Federal Court Protects Access to Incontinence Supplies

A win for anyone anywhere
who needs to access the right incontinence products.
Incontinence supplies are a medical necessity

Recently, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voided a cost-saving bid by Arizona’s Medicaid program to deny incontinence briefs to adults who need them. This was done after the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) argued incontinence products are only medically necessary when they are prescribed to treat skin infections or breakdown which was the result of incontinence. They also stated many doctors were writing prescriptions for incontinence supplies before these medical problems even surfaced. However, the 3 judge panel used the the AHCCCS own rules, which states incontinence supplies can be prescribed “to prevent disease, disability, or other adverse health conditions or their progression”. This was a win not only for the people of Arizona but anyone anywhere who needs to be able to access the right incontinence products.

Once you or someone in your care has received a diagnosis of incontinence it can seem overwhelming trying to find the right incontinence supplies in order to help you manage this issue. However, the good news is there are things which can help to make this easier and less frustrating. By keeping certain issues in mind you can find the right incontinence products which will help you to manage and deal with your own incontinence or that of your loved one. Here are 4 of the important questions you should ask.
  • What style will work best? There are liners, pads, guards, shields, briefs, pull-on underwear, refastenable underwear, washable, bed pads, swimpants, undergarments, booster pads and bladder inserts. Here is a helpful tool which explains the differences and shows pictures of the various styles. 
  • What size do they need? At one time manufacturers of incontinence undergarments only provided one-size-fits-all incontinence products. This led to a number of different issues most importantly if the incontinence product does not fit correctly there will be gaps which can cause leakage and accidents. Today, there is no need for a smaller person to feel like they are swimming in an adult diaper or for someone larger to squeeze into a too small incontinence brief. Most incontinence products come in a range of sizes which allows the wearer to choose the size that will not only be the most comfortable but also offer the highest level of protection. The better the fit, the better the protection. 
  • What is the gender of the wearer? Today, manufacturers of incontinence undergarments understand men and women have very different needs when it comes to incontinence briefs. Men need heavier protection up front then what is provided in a women’s incontinence undergarment. There are also incontinence pads and drip guards which are especially designed for men as well. This means no matter the gender of the wearer he or she can have the ultimate in protection from their incontinence supplies. 
  • What level of protection is needed? The reality is not all incontinence is the same. For some people incontinence means only losing a few drops of urine while for others it can mean a complete loss of bladder and bowel control. This is an important factor to consider when choosing an incontinence product. You may only need an incontinence pad while someone else may need an adult diaper which offers full protection from their incontinence. There are also different levels of absorbency which range from light to heavy. For those individuals with complete loss of control they may wish to use a heavier absorbency while others may use a lighter absorbency during the day and heavier at night. 
Choosing incontinence products can be confusing.

The Caregiver Partnership offers more than 500 adult incontinence products for both men and women. If you are unsure as to what incontinence product would work best for you, they can help you. They have developed the free and easy Incontinence Product Finder. It saves you time, money and frustration by making it easy to sort through hundreds of products - quickly and easily.

Studies show that people buying incontinence products for the first time waste $130 in trial and error mode. That's about 10 bags of product that can’t be returned. That’s why The Caregiver Partnership offers a “Try Before you Buy” incontinence product sample service which allows you to try incontinence products for a small shipping and handling fee before committing to a larger quantity. Learn more in this video. 

Avoid wasting money on trial and error. 
If you have questions call 800-985-1353 and speak with one of their knowledgeable product specialists. The call center is staffed by women age 55 and older who are all current or former caregivers themselves and are highly knowledgeable about the products offered.

Further Reading: 



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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.




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