We are calling you to action!

Many of you may know that Medicare is implementing changes to its policy and reimbursement schedule that will go into effect November 15, 2006. These changes do not allow considerations for those with progressive diseases when prescribing equipment such as power wheelchairs and will decrease the reimbursement rates up to 40%. MDA, its National Task Force for Public Awareness, employees and Jerry Lewis are all contacting public officials in Congress to delay the effective date for these policies. We are encouraging the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to rethink their current plan.

We are asking that you send correspondence to your congressional representatives about this issue. A sample letter is attached that you can use to write your representatives. For more information about the policies and Jerry Lewis' response, go to http://www.mdausa.org/news/061101lewis_medicare.html . You can find your state Congressional representatives by going to www.congress.org and typing in your zip code.

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this iniative. We hope that by postponing the effective date, CMS will reconfigure their plan to be best for the millions of Americans who have progressive diseases. At its current state, the plan will be detrimental to the independence and health of all those who use or plan to use power wheelchairs.
http://www.mdausa.org/news/061101lewis_medicare.html