It’s been almost a month since my last blog posting about my testimony in front of the Ohio House of Representatives regarding proposed Medicare changes.
A great deal of my time these past few weeks has been spent advocating on behalf of others affected by the proposed changes. I continue to serve on a state coalition which meets monthly to work towards ensuring detrimental changes are not made. And on Tuesday I will be attending a meeting to support LEAP’s proposal to the Mt. Sinai Foundation regarding the need for more advocacy.
In the meantime, this is where I’d like to ask you for your support.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is planning significant funding cuts for complex rehab wheelchair “accessories” – things like specialized seat cushions, batteries, power tilt and recline systems, power leg elevators, etc. Some of these proposed cuts are quite steep. For example, a power tilt and recline system (critical to help relieve pressure for a seated individual) could be cut up to 50%.
These cuts will have devastating consequences for people with high level physical disabilities, such as myself, who rely on complex rehab equipment for mobility and more.
A bill has been introduced to congress, H.B. 3229, to stop the proposed cuts.
H.B. 3229 was introduced on July 27 by a Republican from New York State and has about 30 sponsors. It was referred to the Subcommittee on Health of the House Ways and Means Committee on July 30th.
Language of the bill:
Stop Medicare from Making Inappropriate Cuts to Complex Wheelchair Accessories
Despite past legislation & recent congressional action, Medicare is diminishing reimbursement rates for complex rehab wheelchair accessories & seating systems in January 2016. This will have a devastating impact on severely disabled people across the U.S.
People with significant disabilities such as ALS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy & spinal cord injuries rely on these items to meet their medical & independence needs.
No clinical or medical evidence has been provided as to why these changes are necessary. If this policy is not rescinded, major decreases in availability (or outright elimination) of individually configured complex rehab wheelchair systems will occur.
To protect access for people with severe disabilities, this policy must be rescinded.
Below is a link to a White House petition to stop it:
Please consider signing the petition. The deadline for signatures is October 25th, so the timing is critical! Feel free to share with others.
Thank you for the continued support!
Stand Strong!
Scott
What will be left for the rest of us? You take and take and take. Thanks for good old Obama care.
We screwed before before him and we are screwed even more.
Hi Scott!
Kevin and I both signed.
I didn’t think you would mind, so posted this to Facebook. Thank you for sharing!
Stephanie
Signed and posted on Facebook for additional support!
Sounds like a Republican move to me. I oppose it and I signed it.
Scott, thanks for the information. Will sign and post to Facebook. Thank you for making me aware.
Done Scott. I’m sending it to my husband as well. We still need to have that glass of wine with Donna. Take care.
Signed! Thanks for reaching out to raise awareness of this issue, Scott.
Hi Scott,
Signed sealed and delivered. Best to you! Love to you. Cherry
Signed! I also posted on my Facebook and am sending message out. Thank you Scott
Scott – Thank you for sharing this. I posted it on Facebook (public) and Twitter. I suggest everyone do the same – make this go viral. Sending you love and light.
Done.
It sounds like our good old government thinking. Slam them down even more, as if their disability isn’t bad enough. I am with you.