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CHANGES TO HOME OXYGEN BENEFITS

Released on February 28, 1996

Health Minister Eric Cline today announced changes to benefits under
the Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) home oxygen therapy
program.

Effective June 1, the deductible cost for oxygen, currently between $50
and $80 per month, will be removed. A new benefit scale will be
established with a maximum amount based on the cost of an oxygen
concentrator in the home and a supply of portable cylinders for
mobility. The revised benefit will cover the full cost of medically
necessary oxygen for all users, but will not be sufficient to cover the
full-time use of liquid oxygen, currently used by many clients.

"Obtaining oxygen at home is costly, and we want to protect people from
that expense," Cline said. "These changes will ensure that everyone
who needs oxygen will get it, based on the most economical system which
will meet their needs."

Home oxygen therapy is prescribed by physicians to assist people who
have chronic lung conditions such as emphysema, or who are recovering
from pneumonia or other illnesses. Oxygen is provided to people in
their homes by private suppliers, either by use of a concentrator,
which extracts nearly pure oxygen from the air, or in liquid form.
Concentrators and liquid tank systems provide the same medical benefit,
although liquid systems can be more convenient. The average cost of
full-time liquid systems is more than double the average for
concentrators.

Rapidly rising costs of the SAIL program prompted a review by a
Saskatchewan Health working group including respiratory specialists,
therapists and representatives of client associations. Estimated
expenditures for the program for 1995-96 are more than $10 million,
compared to $5.6 million in 1993-94. The program serves a caseload of
approximately 1,800 people.

Saskatchewan Health will meet with home oxygen suppliers in the coming
weeks to discuss ways to minimize the impact of the program changes on
their business, and will also work with physicians and district health
boards to improve testing and approval systems. Letters have been sent
to all current clients outlining the effect of program changes.

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For more information, contact:

Mark Seland
Communications and Public Information
Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-3825

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