News from ALSA

ALS Patient David Jayne Witnesses Medicare Bill Signing

President Bush signed the landmark Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 on December 5. The bill marks the most significant reform of Medicare since its creation in 1965. Especially important to the ALS community and all people facing soaring drug prices is the bill's prescription drug benefit that will drastically reduce the cost of prescription drugs to Medicare recipients and provide them with catastrophic coverage. The president signed the bill during a ceremony attended by U.S. senators, representatives, and other dignitaries along with several thousand people who will benefit from this bill and who have worked for its passage.

http://www.alsa.org/news/news120803.cfm

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Vol. 8, No.9 September 2003

Medicare Covers Cough Device

In July, the J.H. Emerson Co., makers of CoughAssist, announced Medicare’s adoption of a national coverage policy for this device, which helps people with failing respiratory muscles to clear secretions. This new policy applies to people with an ineffective cough due to ALS and other neuromuscular disorders involving weakness of the respiratory muscles.

Using HCPCS code E0482, "cough-simulating device, alternate positive and negative pressure," will make it easier to obtain Medicare reimbursement for the CoughAssist. For further details, contact J.H. Emerson at (800) 252-1414, or visit www.jhemerson.com.

"Assistive Devices for the Less-Abled"
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Telephone: (716) 633-5654
Email: bdbohm@DonnasJourneyWithALS.com