By Dan Cassuto - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | (608) 661 2727
FITCHBURG (WKOW) -- Louise Lewis hasn't left her tiny Fitchburg apartment since June 1st.
A stroke left her partially paralyzed six years ago. She uses a wheelchair.
The local healthcare organization, CareWisconsin provides medical services and supplies using Medicaid funding, but Lewis blames them for keeping her stuck inside.
"What scares me the most is if there's a fire," said Lewis, crying. "I could get hurt or even die."
CareWisconsin paid to install a temporary metal wheelchair ramp at Lewis' back patio door on her ground floor apartment.
"I fell off the side of it," said Lewis. "I still have bruises from a few weeks ago."
Lewis says the ramp is unstable and too narrow for her wheelchair.
Her landlord agreed to allow a permanent ramp and Medicaid funding will cover the cost.
But CareWisconsin, so far, hasn't agreed.
As for the existing temporary ramp, CareWisconsin's spokesman Mark Lamkins admitted to 27 News that he wasn't convinced it was safe.
"We need to find a better solution," he told Call for Action reporter Dan Cassuto.
CareWisconsin says it's not immediately approving a permanent ramp because it doesn't make a practice of using public funds to build permanent structures in rental units.
The group also says it still needs to determine what's best for Lewis, including whether moving to a different apartment complex better-suited for wheelchairs is the ideal move.
The cost of a permanent ramp will be several hundred dollars.
Lamkins said the medical care team didn't think Lewis made the right choice when she moved into an apartment not accommodated for wheelchairs, but wants its patients to make independence life decisions.
Lewis says she chose to live where she does in Fitchburg because of its low rental cost.
CareWisconsin tells 27 News it will continue to investigate the situation and work towards a solution.
"I need help," said an emotional Lewis. "If there's anything anyone can do."
