Medicare Recipients: Do You Have the Wheelchair You Need? If Not, We Need to Know

Sample Letter/E-mail for The Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006

These documents came to us from United Spinal Association Alerts. As you will see, Senator Collins has all ready co-sponsored the pending Senate legislation. Its important to call Senator Snow’s office and ask for her co-sponsorship. (ed.)

GOOD NEWS!
SENATORS BINGAMAN AND SANTORUM
INTRODUCE “IN THE HOME” BILL

On Monday, July 17, Senators Bingaman (D-NM) and Santorum (R-PA) introduced legislation to remove Medicare’s "in the home" restriction on mobility devices.   Please ask your Senators to cosponsor this important legislation for people with disabilities!

Currently, Medicare will only cover mobility devices if beneficiaries need them for use inside their homes. If a beneficiary can function at home with a manual wheelchair, but needs a power wheelchair to go to work, the doctor, or the local grocery store, Medicare will only pay for a manual wheelchair.  This "in the home" rule severely restricts the independence of people with disabilities, limiting their ability to work and participate in other community activities.

Senator Bingaman and Senator Santorum’s new bill, the "Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006" (S.3677), would eliminate the “in the home” restriction.  The bill currently has 8 additional cosponsors: Senators Murray (D-WA), Collins (R-ME), Akaka (D-HI), Jeffords (I-VT), Lieberman (D-CT), Kerry (D-MA), Harkin (D-IA), and Kennedy (D-MA). 

The work of disability advocates nationwide has gotten us to this stage.  Now it is time to take the effort to the next level, and build support for this bill throughout the United States Senate! 

ACTION:  If your Senators are not yet cosponsors, please call them toll-free via the Capitol Switchboard at 1-877-224-0041.  Ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 3677, the Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006, introduced by Senators Bingaman and Santorum.  You can also email your Senators by going to http://www.senate.gov, and selecting "Senators," then your state, and then clicking on the web form links. 

Let your Senators know that people with disabilities should have access to devices that will help them live healthy and independent lives – both inside and outside of their homes!

Please contact Dan Anderson, United Spinal Association, at 718-803-3782, ext. 294, or danderson@unitedspinal.org, with any questions. Thank you for your advocacy! 

Outdated policies prevent many Medicare recipients from getting the wheelchair they need to live independent and productive lives. Currently, Medicare will only pay for a wheelchair if you need it for use in your home. If you can function at home with a manual chair, but need a power chair to go to work, your doctor, or the local grocery store, Medicare will only pay for a manual chair.

United Spinal is embarking on a major legislative campaign to ensure that every Medicare recipient with a disability has access to the "Right Wheelchair."

If you don’t have the right wheelchair because Medicare refuses to pay for it, we need to hear from you. Personal stories from members affected by this disastrous rule are the most powerful tool we have to make Congress understand why legislation is urgently needed.

This policy affects you if:

You are a Medicare recipient, AND
Medicare is not providing you with the type of wheelchair you need to fully access your community.

If this describes you, please contact Dan Anderson and help us convince Congress that it’s time to fix this irrational policy. Contact Dan Anderson at 1-800-404-2898, extension 294, or e-mail danderson@unitedspinal.org.

You can copy and paste this sample letter into a word processor program or e-mail for editing. Please feel free to add to it or change it to put it in your own words.

[Enter Today’s Date]

The Honorable [Full Name of the Senator]
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator [Last Name]:

I strongly urge you to cosponsor S. 3677, The Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006. This legislation would remove the outdated restrictions that prevent many Medicare recipients with disabilities from getting the wheelchair they need to live independent and productive lives.

Currently, Medicare will only cover mobility devices if people need them for use inside their homes. If a person with a disability can function at home with a manual wheelchair, but needs a power wheelchair to go to work, their doctor, their place of worship, or the local grocery store, Medicare will only pay for a manual wheelchair. This restriction, known as the "in the home" rule, runs counter to many government initiatives to improve access to independent living for people with disabilities.

[If you, a loved one, or someone you know is trapped at home because of this policy, or negatively affected in other ways, please explain how this policy hurts you or them. Your personal experience is important!]

Again, please cosponsor and support S. 3677. This legislation is very important to me. People with disabilities should have access to devices that will help them live healthy and independent lives – both inside and outside of their homes! Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name;]
[Organization, if it applies to you;]
[Full Address]

8-24-06