Disabled patients could benefit from Medicare change

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Associated Press

Story Created: Tue Oct 23, 2012 11:33 AM

Story Updated: Tue Oct 23, 2012 11:33 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) - Lawyers for Medicare patients say the Obama administration has agreed to a change that would help people with severe chronic illnesses like Alzheimer's keep receiving rehabilitation services, even if they're not getting better.
   
The proposed agreement filed with a federal judge in Vermont would allow Medicare patients to keep receiving physical and occupational therapy and other services at home or in a nursing home so that they can remain stable, said Gill Deford, a lawyer with the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
   
That's been a problem for thousands of patients because of a longstanding Medicare policy that says they must show improvement to keep getting rehab. Deford's group and other organizations challenged it in a nationwide class action suit.
   
Administration officials would not comment because the settlement is still pending.

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