FYI- Medicare beneficiaries needing wheelchairs

[Guest guest]

National Disability Group Announces New Web Site to Empower Medicare

Beneficiaries in Need of Wheelchairs and

Scooters

United Spinal Association, a national disability rights organization,

announced today the creation of a new Web site dedicated to reversing

Medicare's in-the-home policy, which restricts beneficiary access to needed

wheelchairs and scooters. Rightwheelchair.org, a joint project of United

Spinal Association, ITEM Coalition and the Clinician Task Force, will

serve as a vehicle for inspiring grassroots activities and as a

clearinghouse for information regarding Medicare's unfair coverage and

administrative policies relating to mobility devices.

Visitors to <http://Rightwheelchair.org>http://Rightwheelchair.org will find

important

background

information on Medicare's in-the-home restriction and they will have an

opportunity to share their experiences in trying to obtain a wheelchair or

scooter for themselves, a family member, or patient.

" The 'in-the-home' restriction severely impedes the health and independence

of United Spinal's members and all

individuals with disabilities, as it confines people to the four walls of

their homes and does not take into account

the need for people to access their physician's office, pharmacy, grocery

store, bank or place of worship, " said

Kim Ruff-Wilbert, policy analyst for United Spinal Association. " It is our

goal that through this Web site and

the sharing of information, we can change this restrictive policy. "

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Federal agency

that decides which health care costs

Medicare will cover, is currently in the process of re-evaluating its

policy for power wheelchair and scooter

reimbursements.

" We are pushing hard for CMS to finally address the 'in-the-home'

restriction, " stated Ruff-Wilbert. " In the

meantime, we will continue our fight to preserve beneficiaries' access to

their wheelchairs and encourage

those affected by this policy to visit <http://Rightwheelchair.org>http://

Rightwheelchair.org to learn

how they can help in

this battle for independence. "

For more information please contact Kim Ruff-Wilbert at (202) 331- 1002 or

e-mail us at

<mailto:LegislativeAlerts@...>LegislativeAlerts@....

[Guest guest]

To all,

I say amen to this (finally). It's a sad world when a 80 year old single man

can get his Viagra paid for by Medicare but a young person with a spinal

disorder cannot get a wheelchair paid for by Medicare. Let's hope CMS opens

it's

eyes to the major issues with it's policies.

And this ladies and gents comes from a Medicare employee. (please don't

hold it against me)

Elaina.