Little-known Medicaid program provides incontinence supplies

Oct. 26--Green River District Health Department officials feel too few Kentucky Medicaid recipients know about a program that may benefit them.

The incontinence supplies program provides -- at no charge to the recipient -- briefs, pull ups, pads and Chuxs, which are disposable pads to keep chairs and beds from getting soiled, to residents ages 3 and older.

There are stipulations, of course. Recipients must have Kentucky Medicaid coverage and a medical diagnosis that causes incontinence. For example, the program is designed to help those with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, strokes and any number of medical conditions.

Residents enrolled in Medicare are not eligible, said Kim Nevitt, GRDHD senior support services associate.

GRDHD takes care of ordering and billing for eligible recipients. As long as a resident meets eligibility requirements, supplies will arrive at his or her home once a month, which is especially advantageous for homebound residents.

Medicaid does not provide an endless amount of supplies monthly. The program has maximums, depending on the products needed, Nevitt said. "It may not cover the whole month, but it helps out a lot."

Program rules are:

--Recipients must be enrolled in Kentucky Medicaid.

--And a medical doctor -- not a nurse practitioner or any other health-care professional -- must send GRDHD the patient's demographics, insurance information, diagnosis and order for incontinence supplies.

GRDHD serves residents in Daviess, McLean, Ohio, Hancock, Henderson, Union and Webster counties. Currently, a total of 350 recipients from those counties are enrolled in the incontinence supplies program, Nevitt said.

"It is beneficial to those who qualify and need it," she said.

For more information about the Medicaid-based incontinence supplies program, call GRDHD at 270-686-8123.

Renee Beasley Jones, 270-228-2835, rbeasleyjones@messenger-inquirer.com

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