Post by wavewolf on Sept 25, 2015 20:00:36 GMT -8
wh.gov/iQ51K
Petitions may not have a large effect but they are a way of educating people. Preserving funding for complex rehab technology is truly a critical issue now in the USA, scary in multiple ways. If this change passes, not only will the government not fund this equipment, but insurers will not be far behind. What makes it even worse is that this will discourage companies from investing in new products for us, because Medicare and other insurers will not reimburse. We are returning to the olden days when SCIs had to buy all equipment out of pocket. I encourage everyone, whether directly impacted or not, to please sign because this will only continue to impact other reimbursement areas if we don't speak up. They say we are 20% of the population, so this is the time to show our real clout.
Unfortunately, this move was kind of foreseeable. Medicare would lose billions of dollars over the next decade due to the ACA, that was brought to light before it was enacted. Also, providers are pricing their products at ridiculous markup costs. When a high end wheelchair costs more than a fully electric car, to me, it's understandable that insurers won't continue paying for equipment. Insurance has created noncompetitive inflation.
Many newly injured may not have the opportunity to live a full life if this change is enacted. And we will live with "unsupported" equipment that will eventually wear out, and our lives will be drastically worse.
