DME Public Comment

PublicCommentonProposedMedicaidRulesApril 16, 2007 For more information, contact: John Inglish, Advocate, at 1-800-662-9080 or jinglish@disabilitylawcenter.org PUBLICCOMMENTONPROPOSEDMEDICAIDRULESREGARDINGDMEHEALTH,HEALTHCAREFINANCING,COVERAGEANDREIMBURSEMENTPOLICYR41470MEDICALSUPPLIES,DURABLEMEDICALEQUIPMENT,ANDPROSTHETICDEVICESDARFILENO.:29535 SubmittedonApril16,2007to:HealthCareFinancing,CoverageandReimbursementPolicyc/oDonHawleyCannonHealthBldg288N1460WSaltLakeCityUT84116/3231HANDDELIVEREDANDFIRSTCLASSMAILBackground1OnFebruary21,2007,theDivisionofHealthCareFinancing(DHCF)filedaproposal designedtoformalizeexistingcoverageandreimbursementpracticefordurablemedicalequipment(DME).Inaddition,theDivisionhasissuedaRequestforProposal(RFP)seekingasinglecontractforthe2provisionofmanualandpowerwheelchairstoalleligibleMedicaidbeneficiaries. BeginningwiththeRehabilitationActof1973andcontinuingthroughPresidentBush’sNewFreedomInitiative,theU.S.hasbuiltastrongtraditionofintegratingpersonswithdisabilitiesintowork,family,andcommunitylife.CongresshasmadeitclearthatthepurposeoftheMedicaidprogramisto“furnishmedicalassistance...andrehabilitationandotherservicestohelp[recipients]attainorretain3capabilityforindependenceorself/care.” ...