The article, A Quiet ‘Sea Change’ in Medicare, made an exciting announcement that Medicare will now pay for therapy services for those patients who are diagnosed with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease in order to “maintain their condition and prevent deterioration”. Previous to this modification, patients had to show improvement in order to continue to receive these therapy services.
This change in Medicare’s policy comes on the heels of a recent lawsuit filed in 2011 on behalf of four Medicare patients and five national organizations, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Parkinson’s Action Network and the Alzheimer’s Association. It allows people to remain a little healthier for a longer time and stay a little bit more independent, said Margaret Murphy, associate director at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. And it eases the burden on families who are scrambling to take care of their loved ones, she said.
Don’t expect to hear this news being shouted out from the roof tops, however. Medicare is not required to notify beneficiaries of this change, so share this article with family and friends and on social media sites so that those who can benefit will understand their rights to continue to receive integral therapy services.
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