Hello, my name is Monty and your situation sounds much like mine. I'm also due for a chair this year through Medicaid but my medical difficulty is not skin breakdown but scoliosisIn my back. The rehab specialist that I have already spoken to is against the wall because I don't want anything to do with Invacare anymore. I currently have a Ranger X with gearless brushless motors which I have destroyed quite a few of them over the last four years. The electronics boxes have all been replaced 3 to 4 times each if not more. My biggest problem is the amount of miles that I travel in one day and this past summer I covered 20 miles in just over 10 hours. The tires are an absolute joke because sometimes I go through three sets of tires a year. Medicaid thousands of dollars in repairs and maintenance just to keep this thing on the road and now with all the cutbacks it will be even harder for them the approved an adequate chair for my needs. So what kind of recommendation do I need from a doctor to justify an expensive chair for my quality of life? I tried seeing a specialist for my back problem but that appointment fell through. I live in the state of Indiana and any ideas would greatly be appreciated. Thanks c3/417 years post
________________________________ From: Patrick Kenneally <[email protected]> To: Dan <[email protected]>; [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 6:05 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] posture Hi Dan, No question it is getting tougher getting a high-end chair through Medicare but it can be done. I was accepted for a Permobile E-300 last month with full tilt and recline due to a continuing breakdown of the right ishiam. Prior chairs were standard Invecares that broke down constantly. My journey involved establishing medical necessity through my MD, Plastic Surgeon and Wound Dr. then a PT evaluation with the vendor present. All accepted Medicare, located in Reno, NV. My out of pocket costs were a little over four thousand, my 20% co-pay. Shop around, there's got to be a vendor and good PT for an eval in Phoenix area I would think. Good luck in your efforts, pk - C6-7 22 years now ________________________________ From: Dan <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, February 7, 2012 2:22:35 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] posture It would be nice if it was that easy to access qualified therapists. 11 years ago when I got a new chair I had a team of excellent therapists fit me to the chair. They made sure all the adaptations and adjustments were made. However, things have drastically changed over the past 10 years. Medicare who is my primary payer has cut back tremendously on what it will cover. I'm trying to buy a new chair which is exactly the same make and model of my previous chair which Medicare covered. This time Medicare will not pay for it as it is now considered a high end chair. A high-end chair is one that is built well enough to use inside as well as outside without breaking down. Not only do they not cover the chair, but my excellent staff that fitted me to my last chair the longer accepts Medicare because they have reduced their reimbursement to such an extent. So, what's a person to do? Dan At 04:23 PM 2/7/2012, [email protected] said something that elicited my response: Greetings Glen, >I would ask that you consider a seating and positioning evaluation to correct the seat and position issues. Occupational Therapist with certification in Positioning are used with Techs to achieve the best position. Sometimes its the seat. With others its the upper AB supports. Poorly fitted equipment and accessories can cause damage to your injury with rubbing and skin breakdown too. >Some posture can be controlled but not cured, depending on various needs and requirements. >Best Wishes > >In a message dated 2/7/2012 12:05:30 P.M. Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > >Hello all, > > > >Does anyone use foam or other means to correct bad posture when setting? > > > >My posture when sitting is very very poor and I lean badly to the right. > > > >I can start sitting fairly decent, but during the day my hip migrates to the left > >and my posture gets even worse. > > > >Would like to hear any ideas. > > >Glenn Henry > " You are not enclosed within your bodies; nor confined to houses and fields. That which is you dwells above the mountain and roves with the wind." Kahlil Gibran
