Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Rehabilitation

The data below is from the Medical Rehabilitation Education Foundation in Washington, D.C.

How does medical rehabilitation help people?
Don't people with disabilities just go on to a nursing home after they're finished with medical rehabilitation?
Isn't it true that most people never return to work after a significant accident or disease?
Medical rehabilitation is expensive. Is it really cost effective?
Who benefits from medical rehabilitation?
Who pays for medical rehabilitation?
How do I get medical rehabilitation?
Where can I go for more information?

How does medical rehabilitation help people?
Through medical rehabilitation, people who become disabled as a result of trauma or disease can be helped to return to the most productive and independent lifestyle possible. In addition to helping people minimize their disability and improve function, medical rehabilitation can reduce future costly medical complications and the need for re-hospitalization.

Don't people with disabilities just go on to a nursing home after they're finished with medical rehabilitation?
As a result of medical rehabilitation, at least 50,000 to 100,000 people return to their homes each year. These individuals would otherwise require additional care on a long-term basis at considerable expense to government programs, as well as to their families. This results in a net savings to individuals, insurance companies, and government programs of approximately $500 million to $1 billion annually.

Isn't it true that most people never return to work after a significant accident or disease?
As a result of medical rehabilitation, an estimated 350,000 Americans return to work each year. Individuals who return to work each year as a result of medical rehabilitation produce about $700 million in additional state and federal revenue through income tax payments.

Medical rehabilitation is expensive. Is it really cost effective?
By reducing acute care hospital days (length of stay) and re-hospitalizations, medical rehabilitation saves hundreds of millions of dollars per year in medical costs that would otherwise be paid by insurers, Medicare or Medicaid, and individuals. Medical rehabilitation results in an estimated annual savings of $1 to $2 billion for public programs such as workers' compensation, disability insurance, and Medicaid. A study by an insurance company has shown that, with severe brain injury, for every $1 spent on rehabilitation, $23 is saved over the lifetime of the person with the brain injury.

Who benefits from medical rehabilitation?
People with a twist, sprain, or strain of a muscle or joint that does not resolve in a reasonable time.
People with a condition that can be helped by better muscle control, such as some types of incontinence in women, and chronic pain.

People with an injury or medical condition such as head injury, aneurysm, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, multiple trauma, repetitive motion injury (carpal tunnel syndrome), anoxia (lack of oxygen for some period of time), amputation, broken hip or multiple bone fractures, and hip or knee replacement.

People with a disease or chronic condition such as: arthritis, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, heart disease, lung disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), problems related to AIDS or infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

People with a birth defect or inherited disorder, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, hearing problems, speech problems, disorders that affect vision, balance, thinking, etc., and children with developmental delays.

Who pays for medical rehabilitation?
Private and group health insurance usually offers coverage of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.
Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs) may cover inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation on a limited basis. Medicaid covers rehabilitation services in some cases. Contact your state Medicaid office for details. Medicare covers some inpatient and outpatient services.
Workers' compensation covers rehabilitation services related to work injuries (in most states). No-fault auto insurance pays for medical rehabilitation following accidents (in some states).

How do I get medical rehabilitation?
As with any medical or treatment program, the first advice is to check with your doctor. If you think medical rehabilitation can help you or a family member, your doctor will help evaluate your (or your family member's) condition and assess whether medical rehabilitation is needed.

Where can I go for more information?
Call The Rehabilitation Institute at Memorial University Medical Center at 912-350-7099 or the main Memorial number at 912-350-8000.