Critical Medicare Benefit In Jeopardy

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 30 Jun 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Please help us protect people with neuromuscular diseases from the potentially harmful impact of the recently released House Tri-Committee healthcare reform proposal. The package eliminates the first month purchase option for all power wheelchairs.

The current policy allows individuals to purchase power wheelchairs in the first month the product is prescribed, which ensures appropriate access to equipment and lower costs to consumers and the Medicare program. Individuals can purchase the power wheelchair that is right for their size, ability, and home situation, or they can choose to rent for a period of up to 13 months. Currently, 90 percent of beneficiaries choose to purchase their wheelchair during the first month, but the new language eliminates the immediate purchase-option for power-driven wheelchairs effective January 1, 2011. The proposed changes will apply to power-driven wheelchairs furnished on or after that date.

Please act now to help inform members of Congress about the consequences of this "one-size-fits-all" approach to healthcare; use MDA's online advocacy tool to e-mail your elected officials about this issue.

Please take 5 minutes to reach out to your member of the House of Representatives and let him or her know that you want to "preserve the first-month purchase option" for power wheelchairs.

Thank you! Together we will make a difference!

Source
MDA