What is transtracheal Oxygen and why should I even care about it? Some people have issues with oxygen being transmitted through the nose with a nasal cannula and prefer to have a catheter placed in their throat to deliver the oxygen. Here is a link to a picture of what that looks like https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=transtracheal+o2&id=6CB7DA42297AD0C36EFB0CBA7E748166F5742B4C&FORM=EQNAMI
The benefits of TTO are: This statement is derived from UC San Diego Health https://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/pulmonary/procedures/Pages/transtracheal-oxygen-catheter.aspx#:~:text=%20Benefits%20of%20Transtracheal%20Oxygen%20Delivery%20%201,needed%20during%20rest%20and%20with%20exercise%20More
- Using a transtracheal approach to oxygen delivery can reduce the amount of oxygen flow needed at rest and with exercise
- It can reduce the symptoms of shortness of breath and improve patient mobility
It was brought to my attention today that the only company producing this type of equipment is scheduled to go out of business due to lack of demand for their products.
I am going to copy a post in EFFORTS so that anyone who is being impacted by this business closing may be able to take action that might keep the company in business.
Hi Folks,
I had a long conversation with Pat Mallett last evening. Sadly, unless some miracle (financial in nature and HUGE) occurs, TTO will be going out of business. NO ONE ELSE manufactures supplies for TTO. So, at some point, your fate will entail losing your TTO and returning to nasal oxygen or some other mode which will also probably be through the nasal route.
I don’t know what you/we can do to stop the snowball rolling down the hill. I would suggest that you consider contacting your representatives and senators to raise you voice about this horrible prospect. Also, if you are a member of the COPD Foundation, consider contacting their patient advocacy arm/representatives to voice your objection and ask them to intervene.
As best as Pat could estimate, there are somewhere around 2000 TTO users who will be affected by their shut down. COVID-19 is the primary cause of their difficulties as their business (for new procedure pack orders ad subsequent supplies) dropped off to less than a half-dozen orders over the past many months. This is owing to the canceling of elective procedures and related limitations.
The situation is most dire, needlesstosay. But, what it would take to save TTO is not only money to buoy their business up to cover expenses and manufacturing. But, it will also take a return of orders for supplies to do new procedures. So, it’s not just that they’ve run out of money and have not received sufficient COVID relief financial support, but the business side has suffered through lack of utilization.
What needs to happen before theu close and before they run out of money and supplies is for those using TTO to contact your DME companies who have been supplying your ongoing tubings, catheters, etc and tell them to stock up as much as they can so that they can continue to serve you for at least maybe the next year or two or more.
Because of FDA restrictions and the billing process under which TTO supplies are reimbursed, (1) you cannot buy direct from the company. (2) There is not a separate billing code or ability to bill under CMS for supplies, alone as it is counted in with oxygen service reimbursement. Ut does NOTY have its own billing code – something which TTO had been working closely with CMS to develop and implement. They were close to finishing the process when COVID-19 hit which totally interrupted and trashed the whole effort.
Your sharing of any ideas y’all have – or potential actions you may stumble upon as you contact the powers that be and our chains of advocacy would be welcomed.
Best Wishes,
Mark
Mark W. Mangus, Sr., BSRC, RRT, RPFT, FAARC
San Antonio, TX
Mark is a very dedicated and esteemed member of The Emphysema Foundation or EFFORTS.