10 replies to this topic

[Murray]

This is USA stuff -

Give me some feedback if you have some reliable info -

I recently visited my wheelchair center to pick up some parts. In the lobby a tech was labeling various places on a power chair - tiedown attachment, recline feature, etc. Curious, I asked why she was doing the label bit. She paused with an exasperated look (Initially, I thought she was p-o'ed with my question. Not so. She was trying to come up with a simple answer.) Apparently, Medicare has been hit hard with power chair orders in the last few years. Demand for power chairs has increased 450% contrasted to an overall 11% increase in durable medical goods during the same period. So, the government - attempting to offset more drain on the already strained budget - has decided that a cost effective solution would be the designing and manufacturing of a one-size-fits-all chair. The way I understand it, all K1 - K5 w/cs will be consolidated into a single unit. Every w/c user knows that the next gimp can get along just fine with the same chair as yours ... right? I spoke to the store mgr for a bit. He knows the absurdity of the one chair-bit, but that his hands are tied right now. He added that he and his staff are trying build a w/c that meets the gov't specs - showing the ridiculous variety of features from one to the next. Not to mention the fact that our w/c is an extension of our person. It's part of each of us and helps establish our individuality.

Have any of you guys heard anything about this?

[Tim13]

Haven't heard of it but considering the number of GET YOUR FREE POWERCHAIR! ads in papers and on TV, I can see why the government may be doing something like that. It isn't fair to those of us who actually need wheelchairs which are customized for our personal needs but when companies are marketing them to people who can walk but find it easier not to and are using the medicare system to pay for them-somethings gotta give.
I doubt the "one size fits all" rule applies to everyone- it's likely just a way to streamline the process of getting generic powerchairs to lazy grannies and buffs to try and cut costs.

[wheeliebear75]

The Government wants to do this with manual chairs as well. Well we all know this means those of us who are still able to use a manual will be stuck in something like a $800 POS. I doubt that the same people who make the decisions such as this "one size fits all" would be putting their brother or sister that got hurt in a "one size fits all". ONLY if & when that happens.....THEN & ONLY THEN will those who are in charge give a flying f@*k about our situations!

[Murray]

wheeliebear75, on Jul 20 2009, 06:51 PM, said:

The Government wants to do this with manual chairs as well. Well we all know this means those of us who are still able to use a manual will be stuck in something like a $800 POS. I doubt that the same people who make the decisions such as this "one size fits all" would be putting their brother or sister that got hurt in a "one size fits all". ONLY if & when that happens.....THEN & ONLY THEN will those who are in charge give a flying f@*k about our situations!

I hear that, wheeliebear! Ditto! Reminds me of when I was in the teaching game in Oregon. In the 90's the state legislature decided they knew better what and how to teach than teachers. I hung on for about a decade, then tossed in the towel. Would like to have seen one of those suits in the classroom for a day or two. HA! Well, now the suits are taking over more stuff they know nothing about ... Like you said - just wait!

[Illinois Boy]

Tim13, on Jul 20 2009, 07:05 PM, said:

Haven't heard of it but considering the number of GET YOUR FREE POWERCHAIR! ads in papers and on TV, I can see why the government may be doing something like that. It isn't fair to those of us who actually need wheelchairs which are customized for our personal needs but when companies are marketing them to people who can walk but find it easier not to and are using the medicare system to pay for them-somethings gotta give.
I doubt the "one size fits all" rule applies to everyone- it's likely just a way to streamline the process of getting generic powerchairs to lazy grannies and buffs to try and cut costs.

I agree, no wonder Medicare is such a mess......

It cracks me up in department stores with all these fools in electric chairs that motor to what they need, then stand up to look around.....
Pretty soon we're gonna need traffic lights and road signs in stores....
Jim

[Bob C]

Medicare is also moving to a "one code, one price" for various categories of equipment and supplies, and that is resulting in higher amounts for recipients to pay. They look at the lowest price item in a category and base there payment on that. There is no consideration of quality, etc. We are going to bear the consequences of the cost-cutting going on. It won't be long before the only thing covered in full is euthanasia!

[Murray]

Bob C, on Jul 21 2009, 12:31 PM, said:

Medicare is also moving to a "one code, one price" for various categories of equipment and supplies, and that is resulting in higher amounts for recipients to pay. They look at the lowest price item in a category and base there payment on that. There is no consideration of quality, etc. We are going to bear the consequences of the cost-cutting going on. It won't be long before the only thing covered in full is euthanasia!

don't know 'bout that one, Bob ... a good slug costs a half dollar

[T0P]

They have no problem spending money on other things like:
$1.5 million for work on grapes and grape products, including wine;
$3.8 million for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy;
$1.9 million for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service;
$1.8 million for swine odor and manure management research;
$143,000 for the Greater New Haven Labor History Association;
$95,000 for the Canton Symphony Orchestra Association;
$4.5 million in wood utilization research;
$2 million for the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program;
$465 million for the Joint Strike Fighter "alternative" engine; (What's wrong with the one they have?)
$413,000 for peanut research;
...the list goes on; and the government wonders why there is no money.

wheeliebear75, on Jul 20 2009, 08:51 PM, said:

The Government wants to do this

Key word Government, they want to control everything.

