The Home Oxygen Program, which Minister Gillan introduced last spring in the legislature, provides up to 50 per cent of eligible home oxygen expenses to a maximum of $200 each month. Financial assistance under the program is retroactive to April 1, 2004.

There are several criteria that patients must meet in order to be eligible for coverage by the Home Oxygen Program, including: patients must be eligible for PEI Medicare, require oxygen at least 18 hours per day, and must not be eligible to receive home oxygen therapy through any other provincially or federally funded program. Patients must live in smoke-free homes and have a physician willing to be responsible for their ongoing oxygen therapy. More information regarding the criteria is available from the Department of Health and Social Services’ Home Oxygen Program office at (902) 368-6705.

To apply for coverage by the Home Oxygen Program, patients complete a program application form. If approved, program eligibility is effective for 12 months from the date of approval, and must be renewed annually. Approved patients pay their home oxygen supplier, and then send their receipts and a completed expense claim form to the Home Oxygen Program office. The program will then reimburse patients for 50 per cent of approved expenses to a maximum of $200 per month. Patients are encouraged to submit their receipts to the program office once every three months.

For more information or to apply for the program, please contact the Home Oxygen Program office at (902) 368-6705.