Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) stakeholders will focus on building Congressional support for H.R. 5371, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, at two Washington, D.C., fly-ins in September.
The Sept. 9-10 legislative event is being led by the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare). The Sept. 24 fly-in is being hosted by the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) and U.S. Rehab, the CRT division of VGM & Associates.
Both events will focus on creating — actually, reestablishing — a path for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to titanium or carbon fiber frames for ultralightweight wheelchairs (HCPCS code K0005).
“Mobility stakeholders are having in-person meetings with House and Senate offices on Sept. 10 to advocate for improved consumer access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs,” the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) said in an Aug. 21 bulletin. “CRT and mobility suppliers who are not coming to Capitol Hill can bolster these efforts by reaching out to their representatives in the House in support of current legislation on the issue.”
CRT advocates at both events will be drumming up support for H.R. 5371, which would “restore access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries, and would also improve access for individuals covered under plans that follow Medicare policy and coding,” AAHomecare said. “An amended version of H.R. 5371, which instructs CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] to establish new HCPCS codes for ultralight manual wheelchairs, including a separate code for ones with titanium or carbon fiber, was approved by the House Energy & Commerce Committee in December 2023.”
Currently, a Medicare beneficiary who wants to upgrade to a titanium or carbon fiber ultralightweight frame cannot pay for just the upgrade out of pocket. Instead, the beneficiary must pay the entire cost of the wheelchair up front, then go through the process of getting partially reimbursed by Medicare.
CRT advocates argue that many beneficiaries cannot afford to pay for the entire wheelchair up front, a fact that then puts a carbon fiber or titanium upgrade out of reach. Advocates also point out that allowing beneficiaries to pay for their own upgrades would not result in extra expenses for Medicare.
“Mobility and CRT suppliers are encouraged to reach out to their representative’s health-care staffers to ask for support in moving H.R. 5371 forward before the end of this Congressional session,” AAHomecare said, adding that a Senate version of the bill “is currently being drafted.”
