Look at the 3rd paragraph on this page... http://www.tobiidynavox.com/stevegleasonact/?utm_campaign=Gleason%20Bill%20passes&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua Pasted below... Look at the last line. Still have fighting to do. And it is also my understanding that it has cleared the Senate but not the House... So not yet eneacted anyhow. Unlocked Devices Since September 1, 2014, many severely disabled individuals will lose the ability to access SGD functionalities that provide them with the opportunity to communicate and have contact with loved ones and medical professionals who are outside the patient's home. Medicare has stated that it will not allow individuals using Medicare-provided speech generating devices to use their own funds to "unlock" the devices, even though this is done at no additional cost to Medicare. The ability to "unlock" devices allowed beneficiaries the ability to communicate and participate beyond the confines of their rooms through email, environmental controls, internet, and text messages. Since September 1st, Medicare will no longer pay for any device that has even the potential to be unlocked to allow communication that is not face-to-face interaction with other individuals directly in front of device. This change terminates any direct private communication to the doctor, therapist and clinical teams via email, from caretakers via text and even first responders in an emergency situation. This is not part of the current legislation but something we are in active discussion with CMS to change in the future. Ed Hitchcock OT/L Technology Center Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago -----Original Message----- From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [mailto:xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Edward Hitchcock Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 6:54 AM To: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com Subject: RE: Senate Passes Steve Gleason Act! I actually believe that the ability to unlock the devices for computer access and other functions (other than f2f communication) remains restricted. But I can easily be wrong on that. Ed Hitchcock OT/L Technology Center Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago ________________________________________ From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] on behalf of Hurtig, Richard R [xxxxxx@uiowa.edu] Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 8:46 PM To: <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com> Subject: Re: Senate Passes Steve Gleason Act! With the elimination of capped rental the device becomes the patients property and as such patients can have whatever options they want added on. Richard Hurtig, PhD, ASHA Fellow Professor Emeritus The University of Iowa Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 22, 2015, at 9:07 PM, McCaffrey, Julia <xxxxxx@cshs.org> wrote: > > Hi all - > > Quick clarification question on today's EXCELLENT news re: Steve Gleason Act - > > I know that the legislation contains wording to ensure Medicare will continue to cover the cost of eye gaze accessible SGD's and will end the current capped rental program. But does anyone know if this legislation actually restores the wifi and environmental control features of Medicare funded SGD's? > > I'm concerned that this particular legislation may not have covered additional features. Here's what I found on the TobiiDynavox website (http://www.tobiidynavox.com/stevegleasonact/): > > "Unlocked Devices > Since September 1, 2014, many severely disabled individuals will lose the ability to access SGD functionalities that provide them with the opportunity to communicate and have contact with loved ones and medical professionals who are outside the patient's home. Medicare has stated that it will not allow individuals using Medicare-provided speech generating devices to use their own funds to "unlock" the devices, even though this is done at no additional cost to Medicare. The ability to "unlock" devices allowed beneficiaries the ability to communicate and participate beyond the confines of their rooms through email, environmental controls, internet, and text messages. Since September 1st, Medicare will no longer pay for any device that has even the potential to be unlocked to allow communication that is not face-to-face interaction with other individuals directly in front of device. This change terminates any direct private communication to the doctor, therapist and clinical teams via email, from caretakers via text and even first responders in an emergency situation. This is not part of the current legislation but something we are in active discussion with CMS to change in the future." > > Anyone know what the actual legislation details are? Knowing the specifics of this legislation may make a big difference in the decision of how and when to purchase an SGD for one of my current clients. > > Thanks! > > Julia McCaffrey, MS, CCC-SLP > Speech Language Pathologist III > Cedars-Sinai Medical Center > > > ________________________________________ > From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] on behalf of Alisa Brownlee [xxxxxx@alsa-national.org] > Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 8:47 AM > To: AT National Listserv > Subject: Fwd: Senate Passes Steve Gleason Act! > >> >>> ________________________________________ >>> From: ALSA Advocacy [xxxxxx@alsa-national.org] >>> Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 10:56 AM >>> To: Alisa Brownlee >>> Subject: Senate Passes Steve Gleason Act! >>> >>> >>> >>> Dear Alisa, >>> >>> Great news in the fight to ensure access to speech generating devices (SGDs)... less than five minutes ago, the Senate passed the Steve Gleason Act (S. 984)! The bill would restore a person's ability to upgrade SGDs and allow people with ALS to access email, the internet and environmental controls. The bill also would ensure that people with ALS can keep their SGDs if they are admitted to a hospital, nursing facility or hospice. >>> >>> The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives where we will try to pass it as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for our Action Alerts as the process moves forward to learn how you can help. >>> >>> Thank you to Senator David Vitter (R-LA) for all of his leadership to champion the Steve Gleason Act in the Senate. Thanks also to the bill's other champions: Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Their collective efforts made the bill a priority in the Senate, but it was your efforts to reach out and tell the ALS story that led to its passage. >>> >>> Thank you to everyone! You clearly have made a difference! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here<http://capwiz.com/alsa/lmx/u/?jobid=242973793&queueid=10820306736>. >>> >>> [http://capwiz.com/alsa/utr/i1/NTNYULSERX/10820306736/img/capwizlogo.gif] > IMPORTANT WARNING: This message is intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential, the disclosure of which is governed by applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this information is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. > Confidentiality Notice: This message and any attachments are only for the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged and/or protected health information. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please: 1) be advised that unauthorized review, use, copying, disclosure, or distribution is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful; 2) notify the sender of the delivery by reply e-mail or contact RIC's Privacy Officer at 312.238.0766 or xxxxxx@ric.org<mailto:xxxxxx@ric.org>; and 3) delete and destroy all copies of the message and its attachments. Thank you. Confidentiality Notice: This message and any attachments are only for the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged and/or protected health information. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please: 1) be advised that unauthorized review, use, copying, disclosure, or distribution is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful; 2) notify the sender of the delivery by reply e-mail or contact RIC's Privacy Officer at 312.238.0766 or xxxxxx@ric.org<mailto:xxxxxx@ric.org>; and 3) delete and destroy all copies of the message and its attachments. 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