Does Medicare Part B cover sodium chloride solution?

Further update: I found this online: "Starting in 2023, CVS will no longer bill Medicare Part B for services provided in their retail pharmacies. "

Well, that's great for them, but not for the patients! Walgreens is still handling it as of March.

Just reading the latest posts again on this and thought I should add additional commentary and the continuing saga on my part.
My local Walgreens told me in February (after uninterrupted Medicare coverage for the past 5 years) that Medicare only covers saline 7% from a particular manufacturer (Nephron) and they are back-ordered. After several months and attempts they are now saying that their wholesaler is no longer carrying this version.
I talked to Medicare DME rep and they had Walgreens Medicare on the line who said that in order to be covered it has to be prescribed with Albuterol or similar. Not true as it turned out. I had them re-run my saline and again it came up with the message 'NDC not covered'.
I called Medicare again and they told me something interesting. They claimed that they could not see a denial on their side and questioned that they even tried to file a claim.
I've given up with Walgreens at this point and am going to try and file a claim with Medicare. Also, I talked to Nephron and they claim they have no supply issues but refuse to tell me who carries it.
So many road blocks 🙁
Mary

Thank you for this update. What does it mean to "file a claim with Medicare"? I was told the same "must be mixed with albuterol" by one pharmacy in my area (a small one). Walgreens has been useless I agree. They claim they can not get it at all in my area. I found this on line "Who is the largest pharmaceutical distributor in the US?
About 92 percent of prescription drugs in the United States are distributed through wholesalers, with three — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson Corporation — accounting for more than 90 percent of wholesale drug distribution in the United States.Jul 20, 2022" I wonder if calling them might help to find the solution?

You fill out form 1490S and send this and other supporting documents to the Medicare billing contractor in your region. Then you wait 60 business days for a response! Worth a shot.
Instructions from the Medicare website in the screenshot below.

Thanks. I was told I could not file a claim if the seller had no affiliation with Medicare and if they did not sell machines. My current supplier is a manufacture since no drugstore in my area can get it (or so they claim).

ugh... They shouldn't make this so difficult.

It's been a monumental struggle since the day it was prescribed for me. My theory now is that Walgreens does not want to bill M part b so they are pretending not to be able to order it and/or claiming without proper authorization that Medicare Part B won't pay for it. CVS has quit altogether.

Another update on the Sodium Chloride 3% - spent another hour on the phone with caremark who ultimately claimed that the Sod Chl 3% couldn't be mailed...never mind the Part B etc. Then I spent another bunch of hours calling around to various Walmarts about an hour from here and found one who would mail it to me via fedex and use good rx at $11 plus some cents. (Sadly that pharmacy is so busy I was on hold for two calls having the prescription transferred to them for over an hour each time). This is an incredible nightmare journey LOL. Let's see if the one month supply arrives for all this trouble...not holding breath.

Holey moley. You have such patience and good humor about it all. I didnt have that much trouble at the local Walgreens paying out of pocket for about $10 and change. I did detect increasing levels of annoyance from their end with my constant calling asking them to do this and that. I do hope you get your supplies after all that. Will update if I hear back from Medicare on my claim. Not holding my breath there either.
m