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Disability in the News.

New Guidelines in Medicaid Equipment Coverage.

Sally Richardson, Director of Medicaid and State Operations for the U.S. Healthcare Financing Adminitration, issued guidelines to all State Medicaid Directors. These guidelines will significantly aid Medicaid recipients' efforts t obtain access to needed assistive devices and other forms of treatment.

The guidelines address and prohibit the use of two defenses currently being raised by state Medicaid programs to oppose providing equipment. State Medicaid agencies cannot state that:

1. In order for equipment to be covered, it must be on the state "exclusive list."
2. If it is not on the "exclusive list" it can only be covered if the claimant can show the equipment is needed by the "Medicaid population as a whole."

The guidelines assert that the Medicaid program should be covering and providing a wide range of medical equipment and assistive devices to people with disabilities.
Source: Lewis Golinker, Esq, Assistive Technology Funding and Systems Change Project.

For more information, contact your local Medicaid representative or visit this project online at www.ucpa.org/html/innovative/atfsc_index.html.  
 

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