Latest news with #quadriplegic
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion: A smarter, fairer way to fund Medicaid for people like me
In 2004, I broke my neck and became a quadriplegic. I was 24 years old and completely paralyzed below my shoulders. Without Medicaid, I wouldn't have survived those early years — let alone gone on to earn a law degree. But I also wouldn't have stayed poor as long as I did. That's the problem with how Medicaid currently works for people with disabilities. To keep Medicaid, you often have to stay below poverty-level income and asset thresholds. Want to work? You risk losing your coverage. Want to save for a car? Not so fast. We need a Medicaid model that guarantees coverage for vulnerable populations and recognizes both the dignity of independence and the value of work. Here's my proposal: shift the primary responsibility for funding Medicaid to the states, while the federal government reimburses the states for Medicaid spending on: • Children in low-income families • Low-income elderly adults • People with disabilities ages 16-64 who are either progressing students (full reimbursement) or working (reimbursement up to the amount of their taxable income) The states would be required to provide Medicaid coverage for all people with disabilities regardless of income, assets, and work or student status, but both the states and federal government could require people with significant income to obtain private supplemental insurance — relieving states of some Medicaid costs. This plan does three essential things. First, it aligns financial incentives. Under current rules, the states have little reason to invest in helping disabled adults live meaningful lives, including pursuing education or working. Under this model, the more someone earns or pursues valuable education, the more their state receives in federal reimbursements. Helping disabled adults enter and remain in the workforce becomes not just morally right but also financially sound. Second, this plan unleashes human potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2024 labor force participation rate for people with disabilities ages 16-64 was a tragically low 40%, compared to 78% for those without disabilities. The unemployment rate among people with disabilities was 8%, more than double the less than 4% rate of those without disabilities. These disparities aren't simply the result of individual limitations — they reflect a system that undermines work for people with disabilities, trapping them in poverty and limiting their potential. My plan removes that disincentive. Third, this plan brings fiscal discipline to Medicaid. In 2024, total Medicaid spending was over $900 billion, with about two-thirds covered by the federal government and one-third by the states, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers. We can target those funds better. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2021 data, adults with disabilities ages 18-64 account for about one-third of Medicaid spending. My proposal would incentivize states to use Medicaid to help people with disabilities to pursue education, employment and independence, while encouraging state-led innovation to deliver those services more efficiently. States are better equipped to tailor care programs. They are 'laboratories of democracy.' With clearer authority and direct financial incentives rewarding their success, states will be free to pursue innovative care models: consumer-directed services, telehealth, supported employment or customized in-home care, whatever works best for the people of their state. Critically, this approach also elevates education as a path out of dependency. If a student with disabilities is making 'substantial academic progress' — a term that could be precisely defined in federal regulation — their state would qualify for full reimbursement of their Medicaid costs. This rewards long-term investment in human potential and acknowledges the added effort it takes to pursue education while managing a serious disability. For someone like me, this is more than policy — it's personal. Medicaid made my education possible. But the rules also penalized me for every financial step forward. That's not just inefficient — it's inhumane. We can do better. We can fund Medicaid in a way that values work, education and independence — while targeting federal dollars more precisely and empowering states to find better ways of delivering care. Let's stop trapping people with disabilities in poverty and start treating them as full participants in our economy. Let's build a Medicaid system that sees us not as burdens, but as investments.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Paralysed man spends year writing letter of thanks
