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.

Hi Corretje61
Like you from early February 2024 I have been without Salbutamol at first it was a nation wide shortage until the end of April 2024 but then there was still no salbutamol even up to date now late August 2024 still no sign of salbutamol being available I had phoned around London chemists and beyond I managed to get 15 days supply only I use it 4 times daily. My consultant said there was nothing else they could give me honestly I had infection after infection the consultant had also early in the year reduced my budsnide and my rescue pack steroids plus my antibiotics it got reduced from 14 days to 10 day further reduced to 7 days only I’m at stage 3 copd plus I have lots of other health issues including heart failure.
However, I had the respiratory nurse out to see me so she recommended an another nebuliser medication which I have now been taking since July/2024 I could feel the improvement
Then the Ipratropium went on nation wide shortage this august for me so now I’m going to have to check out an Ipratropium inhaler again although loads of styles of inhalers on the market as my right hand don’t function properly I knew I could not manage to use any of them I do however have an inhaler it’s a discus style one which I have for some years and can use so consultant showed me a similar one but it’s prescribed only within the hospital so letter sent to my GP to see if they can prescribe it seems it’s a yes so I’m now waiting to get it from chemist .
There’s still no sight of these medication latest it suppose to be either late 2025 or 2026
There’s a problem with the license for these medication some chemist can get unlicensed still same product again chemist are few an far between that have this type of medication
My consultant said they were worried about the steroid intake and its effects it’s having being totally honest I have been on them for years, I take the once a week tablet fr the bones I’ve never had any problems I did read somewhere that the pharmacist council have been advising hospitals to wean patients off the nebuliser put them on inhalers weather it’s because of costs or because we are going to be in a continuous state of having medications nationwide shortages is it because of Brexit I personally believe it is and the then government negotiating team not having a clue how to negotiate on anything but we’re very equipped to give press release on their side only of these negotiations
Have a good day

@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...

In the Netherlands there is also a shortage of Salbutamol.
But there is a law which says that they( the pharmaceuticals) are not allowed to give you a different prescription,only a pulmonologist can do thit,after consultation the patient.
I had Ipratropiumbromide puffer 0,4 mcg.
Also shortage,so i got Atrovent Ipratropiumbromide 0,2 mcg.
Again shortage.
Now i got capsules in a Cyclohaler,a powder in which you punch a hole and inhale it.
But still Ipratropiumbromide.
As i do not want something else.
It’s a good thing they change this law,as the pharmacy signed new and better contracts each year to earn more money.
And they did not care if some medications were unavailable.
Now,not even my GP for 33 years can change my puffers.
Only my pulmonologist,together with me.
And this is for every chronic disease.
Only your specialist is allowed to change your medication after consulting you.( a lot of people do not know this yet,or are afraid to open their mouth when given something else,or not given at all.)

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 .