[rehab] Medicaid Payments for O&M Services

[Nancy Coffman]

Hi Jim,

One problem I have with medicaid getting involved in things like blind 
rehabilitation is that for rehab services to be effective, there needs to be 
an on-going process until the skills are mastered.  We are talking about 
skills and education.  We aren't talking about something we need to control 
or something that we can correct with a few visits to a physical therapist. 
Medicaid is also looking for "comparable benefits" and does not pay well for 
services.  In Nebraska, they pay 1/4 of the going rate.  I think between all 
of us we have compelling evidence that this is not a good idea.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Marks, Jim" <jimmarks at mt.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 3:03 PM
To: <rehab at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [rehab] Medicaid Payments for O&M Services

> The Montana Legislature is considering a bill that would require Medicaid 
> to pay for orientation and mobility services for qualified children in 
> K-12 education.  It may overlap to adult services as well.  The primary 
> advocate for the bill is an Orientation and Mobility Instructor working 
> for her local school district.
>
> While it's nice to have new funding streams for services, I'm concerned 
> about the medicalizing of blindness rehabilitation services.  It would be 
> a shame to involve medical doctors in things like buying a long white cane 
> when the docs know almost nothing about blind rehab.
>
> What have other states done?  Are there issues/pitfalls to consider?
>
> Thanks in advance for your replies.
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Jim Marks
> Disability Transitions Programs Director
> Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
> jimmarks at mt.gov
> http://vocrehab.mt.gov
> (406) 444-2591
>
> "The legitimate purpose of society and its governments is not to govern 
> people and to promote the good life for them, but to empower them to 
> govern themselves and to provide the good life for themselves and their 
> fellow humans."  Justin Dart
>
> _______________________________________________
> rehab mailing list
> rehab at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> rehab:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/nancylc%40sprynet.com