APPEALS COURT DIRECTS JUDGE TO RECONSIDER RULING ON MEDICAID DEVICE COVERAGE IN MISSOURI

A panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a ruling in a Missouri case where the state legislature had sought to deny Medicaid coverage for some medical equipment to most low-income adults, according to reports.

U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple in September 2005 refused to block a state policy change denying Medicaid coverage for devices such as bed rails, catheters, crutches and wheelchair batteries.

The appeals court panel said that denying coverage for the devices is "unreasonable," given that the goal of Medicaid is to provide medically necessary services to low-income patients.