Say that, all things equal, you could fix a problem for $8000 or fix the same problem for $150. Which would you choose? Clearly, you are not Medicare.
Posted on 09/15/2009 12:22:00 PM PDT by OldSpice
Say that, all things equal, you could fix a problem for $8000 or fix the same problem for $150. Which would you choose? Clearly, you are not Medicare.
Proloquo2Go is a text-to-speech iPhone app that's meant to aid those with autism, cerebral palsy, ALS, Down Syndrome—pretty much anyone who has a disability that makes speaking a difficult venture. It costs $150.
But Medicare/Medicaid restrictions won't pay for this software or the accompanying iPhone because the iPhone is not a uni-functional device. (A person with autism might play games on it, after all! Or call a doctor!)
One family's alternative, as documented by the NYTimes, is a government-funded $8000 desktop computer that can have no other function than text-to-speech. No emailing doctors. No browsing the web for medical research. So, this pricey clunker sits at home while the family pays out of pocket for the iPhone app that can operate in their real, mobile life.
Medicare acknowledges the situation. They have heard of the iPhone, as they explain in their official statement on the matter: "We would not cover the iPhones and netbooks with speech-generating software capabilities because they are useful in the absence of an illness or injury."
But with the nation's eyes on our healthcare policies, there's never been a better time to reassess such archaic thinking. All things equal, a company like Apple or RIM will always make superior hardware to that of some boutique electronics company, and they'll do so for pennies on the dollar. Even more importantly, these better distributed hardware platforms will be rewarded with greater enthusiasm and expertise from software designers—the real innovators in today's design-heavy electronics industry.
I'm no health care expert, but it's obvious that reform in this sector would be a win-win. Taxpayers would save money. Government programs would aid more individuals. And those being helped would simply be helped better, with more options and ultimately in a way more specific to their particular problem.
But the government can't subsidize a semi-open platform that would drive both technological innovation and market competition. That's crazy talk! [Proloquo2Go]
Ahhhh.. The beauty of government control.
LOL...and the gov’t wants to whine about “evil” providers engaged in “fraud”.
The comedy and whimsy of tyranny never ceases...
hell, they’ve done it for decades with those scooters. Medicare rents them from the company for multiple times what their cost is.
HIPAA may be the problem. It not just a problem of communication but also one of info security/security of
personal info. I doubt an iPhone/iPhone app could host
the approved authentication (AFAIK).
Why would anyone want an iphone?
This is unreal.
The iPhone can operate as a secure platform. It supports secure HTTP, X.509 identity certificates, Virtual Private Networks, etc. It should be no problem to be HIPAA-compliant.
How about this? People who need this $150 app should go buy it with their own money.
How about this: the government pays for neither.
There’s a text to speech app called “Speak It” that costs $2 and works great. I used it to create my voicemail away message in a sexy British female voice.
Given that 30 million iPhones have been sold, surely there must be some reason eluding your grasp.
Am I the only one offended that the family is arguing with a government entity to pay for something they are capable of buying themselves.
This is a crock. People are trying to rip off medicare with both the $8,000 computer and the $150 iphone app.
There is a program on the net net that is free and does a beautiful text to speech conversion. It is called etriloquest. I use it on all of my computers including my notebhook.
I have had my voice box removed for throat cancer, and have to use artificial means to speak. I do not depend (although I am eligible) for medicare to cure my ills. You see the wheelchair advertisements. They go fo $4000-$6,000. I got mine on ebay for $500 and put $200 into batteries for it.
Don’t be saying that it is medicares fault, it is the greed of the people getting medicare.
....Bob
You are just trying to make us laugh, aren't you?
If Medicare paid for the app, how long would it be before someone said “I need the iPhone to run the app, and a cell plan to get the iPhone, and that’s still under $8000 so medicare should pay for it”. Then Medicare agrees and 100x as many people suddenly come down with autism.
The short-term solution is for someone to make a cheaper device. $8000 is ridiculous for that. Or maybe for a charity to pay for the app, or developers to make a free version or for individuals to buy it themselves if they want the mobile version (like the article says).
Long-term, medicare needs to get into this technology, but they are so open to fraud that I want it done very carefully. I can easily see the doctors getting a cut of the $150 (maybe not for this app, but for some cases), then they start “prescribing” it for everyone (e.g. “download this app and medicare will pay for your co-pay today”).
itouch instead of iphone, a nice refurb costs about $200 with no extra charges from a phone company. $150 for the software, $350 total cost.
Most families waste that much every month. If they truly cannot afford it, approach a local church, we do thing like that for people all the time. Or go to the PTO and let them have a bake sale for the kid.
There is no need for the Feds to be involved in this.
There shouldn't be even a remote problem with HIPAA (and I assume you're talking about the Standards for the Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information and the Security Standards). HIPAA applies only to Covered Entities - health plans, health care providers, and health care clearinghouses (and their "Business Associates") - and Protected Health Information.
This is just an application that allows those who have trouble speaking to communicate.
The application doesn't appear to have a thing to do with payers, providers, or clearinghouses disclosing PHI.
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