will complete a number of tests, including an arterial blood gas study and pulse oximetry, to demonstrate that your blood oxygen levels indicate the need for oxygen therapy. If your measurements qualify you for home oxygen, you will receive a prescription from your doctor that will detail the dosing type and quantity of oxygen you will receive, along with the frequency and duration you will need to use home oxygen. Your prescription should also indicate what type of oxygen delivery device is best for you and your needs. If you are interested in a particular oxygen delivery device, like a portable oxygen concentrator, talk to your doctor about adding that to your prescription.

Do you need a prescription for oxygen?

Yes, you do. There is a strict criteria for oxygen therapy. Your doctor must provide proof that they recently examined you, along with a detailed diagnosis, explanation of why you require supplemental oxygen and a prescription for your oxygen use, which includes information regarding your flow rate, duration and frequency of use and duration of need.

Are there specific Medicare oxygen requirements for an Inogen One Medicare rental?

Medicare’s requirements are the same, regardless of your oxygen delivery system. Every Medicare patient must meet the same home O2 requirements before receiving approval to rent oxygen equipment. Medicare does cover an Inogen One Medicare rental if you meet the criteria. Contact Inogen for more information. 

How much does it cost to rent an oxygen concentrator?

Costs can vary significantly depending on what kind of oxygen concentrator you want to rent, what kind of insurance coverage you have and whether or not you meet the criteria to have your rental covered by insurance. Generally speaking, renting an oxygen concentrator can cost anywhere from $35 to $225 per week, depending on your individual insurance coverage.

_Sources:

[1] “Frequently Asked Questions About Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care.” LawHelp.org , D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, 11 May 2015, www.lawhelp.org/dc/resource/frequently-asked-questions-about-durable-powe.

[2] “Choosing a Health Care Agent.” Cigna, Cigna, 8 Dec. 2019, www.cigna.com/individuals-families/health-wellness/hw/medical-topics/choosing-a-health-care-agent-aa114352.

[3] DeGenaro, Steve. “O2 Orders 101.” Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation, Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation, 4 May 2017, info.hqaa.org/hqaa-blog/o2-orders-101.

“National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Home Use of Oxygen (240.2).” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 14 Aug. 2020, www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncd-details.aspx?NCDId=169.

“Oxygen Equipment & Accessories.” Medicare.gov, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 14 Aug. 2020, www.medicare.gov/coverage/oxygen-equipment-accessories.

By Deborah Leader RN, BSN, PHN