At Disability Briefing, Sen. Harkin Says "In The Home" Policy Must Change, Comments On Restoring ADA - USA

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 01 Mar 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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A February 27 briefing about disability policy issues sponsored by a Washington law firm included remarks by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), committee staff from key healthcare committees in Congress, and disability organizations. Senator Harkin, who chairs the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the new Congress may pursue restoration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Sen. Harkin said the ADA needs to be restored because the law has been interpreted more narrowly than Congress originally intended.

"We need to review and reform Medicare policies from a disability perspective," Harkin said. "For example, how can we expect the ADA's goals to be fulfilled when the largest purchaser of health care in this country, Medicare, pays only for wheelchairs that are appropriate for use in a person's home - giving no consideration to the need for mobility in the community and in the workplace? This so-called 'in the home' policy has got to be changed."

"As we all know, assistive technology devices can work wonders in the lives of people with disabilities. But we need to ensure that folks providing these devices and services are qualified to do so…. And that's why I support policies that mandate accreditation for suppliers of durable medical equipment. We need to make sure that these quality-control policies are implemented the right way, consistent with congressional intent."

American Association for Homecare
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 725
Arlington, VA 22202
http://www.aahomecare.org

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