“This is absolutely wonderful news for the clients of our center” says Carol Dickert, Vice President of Outpatient Therapy Services at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care.
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| Thousands of people with chronic conditions and disabilities may find it easier to qualify for Medicare coverage for outpatient therapy under policy changes in Medicare. |
As
a result of a recent nationwide class-action lawsuit, Medicare has agreed to
scrap a decades-old practice that required many beneficiaries to show a
likelihood of medical or functional improvement before Medicare would pay for
skilled therapy services.
Under
this significant change Medicare will rewrite the manual to make clear that its
coverage rules will pay for “Skilled Maintenance Therapy” it is needed to
maintain the patient’s current condition or prevent or slow further
deterioration regardless of whether the patient’s condition is expected to
improve.
This
change will help people with chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease,
multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries and
traumatic brain injury. It could also provide relief for families and
caregivers who often find themselves stretched financially and personally by
the need to provide care.
Disability
frequently accompanies many chronic conditions and often there are no cures, so
people are likely to experience progressive disability. Rehabilitation,
including Physical and Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, are incredibily
important to maintain a person’s function and quality of life.
To
find out more information or to schedule an appointment for therapy at St. Ann
Center contact: Outpatient Therapy Services, Carol Dickert, 414-977-5005 or
email csdickert@stanncenter.org
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