AMENDED IN SENIOR ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 16, 2006

SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 2

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SHONTZ AND GOULD

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AFP 2: PARKINSON’S PATIENT MEDICARE PRESCRIPTIONS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL MEDICARE PROGRAM REQUIRES A PARKINSON’S PATIENT TO RENEW A PRESCRIPTION FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY EVERY 30 DAYS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CHANGE THE RENEWAL PERIOD FOR A PARKINSON’S PATIENT’S PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTION FROM EVERY 30 DAYS TO, INSTEAD, 30 DAYS UP TO 180 DAYS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PHYSICIAN.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 2: RELATING TO PARKINSON’S PATIENT MEDICARE PRESCRIPTIONS

WHEREAS, PARKINSON’S DISEASE IS A PROGRESSIVE DISORDER OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; AND

WHEREAS, PARKINSON’S DISEASE IS A NONRECOVERABLE DEGENERATIVE DISEASE; AND

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL PARKINSON’S FOUNDATION AND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS, ONE IN ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE IS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE; AND

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PARKINSON’S DISEASE ASSOCIATION, THE DISEASE’S FREQUENCY IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER IN THE OVER-60 AGE GROUP, THOUGH DIAGNOSIS OF THE DISEASE IN YOUNGER PATIENTS HAS INCREASED ALARMINGLY; AND

WHEREAS, PARKINSON’S PATIENTS NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY TO SLOW THE RATE OF MUSCULAR DETERIORATION AND MANAGE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE; AND

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUPS, WHILE PARKINSON’S PATIENTS DO NOT RECOVER FROM THE DISEASE, IN MOST CASES THEY BENEFIT BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY FROM PLANNED REGULAR PHYSICAL THERAPY SESSIONS; AND

WHEREAS, THE RENEWAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTIONS EVERY 30 DAYS UNDER THE FEDERAL MEDICARE PROGRAM UNNECESSARILY INCONVENIENCES PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE. WITHOUT GOING TO PHYSICAL THERAPY, A PARKINSON’S PATIENT’S HEALTH AND BODY TONE DETERIORATE MORE RAPIDLY, RESULTING IN INCREASED INABILITY TO FUNCTION NORMALLY; AND

WHEREAS, CHANGING THE PARKINSON’S PATIENT PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTION REVIEW AND RENEWAL PERIOD FROM 30 TO 180 DAYS WILL GREATLY REDUCE MEDICARE COSTS BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF A PARKINSON’S PATIENTS’ BILLABLE VISITS TO A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2006 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE MEDICARE BENEFIT POLICY MANUAL BE CHANGED TO EXTEND THE REVIEW AND RENEWAL PERIOD FOR PARKINSON’S PATIENTS’ PHYSICAL THERAPY PRESCRIPTIONS FROM 30 TO, INSTEAD 30 DAYS UP TO 180 DAYS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PHYSICIAN; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN20061897712

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