Wise Young
02-23-2002, 02:38 AM
From: "NCAHB -- E-mail Update" <NCAHB1@aol.com>
To: "NCAHB -- E-mail Update" <NCAHB1@aol.com>
Subject: Sen. Collins of Maine Leads Nation on Disability Issue
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 01:19:05 +0000
X-Priority: 3
Importance: Normal
Dear friends of NCAHB,
Great news, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, has gladly agreed to introduce a companion bill to HR1490, The Homebound Clarification Act. We will keep you posted when the bill is introduced. We are working to arrange a news conference and possibly a Senate briefing and another House briefing.
We need your immediate action to eliminate the additional cut in the Medicare home health benefit currently scheduled for October 1 of this year. This cut has no adjustment for more costly or more vulnerable patients and therefore will fall heaviest on the most costly patients (those who suffer from chronic illness more serious illness as well as those in rural areas). We urge you to coordinate within the disability community a phone, letter and email campaign to put political pressure on the White House to eliminate this cut. It must be done soon because the White House is preparing a letter now to Chairmen Thomas and Johnson listing the Medicare relief they believe should be provided this year. Please contact your representatives and senators and as them to do the same.
While broader coverage under the homebound definition is extremely important, it could be rendered meaningless if the covered services are not funded. This is what Congress did in the balanced budget amendment '97. That has resulted in 900,000 beneficiaries being eliminated from the home health benefit with the greatest drop being among the highest utilizers (the most chronically and seriously ill) and rural patients.
Thank you for your continued efforts and support.
Best regards,
David Jayne
NCAHB Founder
amendhomeboundpolicy
http://www.amendhomeboundpolicy.homestead.com
115 Hayes Circle
Rex, Georgia 30273
770-474-1105
djayne23@aol.com
To: "NCAHB -- E-mail Update" <NCAHB1@aol.com>
Subject: Sen. Collins of Maine Leads Nation on Disability Issue
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 01:19:05 +0000
X-Priority: 3
Importance: Normal
Dear friends of NCAHB,
Great news, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, has gladly agreed to introduce a companion bill to HR1490, The Homebound Clarification Act. We will keep you posted when the bill is introduced. We are working to arrange a news conference and possibly a Senate briefing and another House briefing.
We need your immediate action to eliminate the additional cut in the Medicare home health benefit currently scheduled for October 1 of this year. This cut has no adjustment for more costly or more vulnerable patients and therefore will fall heaviest on the most costly patients (those who suffer from chronic illness more serious illness as well as those in rural areas). We urge you to coordinate within the disability community a phone, letter and email campaign to put political pressure on the White House to eliminate this cut. It must be done soon because the White House is preparing a letter now to Chairmen Thomas and Johnson listing the Medicare relief they believe should be provided this year. Please contact your representatives and senators and as them to do the same.
While broader coverage under the homebound definition is extremely important, it could be rendered meaningless if the covered services are not funded. This is what Congress did in the balanced budget amendment '97. That has resulted in 900,000 beneficiaries being eliminated from the home health benefit with the greatest drop being among the highest utilizers (the most chronically and seriously ill) and rural patients.
Thank you for your continued efforts and support.
Best regards,
David Jayne
NCAHB Founder
amendhomeboundpolicy
http://www.amendhomeboundpolicy.homestead.com
115 Hayes Circle
Rex, Georgia 30273
770-474-1105
djayne23@aol.com