[Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - RegardingInsuranceCoverage of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics

Sun Jul 25 16:07:05 UTC 2010

This may be true. However, (1) if it is against the law for insurance 
companies to enter into contracts that restrict their formularies from 
including accessible devices, medical supply companies would have to go 
along whether they liked it or not. The situation is analogous to that in 
which the courts and civil rights statutes have ruled that conditions, 
covenants and restrictions with provisions involving race are deemed 
unenforceable. (2) I suspect that directly requiring medical supply houses 
to carry accessible meters would run afoul of various provisions of the U.S. 
and/or state constitutions.

Mike Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 4:29 AM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - RegardingInsuranceCoverage 
of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics

> Being a medical insurance specialist, it is not the medical insurance 
> company that has the contract with the manufacturer, it is the Durable 
> Medical Supply Company, that the HMO and Private insurance companies that 
> carry the product may have a contract with a manufacturer.
>
> The biggest compliment you can pay me is to recommend my services!
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Travel Consultant
> C10-10646
>
> http://Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
>
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
> CST-1018299-10
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Vincent Chaney" <vgc732 at optonline.net>
> To: "Everett Gavel" <everettgavel at att.net>; "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" 
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 2:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - Regarding 
> InsuranceCoverage of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics
>
>
>> Everett,
>>
>> The Resolution 2010-13 you have presented is the entire document I had
>> submitted and was approved. The closure of the resolution was intended to
>> include the recommendation to our state representatives (state senators,
>> congressmen, assemblymen and any other title used within states) that
>> individual state laws would have to encompass private insurers to follow 
>> the
>> guidelines of the formulary list, upon the inclusion of accessible 
>> medical
>> equipment/devices.
>> I wanted to start at the top by initially addressing Health and Human
>> Services to create the model to be followed. Then extend this as a 
>> guideline
>> with offering our, The NFB, NFB DAN and each of us willing to be 
>> advocates,
>> involvement and assistance to all US States and private insurance 
>> companies
>> to amend this inclusion of accessible medical equipment.
>>
>> Vinny
>> Vincent Chaney Jr
>> NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board of Directors
>> NFBNJ Diabetes Division President
>> NJAGDU (NFBNJ Association of Guide Dog Users) Division President
>> NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President
>> NFBNJ Resolutions Committee Member
>> NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
>> Mail: vgc732 at optonline.net
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Everett Gavel" <everettgavel at att.net>
>> To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 6:19 PM
>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - Regarding Insurance 
>> Coverage
>> of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics
>>
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Vincent mentioned his resolution recently.  It is
>> coming out soon in the Braille Monitor, yes, but can
>> also be found on the Resolutions page here:
>> http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Resolutions.asp?SnID=4
>>
>> On that page, just click on the '2010 Resolutions'
>> link.
>>
>> Or, simply read below.  ;-)
>>
>>
>> Strive On!
>> Everett
>>
>>
>>
>> Resolution 2010-13
>> Regarding Insurance Coverage of Accessible Equipment
>> for Diabetics
>>
>>      WHEREAS, standard medical treatment for diabetics
>> calls for the patient to monitor blood glucose levels
>> so that he or she can make adjustments in the amount of
>> insulin needed; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, certain health insurance plans dictate
>> what brand of diabetic equipment a member must use to
>> comply with the treatment regimen, claiming that this
>> strategy controls costs for both the insurer and the
>> insured; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, most insurance companies contract
>> strictly with one manufacturer, who typically provides
>> only inaccessible blood glucose meters and inaccessible
>> insulin injection devices, presenting a serious
>> obstacle to complying with the testing regimen for tens
>> of thousands of blind people with diabetes; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, the failure to place accessible blood
>> glucose meters and accessible insulin injection devices
>> on the insurers' formulary lists not only is a barrier
>> to independence for blind diabetics, but also adversely
>> affects their quality of life because of the added
>> difficulties they must confront in attempting to manage
>> and control their diabetes; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, the only way blind diabetics can acquire
>> an accessible blood glucose meter or accessible insulin
>> injection device is through a long and complicated
>> process of submitting extensive medical documentation,
>> and approval is not guaranteed; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, blind people have the same right to
>> health care as their sighted peers; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, insurance companies must no longer be
>> allowed to discriminate against blind people because of
>> their need for specialized equipment; and
>>
>>      WHEREAS, the denial of accessible equipment by
>> insurance companies undermines the emphasis on
>> preventive care set forth in the 2010 federal
>> healthcare reform legislation: Now, therefore,
>>
>>      BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the
>> Blind in Convention assembled this seventh day of July,
>> 2010, in the city of Dallas, Texas, that this
>> organization strongly urge the secretary of health and
>> human services to eliminate discrimination against the
>> blind by requiring that Medicare, Medicaid, and all
>> other medical insurance programs under the secretary's
>> jurisdiction cover accessible equipment for diabetics;
>> and
>>
>>      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization
>> strongly urge state legislatures and regulators to
>> eliminate discrimination against the blind by requiring
>> private medical insurance companies to cover accessible
>> equipment for diabetics.
>>
>>
>> ** This seems slightly stunted at the end there.
>> Vincent, or Mike, was there more, or is that the true
>> ending for this resolution?  Either way, good work, and
>> thanks for it!  ~Everett.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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