Nikki J
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2012
- Messages
- 16,378
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 04/2014
- Country
- US
- State
- MA
- City
- Boston
The news that medicare had reconsidered its policy on internet access for SGDs is only a reprieve. There is a comment page that all US members need to comment on and get your family and friends to do it too.
The issues as you know
The new rule disallowed devices with the capability of internet access even if you pay for the add on. If you hack them and they find out it would be confiscated. Only speech generation allowed. So no email no text no phone no social media no downloads of ebooks movies music
The environmental controls some pALS use would not be possible
The other issue is because it is a rental now for 13 months until you own it is taken away if you are hospitalized or in a nursing home. So could not even communicate using the device with the doctors and nurses.
Here is the link
Medicare Coverage Document (MCD) for Speech Generating Devices
The issues as you know
The new rule disallowed devices with the capability of internet access even if you pay for the add on. If you hack them and they find out it would be confiscated. Only speech generation allowed. So no email no text no phone no social media no downloads of ebooks movies music
The environmental controls some pALS use would not be possible
The other issue is because it is a rental now for 13 months until you own it is taken away if you are hospitalized or in a nursing home. So could not even communicate using the device with the doctors and nurses.
Here is the link
Medicare Coverage Document (MCD) for Speech Generating Devices