Restore Access to Wheelchairs
People with Disabilities Denied the Wheelchairs They Need
and the Freedom They Deserve
Many Medicare beneficiaries cannot obtain the manual or power wheelchair they need to move about their home and community. Medicare said it would relax outdated rules causing this problem as part of President Bushs pledge to create New Freedom for people with disabilities. Instead, it is enforcing them far more strictly than ever.
Medicare now will not purchase a power wheelchair for people who can walk short distances - even if they require one to move about safely and independently at home or anywhere else.
Medicare says it is taking these drastic steps to prevent fraud by a handful of unscrupulous vendors. This is important, but must be done without robbing beneficiaries of medically necessary aids and their basic liberties.
Take action today: Sign this petition urging the Bush Administration to develop a fair and medically sound Medicare coverage policy for manual and power wheelchairs.
Dear Secretary Thompson:
I am writing to urge you to revise current Medicare policy that makes it impossible for many to obtain the manual or power wheelchair they need to move about their home and community.
Your agency said it would try to relax this unfair standard as part of President Bushs pledge to create New Freedom for people with disabilities of all ages. Instead, it is enforcing it far more strictly than ever.
The rule now denies a person who can only take a few steps Medicare coverage for a wheelchair that their physician says they need to move about safely and independently in their home, and everywhere else. This defies sound medical judgment -- subjecting many to unnecessary serious injury and driving up Medicare costs.
It is vital, therefore, that you work with people with disabilities, physicians, clinicians, industry and others to develop a fair and rational coverage policy that ensures beneficiaries with legitimate medical needs have access to wheelchairs for use in their homes and communities and addresses the issue of combating fraud. Thank you for your consideration.
