Vision services / O&M for older blind (was "O&M service in rural areas")
Hi everyone! Michael, Joanne hit the nail on the head – there are funding streams to provide for children and working-aged adults who have visual impairment, but the funding sources for vision services such as O&M are extremely limited.
This is not true for most other rehabilitation services – funding is available through third-party payment (insurance and Medicare) regardless of the age. I think that vision rehabilitation services are unique in that they are not reimbursed for older people by third-party payment.
But the membership of AER decided to do something about it, and I’m very excited and optimistic. Last summer they passed a resolution “Accessing Third-Party Payment for Vision-Rehabilitation Professionals and Services” – our AER President, Joe Catavero, is pulling people together to work on it.
The resolution is posted at https://aerbvi.org/about/aer-resolutions/ and I’ve copied it below:
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Resolution Number 2016 – 1 July 2016
Accessing Third-Party Payment for Vision-Rehabilitation Professionals and Services
Whereas the primary funding streams supporting specialized services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired are restricted to the special education and vocational rehabilitation systems; and
Whereas the only national program intended to offer specialized services to those people who are blind or visually impaired who are not ordinarily served by the special education or vocational rehabilitation systems, namely the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) program, has been unconscionably under funded since its inception; and
Whereas 6.9 million Americans 65 years and older reported having a significant visual impairment, according to the 2015 National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey; and
Whereas the services of many health and rehabilitation professionals are reimbursed by third-party programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance carriers, and
Whereas the services of most vision rehabilitation professionals qualified to provide specialized services to people who are blind or visually impaired are not currently reimbursable through third-party programs; and
Whereas for the last several decades, coordinated advocacy for Medicare
Reimbursement for such services undertaken by organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired, including AER, has been unsuccessful; and
Whereas expertise in health care management and administration is necessary for understanding the business of health care delivery and accessing third-party funding; and
Whereas this expertise in health care management and administration lies outside the preparation and experience of professionals, program administrators and others involved in the delivery of specialized services to people who are blind or visually impaired;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) on this 23rd day of July, 2016, in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, that this organization, through its President and Executive Director, shall reach out to the leadership and public policy staff of the major national, regional and community-based organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired with whom AER may make common cause to invite them to participate in an “AER National Working Group on Third-Party Coverage for Specialized Services”
(working group) to consider and implement strategies to achieve third-party funding for the specialized services provided by vision rehabilitation professionals.
And be it further resolved that this national working group shall include the active participation of each of the AER divisions representing professionals for whom third party coverage is being sought.
And be it further resolved that this national working group shall seek the involvement of additional individuals and entities with expertise in health care management and administration to advise the working group concerning current reimbursement policy and process and how professionals can qualify for and access third-party funding.
And be it further resolved that the AER President or Executive Director and/or a representative that the President may appoint shall routinely participate in working group meetings, shall regularly report to the AER Board about such meetings, and shall put any working group recommendations before the AER Board for its consideration and approval prior to working group actions.;
From: Freda Tepfer
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 9:14 PM
To: Orientation and Mobility
Subject: Re: [OrientationAndMobility] O&M service in rural areas
It's also a sad situation for anyone under 55 who can't work and needs services.
If you are going to be blind it's better to be a veteran.
On Jan 25, 2017, at 12:49 PM, Kcc kcclarrage@gmail.com wrote:
I would totally concur with all that has been said and just add that it is different in every single state… Never assume there is anything standard. I too am concerned that it won't be long before I'm heading to the nursing home and god forbid when I need vi services… Guess I'll have to remember and use a few of my skills that I've taught to others.. maybe I can volunteer in my own nursing home and teach skills on the side :-) truthfully it's a pretty sad situation :( Kathy clarrage, coms, Maine
Kathy,
life has just got to be lived!
On Jan 25, 2017, at 12:19 PM, Laurent, Joanne (DSB) joanne.laurent@dsb.wa.gov wrote:
Hello Michael,
Freda, who previously wrote to you, has the most knowledge about your particular state, but since you are a student I wanted to add some information to help you get started thinking about what the whole rehab picture looks like. Older blind programs can be scarce; here’s why—to the best of my understanding (which isn’t much):
Every state provides O&M and blind rehabilitation services for VOCATIONAL rehabilitation whether it is through a separate agency for the blind or as a division of another state agency. That means if you are interested in learning the skills that will allow you to work, or to keep your existing job, services should be available. In addition, children—nationwide who are blind or have low vision, also receive services through the education system (which is usually a separate government agency from the one that serves adults although there is some overlap). This includes coverage for rural areas. Unfortunately, services for older blind individuals (or working-age adults who are not willing or not able to work) do not seem to have the same *federal* mandates in place. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that services for older blind folks are arranged strictly according to *state* policies. Some states provide pretty good services, others mediocre, and some might not be able to provide any services at all. It depends on funding sources and available grants. Although the grants may be federally funded, they are usually time-limited and must be renegotiated frequently. The older blind programs seem to always be in a slightly precarious and ever-changing mode. The states that offer older blind services through their main agencies for the blind may be more likely to provide more consistent blind rehabilitation instruction as well as O&M through a COMS or NOMC, while agencies who use outside contractors to provide older blind services might not use certified O&M specialists, and instead use rehab teachers who might teach a few indoor O&M skills in addition to teaching living skills.
