Re: Are 2 vents 1 too many???

James Lubin (jlubin(AT)eskimo.com)
Tue, 24 Mar 1998 12:21:48 -0800

At 08:11 AM 3/24/98 -0500, Bob Mauro - PeopleNet wrote:
>I have been battling with Medicare over my PLV-100s. I have 2. But
>Medicare seems to think I don't need two -- even tho I'm on my vent
>24 hours a day. The problem might be resolved by my pulmonary
>doc's new letter, written in February. But I'm still not sure.
>So I've written to my congress persons. Have you had these
>problems? What have you done about them?

Bob,

I had 2 PLV-100s that my private insurance had bought when I became
paralyzed and totally vent depending due to transverse myelitis in 1989.
I've been on Medicare/Medicaid since 1991 and continued using my same 2
vents. Last year, one vent stopped working and medicare started renting a
PLV-100. Last month my other PLV-100 stopped working. The respitory company
brought another vent over, a LP-10. So far Medicare is refussing to pay for
a 2nd vent, unless specific requirements are met. They were going to
contact my doctor to tell him exactly what is needed. We haven't heard back
from them yet.

.
Jim Lubin
http://www.eskimo.com/~jlubin
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