What's caused the bureacratic tangles for patients trying to fill prescriptions for oxygen equipment?
A firend of mine has a prescripton for a small portable oxygen unit. The equipment rental company says they can't fill it unless they get a prescription to "test" him. His doctors assitants have been asked to write the prescription. Nothing is happening.
I thought his problem was unique. However, I mentioned it to my own doctor. She said that in past year, getting oxygen equipment for patients has become complicated. Each of the equipment rental companies has different requirements. Not only do they want different paperwork, they want different tests performed. (The rental companies themselves perform these tests.) Some want "sleep tests" done. Even patients who have been on oxygen for years are being required to get tests.
I assume the complications concern getting approval from Medicare or insurance companies to pay for the equipment. I hope that a person willing to pay the costs himself can still get a prescription filled without the hassle.