Posted by Lib on September 24, 2010 at 03:31:25:
Sen. Snowe Maine and Sen. John Kerry Mass. have introduced a bill that would require Medicare cover supplies and home nursing visits for home IV therapy. Right now all that they will cover is the medication. So since I have been on Medicare I have had to spend the two weeks of meds in the hospital. That is something I never had to do when I had private insurance. As most of you probably know a lot of time there is no need of that. I rest better at home,am capable of caring for myself and exposure to other "germs" is far less.
As of right now Medicare will only cover the expense of home IV therapy for eight disease states and CF is not one of them. The CFF and Beth Sufian have been trying to work with Medicare to change that but it is slow going. If the Senate would pass the Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2011 the issue would be solved.
Please contact your state reps to urge passage of the bill.
Imagine the money spent on hospializing us when we could be at home! And they wonder why the government is broke.