In addition to lacking mobility training, technology is rarely taught or granted to anyone beyond working age so it is difficult for older blind people with macular degeneration to receive CCTVs to look at pictures of their grandkids unless they fund their own. I would imagine there are hundreds (or thousands) of older blind people quietly struggling with vision loss that magnification can help and they probably don’t even know such technology exists even if they could afford to buy it themselves. I always thought if I became a millionaire or billionaire I would provide living skills & O&M training where desired, and CCTVs to every assisted living and retirement center in the nation. Sadly, I’m almost ready to check in the retirement home myself and I never made the millions I had hoped for!
Joanne Laurent, Program Specialist/Certified O&M Specialist
If you can’t learn it, I’m not teaching it right!
(360) 696-6239
Dept. of Services for the Blind
2214 East 13th St. Suite 208
Vancouver, WA 98661
From: OrientationAndMobility [mailto:orientationandmobility-bounces@lists.blindcanadians.ca] On Behalf Of Vore, Michael
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 6:39 PM
To: orientationandmobility@lists.blindcanadians.ca
Subject: [OrientationAndMobility] O&M service in rural areas
Hello, I am a current O&M student at Salus University living in Johnstown, PA if anyone is familiar with the area we having a large aging population and not many services for them of any sorts. Upon searching the web for a while, I did not find many services specific to O&M that were available in the area with most of what I found being based out of Pittsburgh which is about two hours away. My question is are there services for blind or low vision individuals in more remote areas, and if there are how does teaching a client and the skills they are taught differ from those in a more urban area? Are there specific agencies or companies that specifically work in more rural areas? If anyone could please share their insight on this topic it would be greatly appreciated.
Michael
O&M Student, Salus university
_______________________________________________
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No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2016.0.7998 / Virus Database: 4749/13835 - Release Date: 01/25/17
Hi guys! My message had LOTS of mistakes – here is is again:
Hi everyone! Michael, Joanne hit the nail on the head – there are funding streams to provide vision rehab for children and working-aged adults who have visual impairment, but the funding sources to older folks for vision services such as O&M are extremely limited.
This is not true for most other rehabilitation services – funding is available for physical and occupational therapy and other rehab services through third-party payment (insurance and Medicare) regardless of the age. I think that vision rehabilitation services are unique in that they are not reimbursed for older people by third-party payment.
But the membership of AER decided to do something about it, and I’m very excited and optimistic. Last summer they passed a resolution “Accessing Third-Party Payment for Vision-Rehabilitation Professionals and Services” – our AER President, Joe Catavero, is pulling people together to work on it.
The resolution is posted at https://aerbvi.org/about/aer-resolutions/ and I’ve copied it below:
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Resolution Number 2016 – 1 July 2016
Accessing Third-Party Payment for Vision-Rehabilitation Professionals and Services
Whereas the primary funding streams supporting specialized services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired are restricted to the special education and vocational rehabilitation systems; and
Whereas the only national program intended to offer specialized services to those people who are blind or visually impaired who are not ordinarily served by the special education or vocational rehabilitation systems, namely the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) program, has been unconscionably under funded since its inception; and
Whereas 6.9 million Americans 65 years and older reported having a significant visual impairment, according to the 2015 National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey; and
Whereas the services of many health and rehabilitation professionals are reimbursed by third-party programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance carriers, and
Whereas the services of most vision rehabilitation professionals qualified to provide specialized services to people who are blind or visually impaired are not currently reimbursable through third-party programs; and
Whereas for the last several decades, coordinated advocacy for Medicare
Reimbursement for such services undertaken by organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired, including AER, has been unsuccessful; and
Whereas expertise in health care management and administration is necessary for understanding the business of health care delivery and accessing third-party funding; and
Whereas this expertise in health care management and administration lies outside the preparation and experience of professionals, program administrators and others involved in the delivery of specialized services to people who are blind or visually impaired;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) on this 23rd day of July, 2016, in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, that this organization, through its President and Executive Director, shall reach out to the leadership and public policy staff of the major national, regional and community-based organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired with whom AER may make common cause to invite them to participate in an “AER National Working Group on Third-Party Coverage for Specialized Services”
(working group) to consider and implement strategies to achieve third-party funding for the specialized services provided by vision rehabilitation professionals.
And be it further resolved that this national working group shall include the active participation of each of the AER divisions representing professionals for whom third party coverage is being sought.
And be it further resolved that this national working group shall seek the involvement of additional individuals and entities with expertise in health care management and administration to advise the working group concerning current reimbursement policy and process and how professionals can qualify for and access third-party funding.
