H.R. 1703 — the Choices for Increased Mobility Act— has passed the Senate and is, at press time, awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature. The bill gives Medicare beneficiaries a more accessible path to upgrade their ultralightweight wheelchair frames to carbon fiber or titanium at their own expense. If the bill becomes law, Medicare beneficiaries will…
Ultralight Upgrade Bill Passes Senate, Goes to White House
House Passes Ultralightweight Frame Upgrade Bill; Focus Moves to Senate
The Choices for Increased Mobility Act passed the U.S. House by voice vote on July 20.
Now that H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, the Complex Rehab Technology industry’s focus shifts to the Senate, which has its own version of the bill (S. 247). The bills, which are both budget neutral, expand access to titanium and carbon fiber ultralightweight wheelchair frames by…
Ultralightweight Frame Upgrade Bill Heads to Full Committee Following Markup
The Choices for Increased Mobility Act will be considered by the Energy & Commerce committee in the U.S. House.
[Updated May 22] The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) reported May 22 that H.R. 1703 passed the U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce committee with a unanimous 45-0 vote on May 21. The House bill that would provide a clearer path for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to titanium or carbon fiber frames for their ultralightweight wheelchairs…
AAHomecare Seeks Co-Signers for Letter to Exclude Urological Supplies from Competitive Bidding
The letter is expected to accept additional supporters till Feb. 20.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) is urging stakeholders to support a Congressional sign-on letter seeking to exclude urological, ostomy and tracheostomy supplies from Medicare’s competitive bidding program — or at least to delay these supplies’ inclusion. In a Feb. 9 email to the industry, AAHomecare said this effort is being led by Rep. Chris…
Ultralightweight Upgrade Bill Called ‘Common Sense’ at Congressional Meeting
H.R. 1703 would reduce the financial barriers for Medicare beneficiaries.
The bill that would create a more accessible path for Medicare beneficiaries wanting to upgrade their ultralightweight wheelchairs was described as “common sense” during a Jan. 8 Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee meeting. The meeting centered on several bills related to durable medical equipment and funding barriers such as competitive bidding. Tom Ryan, president/CEO of…
Congressional Subcommittee to Discuss Ultralightweight Upgrade Bill on Jan. 8
The House Energy & Commerce’s subcommittee will also discuss bills related to durable medical equipment funding.
The House Energy & Commerce’s subcommittee on health will be discussing H.R. 1703, the titanium/carbon fiber ultralightweight upgrade bill, among other bills during a Jan. 8 hearing. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) called for constituents of health subcommittee members to reach out to their representatives’ health care staffers by Wednesday, Jan. 7, “and ask…
CMS Releases 2026 Medicare Fee Schedule Changes
Competitive bidding rounds impact the actual increases for product categories.
The new Medicare fee schedule for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) has been released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The fee schedule is effective Jan. 1, 2026. CMS announced the Consumer Price Index Urban (CPI-U) percentage increase as 2.7%. But in a Dec. 22 bulletin, the American Association…
Final Rule Follow-Up: ‘Legacy’ Product Categories Out of Competitive Bidding’s Next Round
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ fact sheet has been updated.
The product categories for the next round of Medicare competitive bidding will look very different from what industry veterans are accustomed to seeing. According to a Dec. 9 bulletin from the American Association of Homecare (AAHomecare), “legacy product categories,” including oxygen, standard wheelchairs, CPAP systems, hospital beds “and others included in previous bidding rounds will…
CMS Final Rule Restarts Competitive Bidding, Requires Annual DMEPOS Accreditation
Urological, ostomy and tracheostomy supplies were deemed to be appropriate for Medicare competitive bidding.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) home health calendar year 2026 final rule revives Medicare’s controversial competitive bidding program and requires annual accreditation for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers who bill Medicare. The long-awaited final rule was published on Nov. 28. Accreditation to become an annual requirement Accreditation, which…
AAHomecare, VGM Seek Grassroots Accountability Project Volunteers
GAP advocates will bring industry issues to their specific members of Congress.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) and VGM & Associates are partnering on the Grassroots Accountability Project (GAP) — and as the project’s name suggests, they are seeking advocacy volunteers. In a Nov. 19 bulletin, AAHomecare described GAP as “an initiative focused on strengthening the HME [home medical equipment] industry’s presence on Capitol Hill. We…