Users First Disability Movement support by www.frontlinemobility.com

http://www.usersfirst.org

The Movement

The Users First Movement is all about supplying more choices as consumers and expressing our individual abilities. We’re not about settling for the status quo when it comes to our mobility, and neither should you. Start by joining the Users First Movement, you will  becoming an important part of a community of passionate activists. 

UsersFirst fights for people with disabilities to have access to mobility equipment that’s right for them, so they can live the lives they choose.

The Issue

People with a disability continue to be restricted to the incorrect mobility equipment by insurance company policies that don’t meet individual needs and reimbursement policies that limit medical equipment suppliers from offering equipment choice and service. This is increased by the public’s lack of understanding and awareness of the problem, as well as a lack of funding to solve it.

What We Fight For
UsersFirst fights for people with disabilities to have access to mobility equipment that’s right for them, so they can live the lives they choose.
People with disabilities nationwide are unable to live the lives they choose because their using “average” wheelchairs tailored to the needs of “average” wheelchair users. The problem is there’s no such thing as an average wheelchair user. We all have specific needs when it comes to our mobility.
Now’s the time we speak up as consumers!

It’s not just a wheelchair – It’s your livelihood.
As one of United Spinal Association’s newest programs, UsersFirst advocates for greater access to appropriate wheelchairs, mobility scooters and seating systems for people with disabilities.
UsersFirst rejects the one-size-fits-all perception of mobility equipment. We believe that the right wheelchairs, mobility scooters and seating systems are fundamental elements in maintaining the health, quality of life, and independence of people with disabilities.
The UsersFirst Movement gains momentum through United Spinal Association’s wide-range of programs and services; public policy initiatives; large peer support network and growing list of national chapters; highly visible web presence; and lifestyle and educational publications that reach hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities annually.


Our Commitment

UsersFirst is committed to helping people with disabilities obtain the right wheelchairs, mobility scooters and seating systems by:
• Nurturing self-advocacy. We provide valuable resources, insight and guidance to overcome all types of mobility issues––as well as effective outlets to voice opinions on topics not only impacting your quality of life, but choices as consumers.
• Improving access to funding. Finding the best funding options and sources available to fulfill your mobility equipment needs can be time-consuming and lead you down many dead end roads. We can guide you through the red tape.
• Taking the fight to Capitol Hill. We advocate in Washington, DC and bring the mobility concerns of our community to the attention of state legislators. We also raise awareness among wheelchair manufacturers, medical equipment suppliers, therapists and other consumer groups. Most importantly, we urge our supporters to get off the sidelines, share their experiences (good and bad), and play an active role in our efforts to spark changes in attitudes and policies.
• Improving access to proper evaluations. You can’t fight for your mobility needs if you don’t know what they are. That’s why it’s critical to have a trained assistive technology expert knowledgeable about various disabilities review your current wheelchair and seating equipment to determine whether or not it’s the best for you. We can help!
• Holding equipment dealers and manufacturers accountable in maintaining the highest standards in customer service and support. Have an unresolved issue with a warranty? Are you getting the cold shoulder in acquiring a replacement part or repair? We offer a helping hand to ensure the problem is resolved.


People with disabilities continue to be restricted to the wrong mobility equipment by insurance companies that don’t care about their individual needs and stakeholders within the industry that don’t offer the proper support.

http://www.frontlinemobility.com/
877-655-1181  Michael Osbon Frontline Mobility LLC 4816 Technology Drive, Augusta,Georgia. 30907

The Online Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Store

Things To Think About Before Purchasing an Electric Mobility Scooter

Things To Think About Before Purchasing an Electric Mobility Scooter

Following are some helpful questions they might ask before deciding.

1. Outdoors or indoors? If the primary use will be outdoors, one should be looking at a more solid model to deal with the rougher terrain. They will also be looking for those models offering greater speed and stability.

The concern for the indoor models will primarily be their maneuverability and turning capacity so a more compact type might be the best choice.

2. Dealing with steep hills and navigating curbs? If either of these issues are there for consideration, one should be looking for extra power. In most instances it will be a four wheel version that will best provide this.

3. Driving on roads? If this is the case, one must be aware of all local requirements in their community. In most cases the scooter must travel at least 8 mph and also be equipped with taillights and headlights.

4. Home restrictions? One must be aware of the width of all doors and gates and whether or not there will be stairs involved as well.

