National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness
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President Bush and Congress
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Homebound Americans -
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A Petition to President Bush and Congress In Support of David Jayne and the National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness
Dear President Bush and Respected Members of Congress,
My name is David Jayne. I am 39 and have had a 13-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, otherwise known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative condition that causes my muscles to atrophy. I live in the community of Rex, 15 miles south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia. In early 1998, I had a tube inserted in my throat and was hooked to a portable ventilator. I use a computerized speech processor to speak. I receive my nutrition via a tube permanently inserted in my stomach. My mobility is limited to the ability to twitch three fingers. These medical conditions create an ongoing need for skilled nursing. Admittedly, the disease I face is brutal and harsh. However, I do not face this disease alone. I love life, my church, my friends, my community and my family. With the adoption of the ADA, which your father so heroically signed into law, it has opened many doors once thought permanently closed to the disabled. Along with these new laws, new modern technologies, such as portable ventilators, have created even more unparalled opportunities for me to be an active and contributing part of my community. Today, however, it is not ALS that stands in my way, it is a harsh Medicare policy.
My Medicare home health care provider had been sending an attendant to my home for two hours a day, seven days a week since 1997 to help me get out of bed and take a shower. Last year my provider tried to terminate my service after I went to the funeral of a friend who had died from ALS. I skirted that challenge but it points to the harsh impact of Medicares homebound rule. Recently, however, because I gave inspirational speeches at my church and to a class of physical therapy students, participated in an ALS "fun run," and traveled with a college friend on an overnight trip to watch the University of Georgia -- University of Florida football game, my Medicare home health care benefits were cut off. The provider was following a Medicare policy that no longer considers me "homebound" and thus eligible for these vital medical benefits. My Medicare benefits have since been restored, but at the cost of my freedom. I must now remain confined to my home to maintain these benefits.
I ask you now to help improve this harsh governmental policy which virtually has made me become a prisoner of my home. I have learned of other similarly situated people with significant chronic illness across America. I value these Americans. I care about the quality of their lives. Under Medicare rules, a person is considered homebound when "leaving home is a major effort" and "When you leave home, it must be infrequent, for a short time or to get medical care".
I ask that we amend this policy. The amended policy should rest on medical standards taking into consideration the amount of effort it takes for a person to leave the home. The frequency and duration criteria as they presently exist are wholly arbitrary. If persons with significant chronic illness are able to acquire the technological and personal resources necessary to leave their home, they should be granted the freedom to do so and still receive the medical and personal care they need and deserve while living at home. If a fair policy cannot be achieved due to financial constraints, let us work positively and creatively for better solutions.
Sincerely,
David Jayne, Rex Georgia
The National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness
Please read the mission statement of my National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness. Please join our coalition by endorsing the petition to President Bush and Congress set forth below.
Please Sign Our Petition:
I hereby pledge my support to David Jayne and the National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness. I hereby call upon President Bush and Congress to improve the homebound policy by enacting new legislation which assures Medicare beneficiaries with significant chronic illness and ongoing skilled medical needs, who need maximum or total assistance with their activities of daily living, will not lose their Medicare home care benefits if their skilled medical need remains unchanged and if they so choose to go on a vacation, volunteer in their community, go to a funeral, go to school, or otherwise try to participate in American Society despite their condition.
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Signed Dated
Dear President Bush and Respected Members of Congress,
My name is David Jayne. I am 39 and have had a 13-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, otherwise known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative condition that causes my muscles to atrophy. I live in the community of Rex, 15 miles south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia. In early 1998, I had a tube inserted in my throat and was hooked to a portable ventilator. I use a computerized speech processor to speak. I receive my nutrition via a tube permanently inserted in my stomach. My mobility is limited to the ability to twitch three fingers. These medical conditions create an ongoing need for skilled nursing. Admittedly, the disease I face is brutal and harsh. However, I do not face this disease alone. I love life, my church, my friends, my community and my family. With the adoption of the ADA, which your father so heroically signed into law, it has opened many doors once thought permanently closed to the disabled. Along with these new laws, new modern technologies, such as portable ventilators, have created even more unparalled opportunities for me to be an active and contributing part of my community. Today, however, it is not ALS that stands in my way, it is a harsh Medicare policy.
