[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 122 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1895]]



  INTRODUCING THE MEDICARE VISION REHABILITATION COVERAGE ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 17, 1999

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, September 15, 1999, I filed 
the Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Coverage Act of 1999 which would 
reimburse, under Medicare Part B, vision rehabilitation professionals 
for services provided. September 15 is also National Vision 
Rehabilitation Day, established to raise awareness of the services 
available to those suffering from visual impairment. Currently 6.6 
million Americans over the age of 65 report some level of vision 
impairment.
  My own mother, who suffers from vision impairment, benefited 
tremendously from the rehabilitation services provided by the Greater 
Boston Aid to the Blind. The training and therapy she received helped 
her to avoid the injuries and loss of independence that often accompany 
vision impairment. Unfortunately, Medicare does not currently cover 
programs like this and not all seniors can afford the services on their 
own. This legislation is designed to ensure that this situation is not 
repeated.
  Statistics provided by the American Council of the Blind project that 
by 2005, 1 out of every 6 Massachusetts residents over the age of 60 
will either suffer from blindness or from partial impairment. Vision 
rehabilitation services teach seniors who suffer from permanent vision 
impairment how to continue living independently with this loss. 
Examples of services covered include independent living skills and 
training in safe methods of travel.
  Medicare beneficiaries who are blind or whose vision difficulties 
cannot be addressed by surgery, medication or corrective lenses could 
be eligible for services provided by certified vision rehabilitation 
professionals under the legislation.
  According to the National Vision Rehabilitation Cooperative, age-
related visual impairment is second only to arthritis/rheumatism as a 
cause of disability. However, due to a lack of awareness about the 
services available as well as a lack of funding, only 2% of the 
visually impaired have benefited from vision rehabilitation services.
  Visual impairment is one of four major conditions contributing to a 
senior's loss of independence. The nonprofit Alliance for Aging 
Research has determined based on data from the Medicare Current 
Beneficiary Survey that a loss of independence by older adults costs 
the United States an additional $26 billion a year.
  The type of vision rehabilitation covered under this legislation 
could save the Medicare program millions of dollars in costs associated 
with injuries such as broken bones which are often caused by vision 
impairment. A person suffering from an injury such as a hip fracture is 
eligible for reimbursable therapeutic services. Why shouldn't a person 
who suffers from irreversible vision loss be afforded the same type of 
therapeutic services under Medicare?
  Loss of vision can be a devastating disability for seniors, who value 
independence foremost. Wonderful new therapies like vision 
rehabilitation not only save money, but more importantly give people 
back their quality of life.

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