Three years ago, Leonard Mullin's life changed forever. A fall down the stairs at his home in County Tyrone left him paralysed from the chest down with limited use of his limbs. "I remember going down the stairs and the next thing I remember is waking up days later in hospital," he said. Doctors told Leonard that the accident had caused an injury to his spine. He said: "My injury means that my movement is extremely limited. The accident left me a quadriplegic. "I get some flickers of movement in my legs and in my arms, but very little." Leonard says he is thankful to be alive. "I'm lucky to have good family," he said. "Mum found me first and then my sisters came to my aid, and then my neighbours and they phoned the ambulance." After the call to emergency services, the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance was dispatched. The Air Ambulance is a charity that works alongside staff from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Leonard credits the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service that came to his aid that day with saving his life. As an expression of his gratitude, Leonard decided to hand-write a letter of thanks to the paramedics that were there on the day of his accident. While putting pen to paper is something most of us do without thinking about, for Leonard, every letter and word he writes is a battle. He said: "I wanted to do something personal, something I could do myself, but it has been extremely challenging. "I can only do so many words and letters a day and I have to use my left arm on days I am able to, but it takes up so much energy." It has taken more than year, but writing a couple of words a day, Leonard finished the letter to coincide with the third anniversary of his accident which occurred earlier this week. "Finishing this letter has taken so much out of me, to me it's like climbing the highest mountain, but now that it's done, it means everything to me." The final paragraph of Leonard's letter reads: "Please share my heartfelt thanks with everyone involved in my rescue. I will forever hold your team in the highest regard, with deepest appreciation, Leonard Mullan." BBC News NI was there to capture the moment Leonard finished the letter and hand-delivered it to some of the paramedics that helped save his life. Damien McAnespie from Air Ambulance NI said: "This is an incredible challenge that Leonard set for himself. "He and his family should be very proud of what he has achieved." Following the emotional scenes of Leonard handing over the letter, he said that he hoped his story might provide others with hope. He added: "Finishing the letter feels like the best achievement of my life and words cant express my gratitude to the air ambulance and the ambulance crew. "But I also hope it shows people that even if you have a spinal injury like mine, if you don't give up, you will be surprised with what you can achieve, just keep on going."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Paralysed man spends year writing letter of thanks
Three years ago, Leonard Mullin's life changed forever.A fall down the stairs at his home in County Tyrone left him paralysed from the chest down with limited use of his limbs."I remember going down the stairs and the next thing I remember is waking up days later in hospital," he told Leonard that the accident had caused an injury to his said: "My injury means that my movement is extremely limited. The accident left me a quadriplegic."I get some flickers of movement in my legs and in my arms, but very little."Leonard says he is thankful to be alive. "I'm lucky to have good family," he said."Mum found me first and then my sisters came to my aid, and then my neighbours and they phoned the ambulance."After the call to emergency services, the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance was Air Ambulance is a charity that works alongside staff from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Leonard credits the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service that came to his aid that day with saving his an expression of his gratitude, Leonard decided to hand-write a letter of thanks to the paramedics that were there on the day of his accident. While putting pen to paper is something most of us do without thinking about, for Leonard, every letter and word he writes is a said: "I wanted to do something personal, something I could do myself, but it has been extremely challenging."I can only do so many words and letters a day and I have to use my left arm on days I am able to, but it takes up so much energy."It has taken more than year, but writing a couple of words a day, Leonard finished the letter to coincide with the third anniversary of his accident which occurred earlier this week."Finishing this letter has taken so much out of me, to me it's like climbing the highest mountain, but now that it's done, it means everything to me." The final paragraph of Leonard's letter reads:"Please share my heartfelt thanks with everyone involved in my rescue. I will forever hold your team in the highest regard, with deepest appreciation, Leonard Mullan."BBC News NI was there to capture the moment Leonard finished the letter and hand-delivered it to some of the paramedics that helped save his life. Damien McAnespie from Air Ambulance NI said: "This is an incredible challenge that Leonard set for himself."He and his family should be very proud of what he has achieved."Following the emotional scenes of Leonard handing over the letter, he said that he hoped his story might provide others with added: "Finishing the letter feels like the best achievement of my life and words cant express my gratitude to the air ambulance and the ambulance crew."But I also hope it shows people that even if you have a spinal injury like mine, if you don't give up, you will be surprised with what you can achieve, just keep on going."
