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CMS proposes that the evidence does not demonstrate that the home use of oxygen to treat cluster headache improves health outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries with cluster headache (CH). Therefore, we propose that home use of oxygen to treat CH is not reasonable and necessary under §1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act).

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Basically what they are saying is that since O2 does not improve the condition Medicare and Medicaid should not pay for O2.

They are asking for public comments on this policy before enacting it. Every person should be concerned about this turn of events esp since Insurance companies follow Medicare and Medicaids lead.

Time to pull together and get the word out and act for all of our best interests.

Jeez, that's not good. Let us know how we can help issue a response. -Chris

If you open up the link & go to the very bottom of the document you can make a comment that gets Emailed to them.
Here's what I wrote:

As a chronic Cluster headache sufferer I have been using high flow medical oxygen as the most effective abortive for this condition.
It amazes me that statements like that in the "Proposed Decision Memo for Home Use of Oxygen to Treat Cluster Headache (CAG-00296R) would come from a country that leads the world in other aspects.
Here in Australia high flow oxygen is recommended by Neurologists for CH as the least offensive abortive treatment.
It also amazes me that a colony like Australia would be so far ahead of more influential countries in effective treatments like high flow oxygen.
I would suggest you talk with the sufferers who do know rather than Doctors who only work on assumption not from experience.
Below is a link to the US based CH web site, have a browse through there and read the results that people have from using high flow oxygen, you may be enlightened.

Regards
Barry Coles
Australia
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Thanks Mat.

Excellent response Barry!  However, I'm afraid they aren't interested in what we think.  They are interested in keeping the money from flowing for something that doesn't require kickbacks from pharmaceutical salesmen.  Cynical?  yep!

Jerry

Barry_T_Coles wrote on Oct 28^th, 2010 at 10:25pm:

If you open up the link & go to the very bottom of the document you can make a comment that gets Emailed to them.

Submitting a comment there will prompt CMS to direct you to resubmit.

This is the correct link for comment submission:

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well, this is N U T S !!!!
Typical of a government agency.....we need more studies, and while we wait, people can suffer.

I hope everyone writes a response. I hope OUCH can put some pressure on them and educate them.

They will here from Clusterbusters

Bob

Obama care Not