Bill to improve life for people with ALS

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would give people diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a grade 3 severe disability rating, with a minimum of 65%, from the moment of diagnosis, without further assessments. One year later, the rating would automatically rise to grade 4, total disability, unless the disease had already progressed further.
2. The bill would add breathing difficulty to the mobility assessment scale, so it counts for ALS patients who can walk but with effort due to respiratory muscle damage. It would also cover people with heart conditions that cause breathing trouble.
3. Under the Dependency Law, the bill would provide preferential care in multidisciplinary services, home physiotherapy and 24-hour specialized home care for people with ALS who are greatly dependent, funded by the State. Dependency recognition would be preferential, with grade II from diagnosis, and must be decided within three months; otherwise it would be granted by administrative silence.
4. The bill would speed up recognition of permanent disability for people with an ALS diagnosis, allowing the requirement of prior medical treatment to be waived in these cases.
5. Family caregivers who left their jobs to care for a person with ALS in a situation of great dependency could keep the contribution base of their last year, so they would not lose Social Security rights.
6. Within six months, the Government would have to include travel and lodging subsidies for trips to reference units in other provinces, evaluate the National Health System's Neurodegenerative Diseases Strategy, and could extend these benefits to other chronic neurodegenerative diseases by Royal Decree.

Who it affects

• People with ALS: Would have a high disability and dependency rating from diagnosis, with fewer procedures and shorter waits.
• Family members and caregivers: Could keep their Social Security contributions if they stopped working to provide care, and would get travel and lodging aid.
• People with other neurodegenerative diseases: The Government could extend the same benefits to them by Royal Decree.

Words worth knowing

Grado de discapacidad (disability rating)

A percentage recognized by the Administration based on how the disease affects daily life; it gives access to benefits.

Silencio administrativo (administrative silence)

If the Administration does not reply within the set deadline, the request is considered approved.

Baremo (assessment scale)

A table of percentages used to assess each person's limitations.

Base de cotización (contribution base)

The amount used to calculate Social Security contributions and, later, the pension.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries