Re: New vent user
Bob Mauro - PeopleNet (mauro(AT)idt.net)
Sat, 9 May 1998 07:16:36 -0400 (EDT)
We need you all to write to your congress person to change the
following deadly Medicare policy!
U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has been working on my vent situation,
as you know. As of 5/8/98, Carolyn McCarthy's office has verified
that as of 1/98, Medicare no longer will pay for any backup vents;
however, there are exceptions. It seems the primary exception is
that a vent user need a second vent for mobility, i.e. mounted on
his/her wheelchair, and a primary vent at his/her bed to sleep
with. His/her doctor must state the medical necessity of that
second vent to give the vent user the mobility in his/her
wheelchair to get around the house (NOT outside the house) and
to take care of his/her needs around the house, such as getting to
the bathroom. My doctor has already written such as letter, and
on appeal to Medicare/United my second vent might be paid for. We
are waiting to see if that will be done on appeal to
Medicare/United.
But I am concerned with those vent users who are confined to bed
(unlike me) and who use a vent 24-hours a day. That person would
not be eligible for a second vent paid for by Medicare! This is
a ridiculous, life-threatening policy! It means that bedridden
vent user who live at home must go into a hospital/nursing facility
to be near a backup vent! Or risk death at home if their single
vent fails -- as all vents eventually do. Such
institutionalization would cost Medicare far more than Medicare
paying for a backup/second vent!
Therefore, I urge you to change this new Medicare policy and make
Medicare cover a second, backup vent for anyone who cannot be
without his/her vent for more than three hours. That three-hour
"free time" period would give such a person time to get to a
hospital emergency room. People like me only having 5 minutes
"free time" do not have that option! We need a backup vent! So
please create a bill to modify this new, life-threatening Medicare
vent policy! It is a matter of life and breath!
I urge you all to write congress now!
Bob Mauro, Mauro(AT)Idt.Net
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