[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MEDICARE DEMONSTRATION OF COVERAGE FOR LOW VISION DEVICES ACT OF 2013

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is estimated 
that more than 60 million Americans are at risk of serious vision 
loss--a number expected to increase as the baby boomer generation ages. 
Along with my colleague Rep. Gus Bilirakis, I am proud to introduce 
legislation to support Americans with limited or impaired vision. For 
someone with a visual impairment, reading a book or crossing the street 
could be blurred or distorted even with the help of glasses or contact 
lenses. In many cases a physician can prescribe magnifiers or special 
optical devices to help an individual remain independent. While there 
are a wide variety of options to help people with low vision, 
currently, there is an exclusion from Medicare coverage for devices 
that include a lens to aid vision or provide magnification of images 
for impaired vision. Ultimately, not having these assistance devices 
could shift more individuals from independent living to care facilities 
or nursing homes.
  To understand the impact of covering these devices for America's 
seniors, we are introducing the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for 
Low Vision Devices Act of 2013. This legislation would create a five-
year national demonstration project administered by the Department of 
Health and Human Services to evaluate the economic impact of allowing 
reimbursement for certain low vision devices under the Social Security 
Act. Coverage of such devices could help Medicare beneficiaries with 
low vision lead healthy, safe, and independent lives.

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