^^^^^^GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ Ivan Suzman 47/10 [log in to unmask] Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 53 deg. F cloudy *********************************************************** October 15, 1997 Dear Friends on the Parkinson's List, I am sending this special letter to provide you with the opportunity to participate in what could be, on October 30, 1997, a ground-breaking and far-reaching decision, one which has the potential to benefit many persons with Parkinson's (PWP's). I am hoping that a decision in my favor will be rendered, opening the doors for ALL lower-income PWP's in the United States to, at long last, benefit from MEDICAID-COVERED massage therapy. As of this morning at 12:00 A.M., I am now officially scheduled for what seems to be a precedent-setting Hearing, coming up on Thursday, October 30, 1997 at 10:30 A.M., here in Portland, Maine, at the order of Kevin Concannon, the Commissioner of Human Services of the State of Maine. If I succeed, I will become, as far as we know here in Maine, the FIRST disabled, low-income American who will be covered for physician-ordered massage therapy, for the relief of Parkinson's-related pain and other symptoms. The 20-day waiting period for Applications for Intervention ended at midnight, with nothing filed. This means that the Hearing WILL happen as scheduled! To prepare for this Hearing, I am asking for your help, to add your voice, to be heard. It has taken ten months to go through the preparatory steps, and to get a Hearing scheduled. I am already being helped by many, including the Boston University Neurological Referral Center's pain nurse(I am now a Parkinson's patient there), my local Portland physicians , my 2 massage therapists, my much-improved team of personal care attendants, and my Parkinson's Support Group members. My family doctor ordered weekly home-visit massage therapy for me on January 6, but I had to suspend these wonderfully helpful visits due to insufficient income, in June. I am petitioning to have Medicaid cover this therapy. If you would like to support my effort, in the form of a Letter of Support, would you kindly e-mail them directly to me, at [log in to unmask] Your letters should be addressed to: David T. Bussey, Administrative Hearing Officer Office of Administrative Hearings, Maine Department of Human Services State House Station 11, 221 State Street Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 Again, please kindly e-mail them to me. My support team will assemble them and present them as evidence at the Hearing. I am hoping that a decision in my favor will be rendered, opening the doors for all lower-income PWP's in the United States to at long last benefit from Medicaid-covered massage therapy as provided by a Registered Massage Therapist. Thank you, listmembers. Sincerely, Ivan Suzman 47/10, Portland, Maine [log in to unmask] tel: 207-797-8488