PDF In Pain and Agonizing Over the Bills - Dysautonomia

In Pain and Agonizing Over the Bills

Financial Assistance Resource Directory

2012 2013

Edition

Introduction

IN PAIN AND AGONIZING OVER THE BILLS

Resource Directory for People with CRPS

Anyone who has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), or has a family member or friend afflicted with it, knows how physically, emotionally, and financially devastating it can be. We constantly get requests for help, and although there is not a simple or single solution, there are many programs that may help you get through some rough times.

Nine years ago we published the first edition of this directory and since then, we have received many suggestions from members on how to expand it and make it more user friendly. We hope we have done so, with added information and expanded phone and website contact lists. There are no simple answers for those of you who need financial assistance, but you do have a number of options. Much of the information on this directory is referenced to the web. In today's information environment, it is the easiest and fastest way to negotiate the myriad programs out there. However, we have tried to be sensitive to the fact that many people still do not have easy access to online information; we have included mailing addresses and telephone numbers where appropriate.

We have heard over and again how time consuming, and sometimes frustrating, it can be to negotiate the various programs and bureaucratic systems. If you can, enlist a friend or family member to advocate for you with some of these agencies. It makes a big difference.

Remember also that your physician can be your most important ally. Finding a physician or other health care professional who can document your condition and your treatment is the key to success in getting any kind of help. Make sure you have an alliance you can trust. You may find, as have many of our members, that you will have to educate or update your physician and other health care providers about programs available. Also, CRPS was formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD) and many health care providers still use the old name. If you are looking for information, you may have to use both acronyms as search words.

This kind of project will always be a work in progress, and we hope that anyone who has additional information to share will do so via email to info@ or mail to RSDSA, 99 Cherry Street, PO Box 502, Milford, CT, 06460.

James W. Broatch, MSW Executive Director

Table of Contents

PART 1: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS....................................5

Social Security Medicare Medicaid Workers' Compensation Do You Need a Lawyer? Other Disability Resources

PART 2: LEGAL AID........................................................................................................12

Legal Aid Societies Legal help for Persons with Disabilities

PART 3: LIVING EXPENSES...........................................................................................13

Housing Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Telephone Services Heat and Electricity Food and Nutrition Emergency Services Other information

PART 4: SERVICE AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS...........................................19

Service Organizations Faith-based Organizations

PART 5: PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS...............................................................21

Brad Jenkins Patient Assistance Fund Pharmaceutical Assistance Assistive Devices Health Services and Insurance Hospital Care Free-and Low-cost Clinics Dental Care Vision Care Resources for Caregivers Transportation Guest Housing Other Home-based Care Resources

Table of Contents

PART 6: RESOURCES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS......................33

Military Aid Societies Other Not for Profit Organizations that Assist Veterans State Programs For Veterans and Families Employment Resources

APPENDIX 1: STATE WORKERS' COMPENSATION OFFICES....................................40 APPENDIX 2: STATE LEGAL AID OFFICES...................................................................44 APPENDIX 3: LIHEAP.....................................................................................................52 APPENDIX 4: SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.....................60 APPENDIX 5: WIC OFFICES..........................................................................................61

Special thanks to the Petit Family Foundation and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA for funding this project.

? 2012 The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association of America 7/20/2012

PART 1: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Social Security

Many individuals with CRPS contact us for help on getting Social Security Disability benefits. Admittedly, this is not an easy process. It is time and labor intensive and not uncommon for the first application to be denied. So be very thorough in completing the paperwork and make sure you understand which kinds of benefits best suit your situation. For an excellent understanding of the process, read Linda Lang's article, My Journey With Social Security Disability, at pdfsall/Lang.SSD.pdf

Overall, The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers disability benefits under two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI), for people who are "insured" (you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes), and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. Both programs require medical and other information in order to decide if you meet the SSA's definition of disability. In 2003, the SSA approved SSR 03.2p, a ruling that explains SSA's policies for developing and evaluating Title II and Title XVI claims for disability on the basis on CRPS.

Social Security disability benefits (SSD or SSI) can be available for people with CRPS when it doesn't go away within 12 months. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) to be synonymous with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). CRPS, when documented by appropriate medical signs, is a medically determinable impairment that can last for 12 or more months and be the basis for finding of "disability." Disability may not be established on the basis of an individual's statement of symptoms alone.

Requirements for a Medically Determinable Impairment The inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a period of not less than 12 months

The impairment must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques

An impairment must be established by medical evidence that consists of signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings

CRPS can be established in the presence of chronic complaints of severe pain disproportionate to the degree of documented soft tissue injury and one or more of the following signs in the affected region: ? Swelling ? Autonomic instability (In the affected regions there may be color, temperature or trophic changes in skin as well as changes in sweating or in the amount of goose flesh, also called increased pilomotor erection) ? Abnormal hair or nail growth ? Dystrophic nails ? Osteoporosis ? Abnormal movement

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