Hi Loren,
That is a great letter, but in my opinion I wouldn't threaten them with a
lawyer just yet. I'm sorry you have to go through that. I think
those laws are under your governor because in my state, I can still hire my
own
Stacy
"People who hate you do not win unless you hate them. Then you destroy
yourself"
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2004 8:10
PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] Big problems in Florida
with spinal cord injury Medicaid waiver program
Hello,
Has anyone else had problems with
this program, the brain and spinal cord injury Medicaid waiver program funded
through Medicaid? Previously I could hire anyone I wanted and have them
paid retroactive from the day that the director in Tallahassee signed their
paperwork which usually took three days. They then eliminated that so
that I had to pay them out of my pocket for three to four months until they
obtained a Medicaid provider number. Now at the beginning of November
they made it mandatory that I receive my care thru a nursing agency.
Please read the letter below:
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE?
In
October I would often forget that I had a disability while maintaining my
chair on two citizen organizational boards and being an active supporter of a
local spinal cord injury group. My life was full of activities going to
parks, concerts, festivals, swimming at the local pool where there is a
wheelchair lift, training for two weeks for a service dog in Atlanta, a one
day trip to Miami for a doctor's visit, one day later a trip to Tampa for a
new wheelchair. My life was full, active, and looking like there was a great
future still ahead of me.
Today I am a shut-in! What
happened? I broke my neck 24 years ago that is certainly not the
immediate problem. I have lived as a quadriplegic independently for 24 years.
So what changed? We have the same president does that have anything to
do with my change in citizenship? Somewhere in a huge bureaucratic
system supposedly on a federal level in Washington someone made a
decision. A someone I cannot locate!
In October I would hire my
own personnel to provide my care that could sustain me in my own home and
drive me to places in my own vehicle 24 hours a day seven days a week. I
would screen them, train them, and fire them when necessary. I lived an
independent life that was as normal and as full as I could possibly make
it. Medicaid kindly paid these people $2700 per month. I added another
$500 and provided one a home. Change has occurred. The decision was made
that my care would have to be provided by a nursing agency. For $4664
per month providing eight hours of care per day with an extra two the every
other day. I will allow you to work out the math on that one after all
it is your tax dollar.
This month I have no one to take me to a park
not even to do my grocery shopping. My new van equipped for wheelchair
transportation sets idle in the driveway. The Aids from the agency
cannot drive my van. I must be in bed by 9:30 PM when the aid who comes
at 5:30 departs leaving me alone through the night lying in one position
unable to even roll over what less remove myself from bed or the house in an
emergency. Pressure sores are a guarantee. Quadriplegics suffer from a
condition where in any noxious stimuli (such as lying in one position to long)
can cause our blood pressures to rise drastically resulting in stroke, heart
attack, blindness, and death as did the former Superman. At 8 AM another Aid
is supposed to arrive to give me breakfast, shower me, dress me, provide
personal care, and place me in my wheelchair. She then departs at noon leaving
me alone until 5:30 PM. There is also a nurse who comes every other day
for two hours to provide another part of my personal care at 8:00 in the
morning. Including weekends there will be at least six different people
involved in my care.
My new service dog who has been with me for one
month must be returned as I cannot keep him in good conscience as he will not
receive proper care that such a valuable dog deserves or any dog for that
matter. He has already been subjected to verbal abuse by one Aid. It has
taken nine years to get this companion and all-around helper. He is an
absolutely beautiful dog that I have come to love greatly. All this has
been a very frustrating, exasperating, and heartbreaking experience. I
am left with the feeling that my life has just ended.
Are Medicaid and
the healthcare industry along with our government plotting to force me into a
nursing home or just kill me outright from neglect?
I am looking for
others who may be involved in a similar situation to form a coalition for a
class-action suit or other action that may be appropriate. Also for
lawyers that are appropriate for the situation.
Loren
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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