Medicaid Recipients with Disabilities Denied Access to Critical Medical Equipment
New York, NY –– More than a year after the New York State Department of Health (DOH), with little notice, closed a Medicaid office in New York City and moved operations to Albany, people with severe disabilities in NYC and Long Island continue to experience serious, and sometimes life-threatening, problems getting the durable medical equipment (DME) they need to lead healthy and productive lives. And worse, apparently the State has done very little to remedy the problems, which are impacting our most vulnerable community.
The magnitude of the issue was first revealed at a public hearing sponsored by New York State Assembly Committees in July 2005 in Manhattan. People with disabilities lined up for hours to testify how their inability to get DME after the Manhattan office closed has caused them pain, suffering and hardship––forcing many to become prisoners in their own homes, unable to go to work, school, and medical appointments. With no noticeable improvement in the situation since July, this same legislative committees held a second hearing this week in Albany. United Spinal Association, a national disability rights organization, was among the advocacy groups and consumers that provided over 5 hours of testimony detailing the very problems brought to light at the first hearing.
During the July hearing, the Department of Health vowed to investigate and take immediate action to improve the process. Deputy Commissioner, Office of Medicaid Management, Ms. Kathryn Kuhmerker, however, admitted during the hearing this week that neither she, nor any representative from the department, had even requested copies of the public testimony given at the July 2005 hearing.
“The State’s closing of the NYC office, and the way in which it was done, has made it nearly impossible for many people with disabilities to remain healthy and independent,” explained Dan Anderson, Assistant Director of Public Policy for United Spinal. “To make matters even worse, DOH did this with little notice or preparation for the transition and it still has not justified why an otherwise efficient office was closed. It has been more than a year since the closing and we see no improvements. And we still do not know how many people are being affected because the DOH alleges that, until recently, it did not track pending DME request orders. This is the major problem. People are being forced to supply needless amounts of paperwork to justify their requests and have found it nearly impossible to get information about their pending orders.”
United Spinal Association will continue to monitor the situation, but urges Medicaid recipients who are having problems getting their DME to contact their State representatives.