Humana: Our 800 Pound Gorrilla in the Oxygen War of 2009

A couple of weeks ago we were contacted by Humana to discuss Keith's oxygen situation. Specifically they were concerned that the home healthcare provider was requesting reimbursement from Humana/Medicare while still taking cash from Keith for his oxygen delivery. Additionally, as a Humana member, Keith has a cap of $6.25 per delivery as opposed to the ~$200 per delivery that the home healthcare provider was collecting. I informed Humana that we had been in contact with Rep Lloyd Doggett's office [D-TX] about this situation and that it was being investigated at the federal level. At the very least, the home healthcare provider is clearly violating federal law regarding oxygen delivery as detailed in the Patients & Providers Act of 2008.

The work to bring this to the attention of the right people has been exhausting. The amount of energy necessary to find people who care has been appalling. For me, insuring that Keith has the oxygen he needs to continue healing is of paramount importance and that has been the primary motivation to move forward. However, I am also driven by the unknown others who are being affected by this home healthcare provider's policies in this region. To top it all off, it sickens me to see the recent advertisements by this company expressing their commitment to their clients when I know our experience on the local level has been quite different. And, we are not alone. There are many oxygen dependent clients who are experiencing similar issues. I'm hopeful that with Humana on our side that we can not only sort out Keith's O2, but improve the options for others as well.