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Man who considered assisted death after bedsore tells coroner's inquiry 'you have to fight' for care
Among the dozens of people who testified at a coroner's inquiry into the death of Normand Meunier, Claude Labelle may be the only one who really understands what he went through. Meunier, a 66-year-old quadriplegic Quebec man, requested medical assistance in dying after developing a severe bedsore during a four-day stay in the ER at Saint-Jérôme Hospital last year. The inquiry has heard over the last several weeks about the unbearable pain he suffered, and how the system failed him before he died in March 2024. "In my opinion, it was the right thing to do," Labelle said of Meunier's decision in an interview with CBC News after his testimony Tuesday. "It was very, very, very hard for him — a big, severe wound." Like Meunier, Labelle is quadriplegic, uses a wheelchair and is prone to severe bedsores on his buttocks. "As soon as you have pressure or redness, it's the beginning of a possible sore, so what you have to do is relieve the pressure on that red spot," Labelle said. "I have to be on my side — one side or the other, never on my back." That can mean days or even weeks of being bedridden in uncomfortable positions while waiting for a sore to heal. The key to preventing such sores is to change positions every two hours, and to use a special pressure mattress for sleeping or resting. Meunier was unable to get access to such a mattress during his stay in the ER, the inquiry has heard. Like Meunier, Labelle is frequently in hospital, and he's also had difficulty accessing those mattresses. He said each time, he has to re-explain to hospital staff the care he needs to prevent bedsores. Labelle said when he does that, he's often dismissed by hospital staff. "You have to fight to get care. That's nonsense," Labelle said. 'At the end of my rope' Labelle told the inquiry how he hit his own breaking point during his most recent hospital stay in January, when he developed a sore and his discharge was delayed several times. "When the doctor told me I had to stay even longer, I said no, that's it," he said. Labelle asked his doctor that day if he could request medical assistance in dying. "I was at the end of my rope," he said. The doctor asked him if he had a date in mind. "I said 'as soon as possible'. I said 'if you can do it today, let's do it today, I can't deal with it,'" he said. Labelle said at the time, he feared he might be bedridden for the rest of his life. "I had made my peace with being disabled, with being in a wheelchair the rest of my life, but not in a hospital bed," he said. His doctor suggested he take time to discuss his request for assisted death with his family before making a final decision. He ultimately decided not to go ahead with it. "It's still in my head. I don't have any sores right now. I don't have any signs of a sore, which encourages me," he said. "But it's fragile." A dozen requests for assisted death An advocacy group representing people with spinal cord injuries told the inquiry cases like Labelle's and Meunier's are "the tip of the iceberg." Walter Zelaya, president of Moëlle Épinière et Motricité Québec (MEMO Quebec) also testified Tuesday at the inquiry, which in its final week heard recommendations from experts about how to prevent such incidents from happening again. "At least 12 members of our association have requested medical assistance in dying due to health problems and a health-care system that doesn't take care of them," Zelaya told CBC in an interview after his testimony. Zelaya said all the requests came since the province loosened the criteria for receiving medically assisted death in 2023. He said in most cases, the patients were frustrated that hospitals and CLSCs weren't doing enough to help them prevent and treat bedsores. "People are caught between the undue suffering they experience, and ultimately deciding to leave. And they ultimately choose to leave," Zelaya said. "We understand this decision very well, but it's extremely painful to see that these people deep down did not want to die." Harder for patients since health-care reforms During his testimony Zelaya showed the inquiry several photos of painful bedsores submitted by members of the group, similar to the one that Meunier developed in hospital. His group keeps a registry of members who have bedsores, and there are currently dozens. Zelaya said things became harder for members of the group in 2015 following the health-care reforms of the previous Liberal government. He said the centralization of administration and decision-making at the time meant many local institutions — individual hospitals and rehab centres — lost their governance structures. It became harder for patients with specialized needs to request care and services, and harder for them to complain when things went wrong, he said. Zelaya said that's led to an increase in patients developing serious bedsores. MEMO Quebec made several recommendations to the inquiry, including: Creating dedicated wound clinics to care for patients with pressure sores. Improving communications between home-care services and hospitals so patients' care plans automatically follow them when they're hospitalized. Making sure all hospitals and care homes have an appropriate supply of easily accessible pressure mattresses. Training on prevention and care of bedsores for all health-care workers. Recognizing and valuing the expertise of patients with pressure wounds. Ensuring each patient who suffers from chronic bedsores is followed by a family doctor. Other groups also made recommendations to the inquiry this week, including health-care institutions and professional orders. Coroner Dave Kimpton will now take time to consider all the testimony before delivering a final report with recommendations, which is expected in three months. 