Well-written Bill. The only thing I might suggest is you send it to your
Senators and your Representative.
Quadius
Bill_J <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Here's the letter I sent to my
federal legislators, CMS, The Sectretary of Health & Human Services, Bush,
Cheney, Nancy Pelosi and many others in Nov, 2006.
To Whom It May Concern:
I was recently made aware that Medicare will only provide powered wheelchairs
which suit the persons needs inside his/her home. The phrase "in the home"
was never intended to be defined as "inside the person's house." It was
originally intended to mean "not in a hospital, extended care facility or other
health institution." It was the CMS that interpretted it so narrowly that it
has become their mantra when dissallowing power wheelchair requests.
I am a double amputee quadriplegic and use a powered wheelchair. To say that
this mandate appalls me is an understatement. Most powered wheelchairs that
are only suited for indoor use are next to useless outside of the home. Since
going outside at some times is a necessary activity, doing so in an
underpowered chair only suited for indoor use would be dangerous, it might end
up costing Medicare far more money due to accidents caused by unsafe use of
such wheelchairs. Not to mention possible lawsuits that would eventually be
filed. Then there are the thousands of jobs that could be lost because
wheelchair manufacturers and distributors would be put out of business,
resulting in lost tax revenue and higher unemployment expenses.
Does Medicare really want disabled people to stay inside all of the time?
Isnt that discrimination against people with disabilities and, therefore, in
violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Are we not allowed to
venture outside for doctor appointments (something required to remain living in
many cases), grocery shopping (another activity necessary to live), or just to
enjoy going outside for a social activity (a vital activity for our mental
health)? Are we to be condemned to a life inside our homes as if we were
hermits?
Back in the 1980s, I was on several committees at my college that helped
write the ADA and was proud to have been asked to participate in drafting that
landmark legislation. I had no idea that in the future the federal government
would be the entity that violated that act. It is unconscionable that a
government agency that provides healthcare availability to the disabled would
attempt to so blatantly violate an act of Congress.
Im requesting that this extreme restriction on the type of powered
wheelchairs we can obtain through Medicare be changed. Being disabled and on
Medicare should not mean we are relegated to being out of sight, out of mind
as it seems this agency (Medicare) desires. I am only 56 years old and am not
going to stay indoors the remainder of my life. This wheelchair edict, as I
call it, is far too limiting and needs to be changed. That change needs to be
made as soon as humanly possible.
In an effort to extend Medicare coverage to wheelchairs that can go outside
of the home, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the Medicare Independent
Living Act of 2006 (S. 3677). This legislation would eliminate the in the
home restriction of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term
needs. S. 3677 was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. Unfortunately,
due to time constraints and the large amount of legislation which came before
Congress, this legislation was unable to receive further consideration before
the end of the 109th Congress. Please see that Mr. Bingaman's proposed
legislation is reintroduced to the 110th Congress.
This is of utmost importance as it affects both the physical and mental
health of all persons needing powered wheelchairs. Please allow our doctors,
Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and wheelchair seating specialists
determine which wheelchairs best suit our needs as far as comfort, power,
safety and health are concerned. Dont leave our ability to be mobile, safe
and comfortable in the hands of a Medicare or Medicaid bureaucrat. People with
disabilities struggle with many things. Dont make them struggle to just move
around.
Respectfully,
William Jenkins
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:18 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] New 2006 medicare wheelchair codes
No sense in getting upset about new wheelchairs. We aren't allowed by
medicare to have a wheelchair that goes outside. If y'all get a chance to read
the new codes you may want to write some letters. It seems we must be taking
all the cool parking places.
http://www.wheelchairjunkie.com/2006pwcpolicy.html
john
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