medicare/speech

[Guest guest]

Bill, how has Medicare changed on paying for speech therapy - part or none

or length of time? I just started, it's hard to accept how slurred I've

become. Sad really. But struggle along and lots of practice. Was Charlotte

still able to speak? Dodie in MO

[Guest guest]

Dodie,

Back in 1998, Charlotte was able to get three months at a time of speech and

physical therapy. Now they cut you off if you don't progress (their words)

almost from one vist to another. Any plateau and they cut you off. If the

therapist comes at an " Off " time, for a visit or two - they cut you off. You

can get some therapy if the doctor orders it, if you are lucky, a month of

twice a week now. I would push my doctor to order it - but learn the

exercises, because they will not do it with you for long at home.

Charlotte was able to speak a little even at the end, particularly when she

was in an " On " period of her Sinemet. You could actually understand her

better on the phone, so it must be the lower sounds that go first. She always

improved overall when she was getting therapy. I believe that they should do

PT and ST at least once a week for MSA patients to help maintain the movement

and speech you have.

Take care, Bill Werre (looking at my birth certificate - born in St. Louis)

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DKamler wrote:

> Bill, how has Medicare changed on paying for speech therapy - part or none

> or length of time? I just started, it's hard to accept how slurred I've

> become. Sad really. But struggle along and lots of practice. Was Charlotte

> still able to speak? Dodie in MO

>

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