'I have faith this will lead to something' Labelle said when MEMO Quebec first asked him to testify at the inquiry, he was skeptical. "I wondered if it was a waste of time, if after all this, no one is going to do anything," he said. But he says watching the process unfold, and watching how Kimpton handled witnesses, made him more optimistic. "He's really on his game, really attentive to details, and taking the time to listen," Labelle said. "I really have faith that this will lead to something, and if it doesn't, MEMO Quebec will keep knocking on doors," he said. "Maybe I'll be there too," he said, then pausing for a moment, a slight smile curling onto his face. "Not maybe, I'm going to be there," he said.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jiu-jitsu student, 30, is handed huge sum after being left a quadriplegic due to terrifying move in beginner's lesson
A jiu-jitsu student was awarded a staggering $56 million payout after a shocking accident left him a quadriplegic. White belt Jack Greener, 30, was sparring with second-degree black belt teacher Francisco Iturralde when his cervical vertebrae was crushed in a terrifying move. Greener filed a lawsuit against the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in San Diego, California, owned by a man named Michael Phelps, on the grounds that the club was responsible for fractured neck and spinal cord injury that forever altered his life on November 29, 2018. An appellate district court awarded Greener $46 million in damages in 2023, and the California Supreme Court declined to review an appeal on May 20, which closed the case. Now with post-judgment interest, Greener's total exceeds $56 million. The California Supreme Court's decision represents a long battle for Greener, who was hospitalized for months after the accident and suffered multiple strokes. According to his website, he was in surgery for nine hours to remove the blood clots in his brain and was given two days to show improvement, or he'd be offered assisted suicide. He was weeks away from graduating college and was hoping to start his career as a professional surf instructor when he was paralyzed. Greener started the sport in 2015 and was a white belt, which is the first level in jiu-jitsu, before he sparred with Iturralde in 2018 He attended classes at a different dojo but stopped because it was too far from his home, according to the court judgement. Greener then started classes at the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in early November 2018. Later that month, he sparred with his instructor at the end of a class. He was in the 'turtle position' with his elbows and knees on the floor when Iturralde 'lost control and injured Greener.' Iturralde testified that Greener seemed highly experienced for a white belt and had expressed a desire to be competitive in the sport. He admitted that the move was 'dangerous' and he wouldn't execute it if he 'could not safely' do so. 'While sparring with Greener during a BJJ class, Iturralde gave no demonstration or active instruction,' the court judgement read. 'Instead, he acted more like a student coparticipant than an instructor when he immobilized and executed a series of maneuvers on Greener. 'But as an instructor with superior knowledge and skill of BJJ, Iturralde was differently situated from other students, and thus he can—and we conclude should—be held to a different standard.' The court concluded that there was evidence Iturralde 'knew he had created a situation posing a heightened risk to Greener's safety' and argued that the risk of immobilizing a student is not inherent in jiu jitsu sparring. Phelps and Iturralde's representation argued that students should assume risk when participating in combat sports, but the court maintained that the black-belt instructors should be held to a higher standard than their student counterparts. One of Greener's attorneys, Rahul Ravipudi, told local NBC affiliate, KNSD, that the court's ruling, 'cements a critical legal victory not only for our client, but also for injured athletes across California by reaffirming that sports instructors and facilities may be held accountable when they unreasonably increase risks beyond those inherent in the sport.' Greener has since used his story to motivate others and documented his journey to become one of only two people with his disability to go above 14,000 feet on foot when he climbed Mount Bross in Colorado, according to his website. In January 2019, he started to regain movement and could walk with the help of a cane. His next goal is to be the first with his condition to ascend Mount Whitney in California, which has an elevation of 14,505 feet. Greener (pictured climbing a mountain on his Instagram on April 13) has now taken up climbing and was one of only two people with his disability to ascend 14,000 feet on foot Last November, he posted a reflection on his Instagram about the six years since he was paralyzed. '6 years to infinity. The PTSD of the actual situation has all but healed. Having spent April 23' to now mending the prior four years. Which tbh is pretty cool. And I'm left to mend the remaining pieces as it pertains to courtrooms, suits and ties. 'Honestly, I've not achieved much of anything in 2024 and have seemingly regressed in career, finances, etc. Much of it out of my control. But that's ok, progress and growth isn't linear. 'The good news is I have a few doors in front of me And relatively speaking, I'm happy and secure. So here's to hoping the right doors open.'
