CMS Adds Inclusion Body Myositis ICD-10 Code for Seating Considerations The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) has reported that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added the ICD-10 code for inclusion body myositis (G72.41) to the Group 2 and Group 4 lists for consideration for a skin protection and/or…
Briefly: CMS Adds Inclusion Body Myositis to Seating Consideration List; Nonprofit Debuts Caregiver Website
Commentary: 3 Takeaways from the DOT’s $50 Million American Airlines Fine
Why this historic penalty could change the way airlines treat wheelchair riders and their equipment.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined American Airlines $50 million, saying in an October announcement that the carrier “failed to provide safe, dignified, and prompt wheelchair assistance and mishandled passengers’ wheelchairs.” This is hardly the first time airlines’ poor treatment of wheelchair riders and their equipment has made the news. But this particular DOT…
Briefly: NCART Adds State Data Resources; NMEDA Welcomes 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
Featuring the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology, U.S. Rehab, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association.
NCART Adds State-Specific Advocacy Info to Website The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) has added state-specific Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) information to its website. Using information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), NCART and U.S. Rehab’s single-page state resources list the diagnoses typically requiring CRT, as well as CRT services —…
Briefly: Hibbs Receives ASCIP Award; New Disney Film Stars Young Actress with CP
Featuring the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals and Disney+.
University of Pittsburgh’s Rachel Hibbs Receives ASCIP Excellence Award Rachel M. Hibbs, DPT, NCS, ATP, received the Excellence Award from the Therapy Leadership Council at the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) annual conference. The award is given to a member “who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership in the clinical application of SCI/D…
Briefly: United Spinal Offering Grants for Wheelchair Users; NSM Sponsors Pilgrimage Music Festival
Featuring United Spinal Association and National Seating & Mobility.
United Spinal Mini Grants Available for Wheelchair Riders Affected by Disasters United Spinal Association is accepting disaster-relief grant applications from wheelchair riders who have been impacted this year by disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires or floods. To qualify for the grants, which are provided by the Neilsen Foundation, applicants must have spinal cord injuries or…
Commentary: CRT As Prevention? What a Concept!
A new report published by VGM & Associates suggests Medicare competitive bidding has run its course.
A new report, authored by Brian Leitten of Leitten Consulting and published by VGM & Associates, contends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken the wrong perspective of durable medical equipment (DME) for at least for the last two decades. The 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act gave rise…
Briefly: Deadline Imminent for Power Standing Sign-on Letter; NOD Announces Leading Disability Employers
Featuring United Spinal Association and the National Organization on Disability.
United Spinal: Deadline for Power Standing Letter Is Oct. 4 United Spinal Association is reminding Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) advocates to reach out to their members of Congress to ask them to sign onto the Dear Colleague letter in support of opening a National Coverage Analysis for power standing systems on power wheelchairs. Visit the…
Senate Companion Bill Introduced for Ultralightweight Frame Upgrade
S. 5154, like its House counterpart, would be budget neutral for taxpayers, NCART said.
A companion bill to H.R. 5371 — the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, which would provide a path for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade their ultralightweight wheelchair frames — has been introduced in the Senate. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced S. 5154 on Sept. 24, the day of the legislative fly-in…
AAHomecare Focuses on H.R. 5371 at Congressional Fly-In
The Choices for Increased Mobility bill would provide a way for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to carbon fiber and titanium ultralightweight wheelchair frames.
Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) stakeholders at a Sept. 10 Congressional fly-in urged Congress to support H.R. 5371, a bill to provide Medicare beneficiaries a path for upgrading their ultralightweight wheelchair frames to carbon fiber or titanium at their own cost. In a Sept. 18 news announcement, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) reported that advocates…
‘Dear Colleague’ House Letter Urges CMS to Open Coverage Determination for Power Standing
The deadline for representatives to sign onto the letter is Sept. 27.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) have penned another “Dear Colleague” letter asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to open a coverage determination for power standing on power wheelchairs. “Please contact your U.S. representative today and urge them to sign on to the Dingell/Fitzpatrick Congressional sign-on letter urging CMS…