They have already started the take over of the banks, the auto industry; next step is the medical field. Have you read the proposed new health care plan?
They want to make it mandatory people in Medicare have a required counseling session on how to end their life sooner. They will even recommend the methods used to end your life.
If you want to read the entire text of America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 you can read it here:
(Note: this takes awhile to open and even longer to read.)
Text of H.R.3200 as Introduced in House

Here is a brief article on the subject if you don't have the time or patience to read the whole thing:
Obamacare for old folks: Just 'cut your life short' - Health plan provision demands 'end-of-life' counseling

wheeliebear75, on Jul 20 2009, 08:51 PM, said:

I doubt that the same people who make the decisions such as this "one size fits all" would be putting their brother or sister that got hurt in a "one size fits all".

They won't because page 114 of the act specifically exempts members of Congress from the public plan.

Here's some more brief information:
If government-run health care is such a great idea, why won't members of Congress enroll their own families?

I'm not so sure I like this new proposed health care plan.

Not to be-little the concern of our wheelchair size, but if America don't wake up soon our wheelchair size will be the least of our worries. I did not read the entire plan, I was looking to see if I could find something on the wheelchair issue in the plan but I was going cross eyed and getting a headache trying to understand all the buzz words.

Edited by T0P, 23 July 2009 - 10:25 PM.

[Murray]

T0P, on Jul 23 2009, 03:21 PM, said:

They have no problem spending money on other things like:
$1.5 million for work on grapes and grape products, including wine;
$3.8 million for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy;
$1.9 million for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service;
$1.8 million for swine odor and manure management research;
$143,000 for the Greater New Haven Labor History Association;
$95,000 for the Canton Symphony Orchestra Association;
$4.5 million in wood utilization research;
$2 million for the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program;
$465 million for the Joint Strike Fighter "alternative" engine; (What's wrong with the one they have?)
$413,000 for peanut research;
...the list goes on; and the government wonders why there is no money.

wheeliebear75, on Jul 20 2009, 08:51 PM, said:

The Government wants to do this

Key word Government, they want to control everything.

They have already started the take over of the banks, the auto industry; next step is the medical field. Have you read the proposed new health care plan?
They want to make it mandatory people in Medicare have a required counseling session on how to end their life sooner. They will even recommend the methods used to end your life.
If you want to read the entire text of America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 you can read it here:
(Note: this takes awhile to open and even longer to read.)
Text of H.R.3200 as Introduced in House

Here is a brief article on the subject if you don't have the time or patience to read the whole thing:
Obamacare for old folks: Just 'cut your life short' - Health plan provision demands 'end-of-life' counseling

wheeliebear75, on Jul 20 2009, 08:51 PM, said:

I doubt that the same people who make the decisions such as this "one size fits all" would be putting their brother or sister that got hurt in a "one size fits all".

They won't because page 114 of the act specifically exempts members of Congress from the public plan.

Here's some more brief information:
If government-run health care is such a great idea, why won't members of Congress enroll their own families?

I'm not so sure I like this new proposed health care plan.

Not to be-little the concern of our wheelchair size, but if America don't wake up soon our wheelchair size will be the least of our worries. I did not read the entire plan, I was looking to see if I could find something on the wheelchair issue in the plan but I was going cross eyed and getting a headache trying to understand all the buzz words.

Holy shit! Wonder what the weather's like in NE Australia these days....

[wheeliebear75]

OMG! And politicians wonder why the general population "doesn't like them"? There are times where my pain has been so bad that had there been a push from anywhere to end my life & save the system & my family the "burden" I'd have probably gone through with it! If they're going to council people to end their lives sooner because of the "drain on the system & society" then we're next on that list; cuz if the elderly drain the system for their twilight years of 25yrs or less of retirement.......what the Hell are they going to say about US? We "drain the system" for decades. And here is another thing to think about; if they view our lives as being less valuable......will the Dr.s fight as hard to save people's lives?

Oh well of course they excluded themselves from these stipulations.......they exclude themselves from pay-cuts giving themselves raises while everyone else has to try & make their ends meet on less & less money! There are only a handful of "good" politicians out there..........the rest are a bunch of gigantic leeches......sucking the blood out of anything they touch. If policies are good & just.......than they wouldn't mind being subject to them as well, any & every politician who feels it is "OK" to have 2 sets of rules 1 for us 1 for them.......... THEY'RE THE ONES WHO NEED TO GO "OFF THEMSELVES".

I fear loosing services & equipment, I don't "fear death"......but I sure as shit don't want to die!

Hmmm. I know a few people who live in Australia.....think I need to see if they'd like a permanent house guest.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 24 July 2009 - 12:25 AM.

[Murray]

I tried readin' HR 3200 yesterday. For starters, I'd like to know how they come up with all those figures! What formulas do they use? And what kind of reliability do all those stats have? No wonder us pleabs can't make heads or tails o' what they do up there in their damn ivory tower on Pennsylvania Ave. Beats the hell outta me. Guess floodin' the damn Congressmen's mailboxes is the best a fella can do.... Here to there seems so goddamn far. It is what it is, but I sure as hell wish it weren't. Jus' gits me p-o'd, like I want t' go throw a few rounds in the chamber and let 'er loose on some o; them idiots.... that I voted for. Shit!