TABLE 1.
SUMMARY OF THE AVAILABILITY OF COVERAGE FOR LONG-TERM HOME OXYGEN TREATMENT UNDER MEDICARE
| Measurement | Condition for Testing1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arterial O2 (mm Hg) | O2 Saturation (%) | At Rest | During Exercise | During Sleep | ||
| ⩽ 55 | ⩽ 88 | Available | Available2 | Available3 | ||
| 56–59 | 89 | Available for dependent edema, pulmonary hyper- tension, or hematocrit > 56 | ||||
| ⩾ 60 | ⩾ 90 | Coverage available only by special approval | ||||
| Devices Covered | Stationary ± Ambulatory | Ambulatory ± Stationary | Stationary Only | |||
Data from Reference 37. Data in italics represent conditions similar to the entry criteria of the NOTT and MRC studies, which showed effects of long-term oxygen treatment on survival in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
1
While breathing room air in a chronic stable state or no earlier than 2 days prior to hospital discharge.
2
Requires demonstration that supplemental O2 improves the exercise-associated hypoxemia.
3
Also available for subjects who show a greater than normal fall in Arterial O2 (> 10 mm Hg) or arterial O2 Saturation (> 5%) during sleep with associated symptoms or signs reasonably attributable to hypoxemia.