Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Medicare issues new Durable Medical Equipment rules

MEDICARE LAUNCHES OUTREACH EFFORT TO HELP BENEFICIARIES WITH NEW PROGRAM THAT LOWERS COSTS FOR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PROGRAM THAT LOWERS COSTS FOR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, PROSTHETICS, ORTHOTICS, AND SUPPLIES
Nearly four million people with Medicare living in ten communities across the nation will receive information about a new program that will lower their costs for certain medical equipment and supplies by changing how Medicare pays for these items. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin mailing letters on the new program, which begins July 1, to beneficiaries later this month

“Beginning July 1, Medicare beneficiaries will see lower costs for some of their durable medical equipment and supplies – as much as a 43 percent savings for certain items – and the assurance they will have accredited and financially sound suppliers providing them with equipment and supplies,” said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. “It is important that people with Medicare who use certain medical equipment and supplies know they can call
1-800-MEDICARE or go to www.medicare.gov to see if their current supplier is a Medicare-contract supplier or what they may need to do to find a new supplier approved by Medicare.”

The resources being mailed to beneficiaries will include a brochure about the new program and a list of Medicare contract suppliers in their area. CMS is also sending similar information about the new program and the list of Medicare contract suppliers to local partner groups and durable medical equipment (DME) referral agents, such as hospital discharge planners, physicians’ office staff and home health agency social workers. The ten Round One communities include certain ZIP codes in the areas of Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX; Kansas City KS-MO; Miami and Orlando, Fla.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Riverside, Calif. and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The new program, required by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), uses the competitive marketplace to establish prices for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. Under the new program, bids submitted by suppliers were evaluated and the bids within the winning range established the competitive prices that beneficiaries – and Medicare – will pay. Suppliers who were accredited, met financial and quality standards and bid within the winning range were offered contracts under the competitive bidding program. By using these selected contract suppliers, Medicare beneficiaries should receive high quality items at an average saving of 26 percent from approved suppliers.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007

The Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007
H.R. 2370
Fact Sheet


General Purpose
The federal government gives American families a helping hand in saving for the future. Accounts with special tax advantages help people save for college, retirement, and other normal life events. But people with disabilities don’t have the same expectations for the future. They need a new savings instrument.

A typical tax-deferred savings plan, such as a “529” college tuition plan, can’t help a family with a child who may not go to college or become financially independent. On the other hand, the need for savings is even greater for a child with a disability because he or she will likely be less able to earn an income, and may require additional spending on medical treatment or adaptive equipment. Without a clear vision of the future, parents of children with disabilities must choose between turning down the advantages of savings plans or risking a penalty if their child cannot use the funds according to the account restrictions.


The Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007 was first introduced n the 109th Congress. The legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the establishment of Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities (FSAID) for the care of family members with disabilities.


Legislative Highlights
FSAID’s are exempt from taxation during the period of contribution;

Anyone can contribute to the financial security of a loved one;

Proceeds from the account, when used in accordance with this legislation, are not includible in the gross income of the beneficiary;
Accounts are for the exclusive purpose of paying qualified expenses of an individual who is disabled and who is designated the beneficiary of the trust;

Accounts are used for qualified expenses, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise, as detailed in the legislation. Such expenses include:

Educational expenses,
Medical and dental care,
Community based support services,
Employment training and support,
Moving,
Assistive technology, and
After the age of 18, housing and transportation expenses.

1. Flexibility
FSAID accounts are easy to establish, unlike some other savings instruments.
Anyone – other family members, friends, employers – can contribute to an account on behalf of a beneficiary;
Since they are as easy as a savings account to establish, the costs associated in administering the account are low;
The Beneficiary can serve as the Trustee of the account;
A family who saves money in a traditional account for a child who becomes disabled later in life can roll over the funds into a disability savings account without penalty;
The beneficiary can be changed to other qualified family members.

2. Portability
Unlike some savings instruments, such as “529” college accounts, the FSAID would be created and regulated only on the federal level, so they would operate under the same rules in every state.

3. Financial Security
The Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007 would give families of people with disabilities the ability to save for their child’s future just like every other American family, and help people with disabilities live full, productive lives in their communities

Under the proposal, an “individual with a disability” is defined as anyone currently receiving supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act or an individual otherwise eligible to receive such benefits notwithstanding the income and assets tests required for eligibility for such benefits;

Rollovers from other accounts are allowed without penalty into a FSAID;

Prohibits amounts held by, or paid or distributed from, FSAIDs from being treated as income or assets when determining eligibility for benefits provided by any Federal benefits program;

Any distributions that exceed qualifying expenses are subject to an income tax on the non-qualifying portion of the disbursement;

Contributions to a FSAID are capped at $500,000.00.

Steve Rhatigan goes to Washington DC, Part Two

May 8, 2008

Steven C. Rhatigan from The Woodlands, Texas was named as Chair for the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID).

Thirteen new members of PCPID, appointed by President George W. Bush, were sworn in by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Deputy Secretary Tevi D. Troy, Ph.D. The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities provides advice to the President and to the Secretary of HHS pertaining to matters relating to programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities.

“Persons with disabilities are a unique group and they deserve the same quality of life as all other individuals,” said Daniel C. Schneider, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. “The new members will assist in upholding the rights of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and guarantee their capacity to participate in all aspects of community life.”

“This is a diverse and remarkable group of leaders at the local, state and national level, coming together to finish out the president’s New Freedom Initiative, which is to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities,” said Steve Rhatigan, new chairman for PCPID, appointed by President George W. Bush.

Since its inception in 1965, the President’s Committee has led the charge to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, most recently adopting the goals outlined in President George W. Bush’s New Freedom Initiative to recognize and uphold the right of all people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy a quality of life that promotes independence, self-determination, and full participation as productive members of society. These goals include the assurance of full citizenship rights, the reduction of the occurrence and severity of intellectual disabilities and the promotion of forward thinking programs and services and cutting edge assistive technologies to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.