Baker v. Commonwealth, Department of Public Welfare

Opinion by

Judge Doyle,

Barry B. Baker (Petitioner) appeals the order of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) which affirmed a hearing officer’s determination denying Petitioner’s request of medical assistance.

Petitioner is a Medicaid recipient who suffers from morbid obesity and from paralysis of his right side as a result of a stroke. On January 22,1984, Petitioner’s treating physician submitted a request to the Department’s Program Exception Unit1 for a “wheelchair *634adequate to' accommodate a 500 lb. male” to allow Petitioner “to sit up and to be moved from room to room.” Petitioner’s…