Our government should be supportive – in fact, it should be ecstatic – about technological advancements enabling ALS patients like Steve Gleason to communicate with family and friends using only their eyes and a tablet. But instead, the millions of men and women living with ALS and other neurological and degenerative disabilities are facing pushback from their government, which has made shortsighted policy decisions that could limit their only means of communication. Because of people like Steve,I was proud to spearhead a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services advocating on this community’s behalf today.

Americans rely on these innovative technologies as their only means to continue communicating the outside world, and CMS’s recent actions are now limiting their ability to benefit from these tools that help lead to independent lives.

After hearing from numerous individuals living with ALS and other degenerative disabilities, today, I urge CMS to explain its shortsighted policy decisions. I am joined by 200 of my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle. Together we stand with the millions of Americans living with degenerative disabilities who are being impacted.

We must empower men and women with the opportunity to utilize 21^stcentury technologies that can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life.