Eliminate Medicare Confusion
Medicare Coverage for Wheelchairs is Seamless with the Mobility Alliance Group
With additional Medicare reimbursement cuts going into effect November 15, it's now more important than ever to find help for purchasing the right power wheelchair or scooter, and understanding how these changes affect you as a consumer.
The Medicare changes are intended to eliminate widespread fraud identified by the Health and Human Services Department, which oversees the program. Agency spokesman Jeff Nelligan said the increase is a "direct result of the excessive prices Medicare pays for these products."
A 2004 study showed Medicare reimbursements for certain power wheelchairs were far higher than the prices paid by consumers and suppliers. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers both health care programs, expenditures for power wheelchairs ballooned between 1995 and 2003 -- from $43 million to $1.2 billion in just over just eight years.
Most suppliers have supported overhauling the system, as many companies have abused it. But they say the government has gone too far.
Andrew Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said "Medicare is not asking what is in the best interest of the patient. People are either going to have to figure out a way to finance them outside of Medicare, pay it out of pocket or just use their current chair until it breaks down," he said.
As many local providers are contemplating dropping their power wheelchair lines, consumers are increasingly turning to the Mobility Alliance Group to eliminate the confusion of Medicare reimbursements.
Mobility Alliance Group providers take care of all the details for its customers. They contact your doctor and submit all Medicare and supplemental insurance claim forms.
The result is top-level service and the elimination of confusing paperwork, according to Leslie White, who manages the Mobility Alliance Group.
"We work with providers all across the country that can meet the needs of power wheelchair users," White says. "Our providers offer free in-home setup and free delivery. Our providers offer a hands-on approach that is unmatched in its level of customer service. They can help consumers pick the power wheelchair or scooter that best meets their needs."
