Wonderful News

        We have wonder News!  As of July 1st, 2001 all ALS Patients (called "PALS") will be covered by Medicare.  The no longer have to wait for two years with this diagnosis.  Some of the patients pass away before the waiting period.  The life expectancy of patients diagnosed with ALS is 2-5 years.  thank you for writing all those letters to your House of Representative and Senators.  This wouldn't have happened without your help.

The text of the statue is as follows:
(From H.R. 5661, contained in H.R. 4577, enacted as P.L. 106-554)
(see http://thomas.loc.gov/)

SEC. 115. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR MEDICARE COVERAGE OF INDIVIDUALS DISABLED WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS)

• (A) IN GENERAL - Section 226 (42 U.S.C. 426) is amended --
  (1) by re-designating subsection (h) as subsection (j) and by moving such subsection to the end of the section; and
  (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
  (h) For purposes of applying this section in the case of an individual medically determined to have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the following special rules apply:
  (1) Subsection (b) shall be applied as if there were not requirement for any entitlement to benefits, or status, for a period longer than 1 month.
  (2) The entitlement under such subsection shall begin with the first month (rather than the twenty-fifth month) of entitlement or status.
  (3) Subsection (f) shall not be applied.
  
• (B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT - Section 1837 (42 U.S.C. 1395p) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  (j) In applying this section in the case of an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A pursuant to the operation of section 226(h), the following special rules apply:
  (1) The initial enrollment period under subsection (d) shall begin on the first day of the first month in which the individual satisfies the requirement of section 1836(1).
  (2) In applying subsection (g)(1), the initial enrollment period shall begin on the first day of the first month of entitlement to disability insurance benefits referred to in such subsection.
  
• (c) EFFECTIVE DATE - The amendments made by this section shall apply to benefits for months beginning July 1, 2001.