The House Committee on Ways and Means just passed the Steve Gleason Act (S.984) named for Steve Gleason, former professional football player with the New Orleans Saints. Originally, the bill was introduced by Senator David Vitter from Louisiana and passed in the Senate in April.
The legislation ensures that patients will have access to speech generating devices and eye tracking alternatives to allow thousands of Americans previously unable to use tools like email and text messages to communicate effectively. The Act also removes the rental cap for durable medical equipment under Medicare with respect to speech generating devices.