5. Comfort. Consideration of leg room required and any other support issues must be thought of prior to any final decision. One item that always seems to work well and is a popular choice is a seat that swivels.

6. Will it require to be transported? If a person travels often they will want to look for a model that either folds easily or can be quickly disassembled without the use of a lot of tools.

Mobility Scooters For Sale

There are many companies online that sell these types of products. As always, search around for the best prices on the particular models you are interested. Make sure to read any fine print for hidden costs. If you can’t afford a new one consider looking as used mobility scooters to save some money.

The federal government is cracking down on medical-equipment providers

Feds crack down on medical scooter fraud

27 comments by Kelly Kennedy - Jul. 13, 2011 09:29 AM
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON -- The federal government is cracking down on medical-equipment providers who either overcharge Medicare for motorized wheelchairs or obtain them for people who don't need them, Medicare and Justice Department records show.
Medicare plans to almost triple the number of anti-fraud strike forces it operates nationwide, from seven to 20, U.S. Health and Human Services Department budget documents show.
So far this year, Justice has won the convictions of 16 people throughout the country who have defrauded Medicare for $57 million, records show. Another six people are being prosecuted now for running what federal prosecutors say is a nationwide ring that has bilked the government of at least $30 million.
<a href="http://gannett.gcion.com/adlink/5111/328113/0/154/AdId=1853662;BnId=1;itime=179580212;nodecode=yes;link=http://clk.atdmt.com/QWE/go/340902685/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img src="http://view.atdmt.com/QWE/view/340902685/direct/01/179580212"/></a><noscript><a href="http://gannett.gcion.com/adlink/5111/328113/0/154/AdId=1853662;BnId=1;itime=179580212;nodecode=yes;link=http://clk.atdmt.com/QWE/go/340902685/direct/01/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://view.atdmt.com/QWE/view/340902685/direct/01/179580212" /></a></noscript> Records from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show the cost of motorized wheelchairs to the government health service for senior citizens has risen from $259 million to $723 million, or 179%, from 1999 to 2009, the last year for which full records are available.
Advertisements for the wheelchairs, also called scooters, have exploded nationwide in recent years, as companies tout the improved mobility they provide and how Medicare, not the patients, will pay for the chairs.
A report released last week by Medicare's inspector general also showed that 61% of the motorized wheelchairs provided to Medicare recipients in the first half of 2007 went to people who didn't qualify for them. The inspector general found that Medicare is billed an average of $4,018 for a motorized wheelchair that normally sells for $1,048.
Scammers also exploit immigrant communities. In California, as English-as-a-second-language Medicare recipients line up for other services, a person will approach them in line and "They'll say, 'The government would really like for you to have a wheelchair,'" said Julie Schoen, director of special projects for California's Senior Medicare Patrol. Then, she said, the scammer will take the Medicare recipient to a "clinic" for an exam.
The patient will often receive a wheelchair, but not a motorized wheelchair worth about $3,600 for which Medicare will be billed, Schoen said.
Beyond fraud, there are several reasons for the increase, such as doctors who file wheelchair claims improperly, said Ellen Griffith, a Medicare spokeswoman.
Schoen says Medicare recipients end up victimized twice: If he or she doesn't receive a wheelchair but has been billed for one, Medicare won't provide a second wheelchair if that person ever legitimately needs one.
"It's a big problem," Schoen said. "The scammers really know how to do it well, but the guy with Parkinson's who needs a chair has to fight for it."
In South Dakota, people fall victim to television ads, said Melissa Wood, program director for Senior Medicare Patrol in South Dakota. The ads show seniors using electric wheelchairs to fish or visit a shopping mall, and tell them that, as Medicare recipients, they qualify for free.
"The people have no idea it's fraudulent," Wood said. "I think in the past year or so, it's picked up because of all the advertisements."
The scammers also collect people's Medicare numbers, which they then use fraudulently or sell to another company to use, Wood said.
To qualify for an electric wheelchair, Griffith said, a recipient must not be able to get around on his own -- and a doctor must declare that a cane, a walker or a manual wheelchair is not enough to help the person get around. But in many cases, people go from not needing any equipment to needing a $3,600 wheelchair, she said.
Medicare is addressing the problem by placing guidelines online so providers can learn to properly document a claim, Griffith said. It has updated its payment policy, and increased claim reviews and previewing claims before payment, she said.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2011/07/13/20110713Feds-Medicare-crack-down-on-medical-scooter-fraud.html#ixzz1SfEJOJRf