Another side issue ... related to Medicare. In order for Medicare to fund the software the vendor needs to participate in the Medicare program. In some cases the vendor may use a distributor/middle man who does participate. My understanding is that many of these smaller companies don't participate because its tedious, not cost effective etc. Its good to hear about these products; PALS may just need to purchase on their own or use some grant, other than MDA.
Its interesting that the manufacturers are saying E2511 is reqected. There is no prior approval process with Medicare, unlike MediCal or private insurance. If the manufacturer accepts your evaluation report, prescrip etc, is willing to accept assignment & collects the copay, then the product should be shipped.
Molly Doyle MS CCC
CART-Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Downey CA 90242
www.rancho.org/cart
Please be advised that we cannot guarantee confidentiality of email communications.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments. This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. Any unauthorized disclosure, use, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited.
>>> Amy Roman <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 01/28/09 12:29 PM >>>
Hi Alisia,
The other software I mentioned to you at the conference was http://www.digitalfuturesoft.com/texttospeechproductsforsmartphone.php
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
CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED: This communication contains information
intended only for the use of the individuals to whom it is addressed
and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or exempt from other disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended
recipient, you are notified that any disclosure, printing, copying,
distribution or use of the contents is prohibited. If you have
received this in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or by returning it by reply email and then permanently deleting the communicationfrom your system.
Thank you.
--- 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:
#yiv966954077 v\:* {}#yiv966954077 o\:* {}#yiv966954077 w\:* {}#yiv966954077 .shape {}
#yiv966954077 st1\:*{}
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized disclosure, copy or distribution of this information is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete this e-mail.
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
Hello all,
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)
Thanks,
Alisa
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: 215-631-1877
______________________________________________________________________
All Inbound Courage Center email is scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________This e-mail, and any attachments, is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information, including but not limited to protected health information. If the information contains legally privileged or confidential information, you have an obligation to comply with all laws and regulations regarding its
disclosure and safe keeping. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, printing or copying of this e-mail, and any attachments, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. If you have a concern related to the receipt or disclosure of such information, please do not hesitate to contact RIC's Privacy Officer at 312.238.7066 or xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx 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
