Please support H.R. 628 (The Steve Gleason Act of 2015) as it will help protect Medicare beneficiary access to the communications technologies. The bill aims to do this by achieving two goals: (1) removing SGDs from the DME payment category of “Capped Rental” and placing it in the “Routinely Purchased” category; and (2) by clarifying statutory language to make clear that Medicare covers eye tracking technology for those patients who need eye tracking in order to use their SGD. It is important to support this bill to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries will be able to continue to communicate with their families and caregivers, participate in society, and contribute to their own care.
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The legislation has already been endorsed by: |
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Tobii Dynavox |
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Team FrateTrain (Pete Frates’ advocacy organization) |
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ALS Association |
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American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) |
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The Center for Medicare Advocacy |
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American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) |
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United Spinal Association |
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Team Gleason (Steve Gleason’s advocacy organization) |
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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: |
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Contact your Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor bill H.R. 628 To find your local Representative: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ |
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If one or more of your members of Congress is on the following list, please write and thank them for their sponsorship and leadership on The Steve Gleason Act of 2015: |
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As a speech and language pathologist, I work directly with students and their families using communication devices. As technology continues to improve so too the ability of students that previously had no voice are given the chance to be more independent. When they realize that they can impact their environment the changes in them are remarkable. Just a quick funny story to demonstrate the power of communication, a young boy was working with a scanning device that he activated with a switch. Two of my graduate students were working with me and this young boy had them running around the classroom, hopping like a bunny and shouting hurrah as he giggled to see that he had them in HIS control.
I would sincerely appreciate your support of this bill on behalf of the children that I serve.
