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My mother is recovering from a fall & severely broken ankle, confined to bed 7 a wheel chair for at least 4 more weeks. Now, her internist is telling her she has to go see a urologist. That's fine, but it took 2 ambulance crews with 4 guys and myself to get her home from the hospital - their house is on the side of a hill with 14 steps to get to the front door! I doubt that medicare is willing to pay for a crew like that to take her to a Dr. app't & back? Anyone ever had a situation like this?

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I see a number of good suggestions to this post. I used to work on am ambulance and had to make "the climb" many times to get a patient back home. There are non-emergency transport services, gurney vans, ambulettes, and even Dial A Ride services that can get Mom to a doctor. The problem does become manpower. Is there an alternate way to get into the house? Can a ramp be built somewhere? (that is what I did at my parent's house). I do a agree with the other post that suggests getting medical necessity from a doctor. You may have to pay for the additional manpower though... Sorry...
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There are "ambulette" services that do medical but non-emergency transport for pts in wheelchairs, etc.
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You can call Medicare directly to inquire (unless your mom has chosen a Medicare HMO plan where you have to call them). It's possible that if the doctors appointment is medically necessary and it is impossible to transport her any other way, then Medicare may approve it. When my mom had her first hip replacement in 1996, they were still doing it "the old way", cutting down the lateral muscle. Until that muscle healed, she was not allowed to do weight bearing walking. The Dr sell her twice during this time, one time needing a gurney and the next time a wheelchair. Both times they ordered non emergency medical transport and Medicare paid. Coverage rules change and that may not be true anymore. But there is a non emergency medical transport. In my experience, the transportation that is free or low cost through the Department of Aging is income qualified. IOW, you can't use it if you have "too much" income and/or assets. It never hurts to inquire.
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Yes. My Mother is in a wheelchair. I call the local Council on Aging. They have a van equipped to transport wheelchairs. They charge a small flat fee and then mileage. I'm certain you will be helped by calling your local Council on Aging office. Good luck!
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