If you were approved for 02 using a six minute walk prior to having it prescribed, then logically to have it taken away, you would have to demonstrate that you no longer need it, using the same six minute walk test. Once it's prescribed, you doc is supposed to certify that 02 is no longer a medical necessity for you. As for getting it back, if you do need it again, your doc will have to demonstrate that using a six minute walk. Sometimes people need 02 for a period of time after a hospitalization, but after several weeks no longer need it. That works.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member, could not agree more - I DETEST the latest changes to the site and how it handles replies. Now that I have that off my back… while Medicare may pay for your necessary medical equipment, it is RENTED by Medicare for you. It can be taken away if you have improved and no longer need it, but a medical professional needs to certify that you are well enough to no longer need it.

Medicare pays for the rental of equipment for up to three (3) years, with the equipment acquisition cost being covered during the first three (3) years of the potential five (5) year usage cycle. Medicare patients are guaranteed covered for only one (1) piece of POC equipment, so if you get a stationary unit from your provider, you have to pay for the portable unit out of pocket.

You can lose your equipment if you don’t make your monthly or quarterly co-pays, but I’m not aware of the oxygen equipment providers taking the equipment away unless you move (and need a new service provider), or before the five (5) years time period for equipment life has lapsed.

You can get Medicare to pay for new equipment once every five (5) years, so be careful what you accept as you are stuck with that equipment for five (5) years once it’s in your home.

It’s my understanding that your service provider MUST maintain that equipment for the 4th and 5th years free of charge, having been paid in full through the first three (3) years of equipment rental payments and co-pays.

Hoping this answer helps. Happy Saturday, 30-SEP-23

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A MyCOPDT...

I had oxygen many years ago for approximately 4 years. The chest clinic said I no longer needed oxygen I was nervous about that decision. I was then sent off to to my second Pulmory rehab. I was off the oxygen for about 5 years more recently I was hospitalised for a month for blood disorder my red and white blood cells were very low plus I was not making my own platelets or bone marrow. I’m now on oxygen again only 1ltr for 15 hours daily and a cylinder for 2 hours. I have an appointment for July 2024 to check my oxygen levels I’m now on stage 3 for copd I also have asthma it’s acute sever on chronic diagnosis for years.
My sats at times drop to 74 hovering between that and 80. Other times it’s 84-87, 88. I’m supposed to be 88-92 . But very rarely I get to 90. I now keep getting infections one after the other can’t shake them. I have had 3 phlegm tests since mid February I do have a bacterial virus antibiotics and steroids my rescue pack don’t shift it, my GP prescribed different antibiotics still not shifted it. I’m waiting for results for another phlegm test. On top of that one of my nebuliser meds Salbutamol can’t be got for love nor money there is a shortage nation wide I rang chemist after chemist no joy consultant put 2x prescription into the hospital pharmacy they are all out as well it’s supposed to be back in stock end of April I have been without since early February I did manage to get 60 nebs which is a 15 days supply only as my dosage is 1 x 4 times daily.big loss. My inhaler is now getting used a lot more often. Does anyone from UK on here have this problem about not being able to get the nebuliser med Salbutamol .

In the Netherlands you get Fysiotherapie from your National Health Insurance for the rest of your life if you have copd Gold 3/4.
And every 3 months you will have to do the 6-minute walk.
These results will go to your pulmonologist and they can describe oxygen ( but only if you are not mobile anymore)
As long as you walk,they will not give you oxygen ( or painkillers like Oxycodon or Tramadol)
As the National Health service is getting more and more expensive,they want people to stay longer at home instead of going to a nursing home .
Even my parents( 85/87) stayed at their own home untill April this year and even now they live independent in a old folks home.
They will help by giving you a home without stairs or close to public transport.
Or even an electric scooter,but i have never seen anybody with an oxygen bottle.(only in hospital or nursing home).

They were prescribed but now they say you no longer need them?