My Medicare home health care provider had been sending an attendant to my home for two hours a day, seven days a week since 1997 to help me get out of bed and take a shower. Last year my provider tried to terminate my service after I went to the funeral of a friend who had died from ALS. I skirted that challenge but it points to the harsh impact of Medicares homebound rule. Recently, however, because I gave inspirational speeches at my church and to a class of physical therapy students, participated in an ALS "fun run," and traveled with a college friend on an overnight trip to watch the University of Georgia -- University of Florida football game, my Medicare home health care benefits were cut off. The provider was following a Medicare policy that no longer considers me "homebound" and thus eligible for these vital medical benefits. My Medicare benefits have since been restored, but at the cost of my freedom. I must now remain confined to my home to maintain these benefits.
I ask you now to help improve this harsh governmental policy which virtually has made me become a prisoner of my home. I have learned of other similarly situated people with significant chronic illness across America. I value these Americans. I care about the quality of their lives. Under Medicare rules, a person is considered homebound when "leaving home is a major effort" and "When you leave home, it must be infrequent, for a short time or to get medical care".
I ask that we amend this policy. The amended policy should rest on medical standards taking into consideration the amount of effort it takes for a person to leave the home. The frequency and duration criteria as they presently exist are wholly arbitrary. If persons with significant chronic illness are able to acquire the technological and personal resources necessary to leave their home, they should be granted the freedom to do so and still receive the medical and personal care they need and deserve while living at home. If a fair policy cannot be achieved due to financial constraints, let us work positively and creatively for better solutions.
Sincerely,
David Jayne, Rex Georgia
The National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness
Please read the mission statement of my National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness. Please join our coalition by endorsing the petition to President Bush and Congress set forth below.
Please Sign Our Petition:
I hereby pledge my support to David Jayne and the National Coalition to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness. I hereby call upon President Bush and Congress to improve the homebound policy by enacting new legislation which assures Medicare beneficiaries with significant chronic illness and ongoing skilled medical needs, who need maximum or total assistance with their activities of daily living, will not lose their Medicare home care benefits if their skilled medical need remains unchanged and if they so choose to go on a vacation, volunteer in their community, go to a funeral, go to school, or otherwise try to participate in American Society despite their condition.
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Signed Dated
13966 Signatures
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David Jayne
- Comments
- Please help me to change the regulations
- City and State
- Rex, Georgia
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Kyle George Hahn
- City and State
- Trenton Ohio
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David S. Whalen, Esq.
- Comments
- This policy has caused great hardship in Upstate New York to quadriplegics. It's time for some compassion to start ruling.
- City and State
- Schenectady, New York
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Georgiana M. Jayne
- Comments
- David is my son and I support him in this Petition
- City and State
- Rex,Georgia
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Will Katz
- City and State
- Atlanta, GA
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Douglas Flint
- City and State
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Mark Willingham
- Comments
- Help Americans with America's Taxes!
- City and State
- Duluth, GA
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Samantha Stovall
- City and State
- Dunwoody, GA
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Anne R. Wilson
- Comments
- This NEEDS to be changed!
- City and State
- Roswell, GA
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Ashley Meyers
- City and State
- McDonough, Ga
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Ashley Bell
- Comments
- A man named David Jayne was diagnosed with a chronic illness and he has touched my life in so many ways unimaginable. I think that he should have a chance, like everyone else with a chronic disease.
