|
Wheelchairs, Walkers, And Canes: What Does Medicare Pay For, And Who Benefits?
Jennifer L. Wolff,
Emily M. Agree and
Judith D. Kasper
Medicare’s role in the distribution of mobility-related assistive technology has not been well documented, yet rapid growth and regional variation in spending, and concerns over "in-the-home" coverage criteria, highlight the need for facts. Using the 2001 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, we find that 6.2 percent percent of beneficiaries obtained mobility assistive technology under the Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) benefit. These beneficiaries were disproportionately poor, disabled, and users of both acute and postacute services. Average per item spending ranged from $52 for canes to $6,208 for power wheelchairs. Among beneficiaries who acquired such technology through the DME benefit, these devices comprised just 2 percent of overall Medicare spending.
       What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
K. A. Pressler and K. F. Ferraro
Assistive Device Use as a Dynamic Acquisition Process in Later Life
Gerontologist,
January 27, 2010;
(2010):
gnp170v1 - gnp170.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Kitchener, T. Ng, H. Y. Lee, and C. Harrington
Assistive Technology in Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Waiver Programs
Gerontologist,
April 1, 2008;
48(2):
181 - 189.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
