Our veteran clinicians share their tips for success for oxygen therapy
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Today's Clinician
Brandon Sweeney
Brandon has been in the healthcare field for 14 years and a Respiratory Therapist at Apria for two years. He helps non-invasive and invasive ventilation patients in Southeastern Tennessee adjust to their therapy. Outside of work, Brandon spends his time with his wife watching their children compete in horse riding, golfing, and going to the range.
RESPIRATORY
Q. Does Medicare or other insurance pay for replacement columns for your oxygen concentrator? I’ve just been buying them off of Amazon.
A. This depends on whether the device is on rent with Medicare (or private insurance) or if it was purchased outright. First, I’m going to assume we are talking about a Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC). Medicare Part B is an 80/20 coverage and is what covers the rental of oxygen equipment and accessories, including replacement parts. So, if the POC is still in a rental status then the replacement of the columns is part of the maintenance provided by Apria at no additional cost to the patient. On the other hand, if the equipment is purchased outright then the upkeep is 100% up to the patient since they own the equipment.
In any situation, the best thing to do before purchasing any replacement parts on your own is to either contact your insurance company directly or contact your local Apria branch and speak with a Branch Coordinator who can help look into this for you.
Q. My concentrator indicates an output of "X". But, if I purposely block the cannula, the flowmeter changes only very slightly. Why?
A. The slight change that is being noticed here is due to a slight pressure build up within the system. What is happening is even though the concentrator is set at a specific flow level and that flow is being met by the concentrator, the flow is being restricted past the blockage and since the concentrator is still producing the same flow level that it is set at, the reading on the flowmeter will only be slightly higher. So, in short what is happening here is the concentrator is trying to push through the obstruction and if this continues for an extended period of time it could result in a minor change in the displayed or set flow rate.
Q. I got my concentrator back in 2015, it is very old and bulky. How do I go about getting an updated machine?
A. A well-maintained oxygen concentrator can typically last a good 5-7 years before requiring any significant maintenance or replacement. The best thing to do here is to contact your local Apria branch regarding a concentrator check and possibly exchanging the machine out through our Apria Re-Ox program. If your current concentrator is not working properly, the driver that comes out to check your current machine will then replace it with a different machine that is working properly.
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