- City and State
- Carrollton, Georgia
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Donna Farrenkopf
- City and State
- Stockbridge, Georgia
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Jennifer Horton
- City and State
- Dublin, Georgia
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Bethany Anne White
- City and State
- Marrietta, Georgia
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Drew Honaker
- City and State
- Overland Park, Kansas
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Elizabeth H. Brown
- Comments
- I had the great pleasure of meeting David Jayne, after reading an inspirational article in the Atlanta newspaper about him. I am sure that the law was written to protect against fraud. However, David cannot eat, breathe, move, or speak, without advanced technology - and caregivers to assist him. He certainly qualifies as "Homebound", but if he isn't allowed to ever leave his home, it will become a prison to him. Please change this law.
- City and State
- Roswell, GA
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Sally Scardasis
- City and State
- McDonough, GA
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Nick Scardasis
- City and State
- McDonough, GA
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Dottie Claybaugh
- Comments
- This homebound restriction for someone who has an uncureable disease is one of the most cruel and inhumane thing that I can think of. And should definately be changed!!!
- City and State
- Eufaula, Al. 36027
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Suzie Cowan
- City and State
- Memphis, Tn.
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Julie Scurich
- City and State
- Watsonville, Ca
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Jennifer Taylor
- City and State
- Albany, NY
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Teresa Carroll
- Comments
- FREE OUR PEOPLE...NOW!!
- City and State
- Rochester, NY
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Dayvid M Gourd
- City and State
- Tulsa Oklahoma
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Fleur Strand
- Comments
- This is a very important and life-saving petition. Life is more than survival - it means partaking in the activities that make life worthwhile
- City and State
- New York, NY 10021
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Linda Jones
- Comments
- none
- City and State
- Inola,OKlahoma
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Carrie Lucas
- City and State
- Denver, CO
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Constance Laymon
- City and State
- Albany, NY
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Matt Megrue
- City and State
- McDonough, GA
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Pastor G. S. "Bunny" McLeod
- Comments
- I believe if a person can get out they should be free and encouraged to do so. Having a disability isn't a crime and we should not be imprisioned because of it.
- City and State
- Henniker, NH
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Shannon Sullivan
- City and State
- Stockbridge, Georgia
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Louise-Jayne Mueller
- City and State
- Port Angeles, WA, 98362
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Marc Neilson
- City and State
- Key West, Florida
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Mark & Jennifer Henriott
- City and State
- Alpharetta, GA
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Laura Hershey
- City and State
- Denver, Colorado
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Karen Gooden
- City and State
- Marietta, Georgia
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Thomas Minutaglio
- City and State
- Forest Hills NY 11375
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Molly Mann
- City and State
- Park City, Utah.
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Robert P. Shuckahosee
- Comments
- Medical Advances and Technology go a long way in assisting people with disabilities. PWD now can live independently, with dignity and now have life at the door. Please allow PWD to go through that door. Please amend the Medicare policies that restrict and keep PWD from enjoying life.
- City and State
- Polson Montana
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Joan Hoffman
- City and State
- Panama City, Florida
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Harold Mueller
- City and State
- Port Angeles, WA.
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Keith C. Hobbs
- City and State
- Ottawa, Ontario
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Louise Mann
- Comments
- Please help!
- City and State
- Memphis,TN
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Vickie Ives Speir
- City and State
- Marshall, TX 75670
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G Thomas Titshaw Jr.
- City and State
- Hampton GA
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David Harris
- Comments
- This problem MUST be addressed to prevent further hurdles to be faced by those with such an illness. I watched my mother suffer and die from ALS before her 50th birthday, so I know first hand how important this is.
- City and State
- Brookeville, MD
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Ron Byrne
- City and State
- Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
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Louanne Smith
- Comments
- One should not to give up quality of life and things enjoyed at the price of medicare help. This is an awful policy, I wonder how many people are suffering because of this policy. I work for an organization that trains Service Dogs so that people can have the oppurtunity to experience life outside the home, don't take that away from people.
- City and State
- Kirkville, NY
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Sister Patricia Clune
- City and State
- Atlanta, GA
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Jennifer Hill
- City and State
- Clarkston, GA
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13966
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