And be it further resolved that the AER President or Executive Director and/or a representative that the President may appoint shall routinely participate in working group meetings, shall regularly report to the AER Board about such meetings, and shall put any working group recommendations before the AER Board for its consideration and approval prior to working group actions.;
From: Freda Tepfer
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 9:14 PM
To: Orientation and Mobility
Subject: Re: [OrientationAndMobility] O&M service in rural areas
It's also a sad situation for anyone under 55 who can't work and needs services.
If you are going to be blind it's better to be a veteran.
On Jan 25, 2017, at 12:49 PM, Kcc kcclarrage@gmail.com wrote:
I would totally concur with all that has been said and just add that it is different in every single state… Never assume there is anything standard. I too am concerned that it won't be long before I'm heading to the nursing home and god forbid when I need vi services… Guess I'll have to remember and use a few of my skills that I've taught to others.. maybe I can volunteer in my own nursing home and teach skills on the side :-) truthfully it's a pretty sad situation :( Kathy clarrage, coms, Maine
Kathy,
life has just got to be lived!
On Jan 25, 2017, at 12:19 PM, Laurent, Joanne (DSB) joanne.laurent@dsb.wa.gov wrote:
Hello Michael,
Freda, who previously wrote to you, has the most knowledge about your particular state, but since you are a student I wanted to add some information to help you get started thinking about what the whole rehab picture looks like. Older blind programs can be scarce; here’s why—to the best of my understanding (which isn’t much):
Every state provides O&M and blind rehabilitation services for VOCATIONAL rehabilitation whether it is through a separate agency for the blind or as a division of another state agency. That means if you are interested in learning the skills that will allow you to work, or to keep your existing job, services should be available. In addition, children—nationwide who are blind or have low vision, also receive services through the education system (which is usually a separate government agency from the one that serves adults although there is some overlap). This includes coverage for rural areas. Unfortunately, services for older blind individuals (or working-age adults who are not willing or not able to work) do not seem to have the same *federal* mandates in place. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that services for older blind folks are arranged strictly according to *state* policies. Some states provide pretty good services, others mediocre, and some might not be able to provide any services at all. It depends on funding sources and available grants. Although the grants may be federally funded, they are usually time-limited and must be renegotiated frequently. The older blind programs seem to always be in a slightly precarious and ever-changing mode. The states that offer older blind services through their main agencies for the blind may be more likely to provide more consistent blind rehabilitation instruction as well as O&M through a COMS or NOMC, while agencies who use outside contractors to provide older blind services might not use certified O&M specialists, and instead use rehab teachers who might teach a few indoor O&M skills in addition to teaching living skills.
In addition to lacking mobility training, technology is rarely taught or granted to anyone beyond working age so it is difficult for older blind people with macular degeneration to receive CCTVs to look at pictures of their grandkids unless they fund their own. I would imagine there are hundreds (or thousands) of older blind people quietly struggling with vision loss that magnification can help and they probably don’t even know such technology exists even if they could afford to buy it themselves. I always thought if I became a millionaire or billionaire I would provide living skills & O&M training where desired, and CCTVs to every assisted living and retirement center in the nation. Sadly, I’m almost ready to check in the retirement home myself and I never made the millions I had hoped for!
Joanne Laurent, Program Specialist/Certified O&M Specialist
If you can’t learn it, I’m not teaching it right!
(360) 696-6239
Dept. of Services for the Blind
2214 East 13th St. Suite 208
Vancouver, WA 98661
From: OrientationAndMobility [mailto:orientationandmobility-bounces@lists.blindcanadians.ca] On Behalf Of Vore, Michael
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 6:39 PM
To: orientationandmobility@lists.blindcanadians.ca
Subject: [OrientationAndMobility] O&M service in rural areas
Hello, I am a current O&M student at Salus University living in Johnstown, PA if anyone is familiar with the area we having a large aging population and not many services for them of any sorts. Upon searching the web for a while, I did not find many services specific to O&M that were available in the area with most of what I found being based out of Pittsburgh which is about two hours away. My question is are there services for blind or low vision individuals in more remote areas, and if there are how does teaching a client and the skills they are taught differ from those in a more urban area? Are there specific agencies or companies that specifically work in more rural areas? If anyone could please share their insight on this topic it would be greatly appreciated.
Michael
O&M Student, Salus university
_______________________________________________
The operators of this mailing list are not responsible for material posted on this list and the views expressed are solely those of their respective authors. Messages are posted as they were intended by the author!
To unsubscribe or change your subscription options, visit:
http://lists.blindcanadians.ca/mailman/listinfo/orientationandmobility_lists.blindcanadians.ca
The operators of this mailing list are not responsible for material posted on this list and the views expressed are solely those of their respective authors. Messages are posted as they were intended by the author!
To unsubscribe or change your subscription options, visit:
http://lists.blindcanadians.ca/mailman/listinfo/orientationandmobility_lists.blindcanadians.ca
The operators of this mailing list are not responsible for material posted on this list and the views expressed are solely those of their respective authors. Messages are posted as they were intended by the author!
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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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