PWP testifies to save home-care hours

[Ivan M Suzman <cureit@xxxxxxxx>]

^^^^^^  WARM GREETINGS  FROM  ^^^^^^^^^^^^  :-)
 Ivan Suzman        51/39/36       cureit@xxxxxxxx      :-)
 Portland, Maine    land of lighthouses    77 blue skies  deg. F   :-)
********************************************************************
Dear friends,

 I was again under oath from 9 am to 4 pm today,
in another formal hearing  where I am
trying to regain my 13 hours of Personal
Care Attendant assistance per 24 hour
day, that I have had since August 16, 1998.

On April 25, I was cut AGAIN to 5 hours
of help per 24 hour day.  I resisted the cut
and actually defied it, and the ATtorney-
General backed down and let me continue
with 13 hours.

I am finished testifying and being
cross-examined. This  battle, at the Maine
Department of Human Services in Portland,
under hearings officer Ronald Stoodley,
will have to go to court if I lose.

I was asked innumerable questions
by the opposing attorney about what
kind of help I need, and about my
symptoms.  Hopefully the  outcome
will be positive and open the gate
for other PWP's  who follow.

Maine is estimated to have
7,000 PWP's   80 % or more have
never seen a specialist.  Most
of us live in small towns, and
our winters are 6 months long.
THe last snow melted from
my eriveway on April 24.

Thes hard winters make medical
care much less accessible.

Ivan Suzman
Portlaned Maine

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