Latest News
Medicare policy changes rattle those who depend on communication devices
For the better part of a year, people who have speech impairment or loss feared that a sudden, and painfully literal, reinterpretation of Medicare policy would diminish their abilities to communicate. Their advocates and the makers of communications devices also worried about how the changes might affect them. Since 2001, Medicare has paid for the basic communications device, which costs an average of about $6,000, and the beneficiary could pay for upgrades, like the Internet, phone or functions of a TV remote or thermostat. Beginning in April, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said beneficiaries could not get upgrades for the devices until after a 13-month rental period….Read More