Oxygen therapy technical aids

Oxygen therapy at home is intended for adults who have breathing difficulties due to various health conditions – for example, after recovering from a Covid-19 infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other respiratory disease flare-ups, or oncological illnesses within the framework of palliative care.

If a healthcare professional has indicated that oxygen therapy is medically necessary, it is possible to receive an oxygen concentrator for home use. This is a technical assistive device that helps provide the body with the necessary amount of oxygen, improving well-being and easing daily life.

Patients who can receive oxygen therapy

• Chronic patients

  are at their place of residence with a chronic lung disease with a feeling of shortness of breath or chronic lung disease in stable remission (i.e., at least 8 weeks have passed since the disease flare-up), whose pulse oximetry (SpO2) reading at rest, breathing atmospheric air after approximately 30 minutes is ≤ 92%.

• Subacute patients:
  • patients who will be discharged from the hospital, but who will need oxygen therapy at home (outpatient service) for no longer than 3 months. There is no possibility to extend the service for another 3 months. The service cannot be extended further.
  • patients receiving palliative care mobile team services or hospice care at home who have been diagnosed with respiratory failure.

How to apply for oxygen therapy technical aids 

To receive an oxygen concentrator for home use, the following steps must be taken:

1. Medical evaluation
   1. Visit your family doctor.
   2. The family doctor refers you to a pulmonologist or cardiologist.
   3. The pulmonologist or cardiologist refers you for arterial blood gas analysis twice (with at least a 3-week interval).
   4. The pulmonologist or cardiologist prepares a statement in the e-health system for receiving oxygen therapy at home (oxygen concentrator), indicating:
      1. the gas composition in arterial blood,
      2. the required oxygen flow,

      3. the duration of use (hours per day).

         Important! The statement for receiving the technical assistive device is prepared only by a pulmonologist or cardiologist.

2. Preparation and submission of the application

   Once the examinations have been completed and the doctor has prepared the statement in the e-health system, you or your authorized representative:

   1. Must prepare and sign the application for receiving the technical assistive device. >>Link to the application form
   2. must submit the application:
      1. in person at the relevant VTPC department,
      2. by mail,
      3. electronically with a secure electronic signature, sending it to the department's email or e-address,
      4. fill out and submit the application in the client portal.

3. Document review and decision making

   VTPC will review the submitted documents and send a decision to the person with an invitation to receive the oxygen concentrator for long-term oxygen therapy outside the healthcare institution.

   The decision will indicate the VTPC service providers from whom the oxygen concentrator can be obtained.

   If you have questions, please contact the VTPC customer service specialist by phone: 66 955 665 or ask questions via email: skabeklis@nrc.lv.