Hi Alisia,
This one does not look as well developed in terms of being a
communication tool as the GUS version but it provides at least simple text
to speech for a smartphone.
I think that this will be a short term solution but a good one for a
few clients. I have one client with ALS right now, who was my
original inspiration for finding the GUS and Digital Future Software, who
types 39 words per minute on her Blackberry. Now the question is do
we use Medicare funding for this communication software. Medicare
does have the code for communication software (E 2511).
Two questions arise about whether we should consider billing this
software to Medicare. One is whether Medicare pays for communication
software and the second is, if we fund communication software (E2511)
would we be impeding a client's future ability to have insurance fund
an SGD (E2510).
I contacted DynaVox, Tobii ATI and PRC's funding departments for
answers since this could potentially be disastrous.
A funding specialist at both DynaVox and PRC stated that Medicare does
not fund communication software and that E 2511 is rejected. A
funding specialist at Tobii/ATI stated that if E 2511 is rejected it
can be appealed and approved.
As to whether having E2511 funded would interfere with
funding E2510 in the future, the Dynavox funding team did think this would
be a problem. Tobii ATI said they would get back to me when they had
researched it more. I will pass on their response to the listserv
when I receive it. Tobii/ATI's funding specialist said that since
E2511 is not funded through Medicare it is not an issue.
The other issue would be whether or not to use the MDA one
time communication grant of 2K. We do know that if one dollar of this
grant is used it is considered spent. Using it to purchase $600.00
software would waste approximately $1,400. Therefore using
it to pay for software may not be a good use of the fund in the likely
event that an SGD with a larger than $600 co-pay is needed in the
future. For some though it may be a good use of the grant. We
just need to be sure we fully inform and discuss these options with
our clients.
Sincerely,
Amy Roman, MS,
CCC-SLP
Augmentative Communication Specialist
Forbes
Norris ALS Research Center
2324 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA
94115
P (415)600-1263
F (415)673-5184
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--- On Wed, 1/28/09, Alisa Brownlee
<xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
From: Alisa Brownlee
<xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology]
blackberry software
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wednesday,
January 28, 2009, 10:28 AM
I just rec'd an email from Gordon Harris at Gus. The Blackberry
software will be $595.00.
Thanks,
Alisa
Edward Hitchcock <xxxxxx@xxxxxxx>
wrote:
I cannot tell from
website how much it costs? I would be very hesitant to recommend for
purchase through insurance (if this means we could not fund a different
device for future needs given probability of changing access needs with ALS
clients.)
But something like
this would be awesome for say people with laryngectomy etc. Or bulbar
clients as discussed if it can be purchased out of
pocket.
Ed Hitchcock
OTR/L
Technology
Center
Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago
From:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ann Hoffmann
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 10:19 AM
To:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology ] blackberry
software
Alisa,
I am interested in
checking this out! Do you know if this may be covered through
insurance under any DME codes?
Ann
Hoffmann| ALS Associatin
MN Chapter, Coordinator for the Hrbek-Sing Communication and Assistive
Device Program | PH: 763-520-0445
|
Fax:
763-520-0355| Courage Center
| 3915 Golden Valley Road
| MPLS,
Minnesota 55422
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| CourageCenter.org
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From:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alisa Brownlee
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:44
AM
To: AT National
Listserv
Subject:
[Assistive Technology ] blackberry software
Last week at the
National ALS Clinical Conference, a discussed occurred in a breakout
session about text to speech software for a Blackberry phone. I did
some surfing around on the internet and saw that Gus Inc is now going to
distribute this software. The software will turn a standard
Blackberry phone into a text to speech device. According to an email
from Gordon Harris from Gus, the software is beginning to be sold next
week. Information as well as a video on this software is at http://www.gusinc.com/Mobiletts.html
Blackberry
software could be useful for a small subset of the ALS population like our
tech savvy bulbar onset people or those with great dexterity in their
hands. Does anyone else know any other text to speech software for
Blackberry phones? (I believe there was a company in Canada but I
can't find anything on the internet)
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology
Services
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association, Greater
Philadelphia Chapter
Assistive Technology Consultant, ALS Association
National Office
Direct Phone:
215-631-1877
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Thank you.
Alisa
Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services
ALS
(Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association, Greater Philadelphia
Chapter
Assistive
Technology Consultant, ALS Association, National Office
Direct
Phone Number: 215-631-1877
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