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Department of Medicaid passes new rule to provide coverage of white canes

Posted at 4:44 PM, Dec 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-10 16:44:08-05

The Ohio Department of Medicaid passed a rule on Monday to provide coverage of white canes as durable medical equipment. 

Ohio is the first state in the country to provide coverage for the tool used by individuals that are blind or have low vision. 

The Cleveland Sight Center, Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired and The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio expressed strong support for adoption of the rule, according to a press release

“Vision loss affects every part of an individual’s life, adding to the stress of this loss is the patchwork of insurance coverage that these individuals face,” said John Mitchell of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired. “We are elated that Medicaid took a step forward towards greater insurance equity for these individuals.”

The rule will take effect on January 1, 2019.