The Right Step
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have recently made some positive changes to their scooter accessibility rules and limitations. In May 2005, CMS announced that MAE (Mobility Assistive Equipment) is available to “beneficiaries who have a personal mobility deficit sufficient to impair their participation in mobility-related activities of daily living such as toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming, and bathing in customary locations in the home.”
The evaluation for coverage eligibility is function-based, and assumedly takes place on an individual level. While this is a big step toward the right of all state residents to have their medical and mobility needs covered, it still contains several stipulations that could make the process long, confusing, and sometimes worthless to those who do not qualify.
The old CMS policy stated that “any patient who can take more than one step, even with the assistance of a cane, crutch, or walker, to transfer from a bed to a chair may be considered “ambulatory” and therefore would not qualify for a wheelchair.”
The new policy no longer states this, and is working towards a more sympathetic role based on the needs of one individual to the next. However, we have to be aware of the steps beyond initial wheelchair or scooter coverage, and stay on top of the progress of CMS to keep up with its patients.
Jason is a 24 year old college student who had a battle with Medicare to replace his broken wheelchair. Click here to read his story and many others working towards positive change at RightWheelchair.org.