June 17, 2003
Contact: Christine Harris or David Torre
(202) 349-4260

NEW CONSUMER-LED COALITION LAUNCHES TO IMPROVE AMERICANS’ ACCESS TO ASSISTIVE DEVICES

The “ITEM” Coalition Will Fight To Enhance Coverage of Mobility Devices, Hearing Aids, Vision Technologies, Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Other Assistive Devices, Technologies, and Related Services For Individuals of All Ages with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions

Washington, D.C. – On June 17, 2003, more than 65 organizations launched the consumer-led ITEM Coalition (Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid), at an event attended by Representative James R. Langevin (D-RI), the only wheelchair user in Congress, to highlight the need for greater coverage of assistive devices for people of all ages with disabilities and chronic conditions.

Henry Claypool of AIMMM (Advancing Independence: Modernizing Medicare and Medicaid), one of the ITEM Coalition’s founders, stated, “At a time when Congress is poised to make important additions like prescription drugs to Medicare’s benefit package, it is alarming that Congress is siphoning resources from the durable medical equipment benefit to increase payments to other providers. That’s robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

The Coalition will work to raise awareness and build support for policies that will improve access to the assistive devices, technologies and related services that people of all ages with disabilities and chronic conditions need to be as healthy, independent and functional as possible.

Lee Page of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, another founding member of the Coalition, said, “If Medicare is going to save billions of dollars on assistive devices over the next decade, they should use those resources to modernize the Medicare benefit to satisfy unmet needs, including hearing aids, advanced wheelchairs, vision aids and other assistive devices.”

Representative Langevin spoke of the importance of assistive devices in his own life and career, stating, “As assistive technologies have made it possible for me to serve in Congress, I know firsthand that access to such devices goes a long way in making it possible for people with disabilities to fully participate in society."

Initially, the Coalition will work to preserve and enhance Medicare and Medicaid’s coverage policies, with the aim of later addressing related coverage issues under the policies of other federal and private payers. “The entire purpose of Medicare and Medicaid was to allow older adults and people with disabilities greater independence. Access to new technologies and services must be available to fulfill this promise,” said Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a founding member.

The ITEM Coalition’s initial activities have included submitting comments to the Department of Defense on proposed changes to the TRICARE regulations which significantly enhance coverage of assistive devices, and testifying before the Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility Devices, established by President George W. Bush by Executive Memorandum.

“We urge policymakers to recognize the breadth of assistive devices, technologies and related services that aid individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions,” stated Paul W. Schroeder of American Foundation for the Blind, another founding member. “These items range from mobility devices to hearing aids to grab bars (for one’s bathroom) to closed circuit televisions to prosthetic limbs and orthopedic braces. They can be as simple as hand held magnifiers and canes and as high-tech as speech synthesizers and other communication devices.”

The Coalition is consumer-led and comprises a diverse set of over 65 disability associations, aging organizations, consumer groups, labor organizations, voluntary health associations, and non-profit provider associations. Members include American Association of People with Disabilities, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Brain Injury Association of America, The Arc of the United States, United Cerebral Palsy Associations, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

"I applaud the efforts of the over 65 member organizations represented here, who have banded together to pool their resources and work in collaboration in the effort to modernize public health programs. I am confident their dedication will dramatically improve the lives of millions of people with disabilities,” stated Langevin.

At the launch event, the Coalition also announced the formation of their website at www.itemcoalition.org.