MDA Supports New Medicare Homebound Law

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is supporting federal legislation that would benefit Medicare recipients who receive home health care.

MDA's National Task Force on Public Awareness has written to key members of Congress to endorse the Homebound Clarification Act of 2001 (H.R. 1490), which would broaden the definition of "homebound" for purposes of qualifying to receive Medicare covered services in the home. The current law requires them to stay at home except for generally infrequent absences for medical appointments, religious services or attendance at adult day-care programs.

The new bill was reintroduced this year by Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and is endorsed by some 30 disability organizations.

The driving force behind the reintroduced legislation is David Jayne, 40, of Rex, Ga., who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) and who successfully challenged Medicare and his home health agency. After he described his occasional away-from-home activities in a newspaper interview, his home health care was revoked, then reinstated after he protested.

Jayne formed the National Coalition to Amend the Medical Homebound Restriction for Americans with Significant Chronic Illness (NCAHB), www.amendhomeboundpolicy.homestead.com, which has more information about the bill.