Connecticut’s House of Representatives has passed a bill that sets timelines for the repair of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) wheelchairs.
The May 7 passage of the House bill follows the Connecticut Senate’s passage of its own bill on May 2.
Senate Bill 308 (SB 308), which is the one that will head to the desk of Gov. Ned Lamont, includes a number of definitions, such as “timely repair” of a wheelchair, which the bill describes as “practicable but not later than 10 business days after the date of request for repair from a consumer, provided (A) the consumer makes the wheelchair available, (B) any prior authorization required from an insurer has been acquired, and (C) any time spent waiting for prior authorization from an insurer or for delivery of necessary parts ordered for the repair by an authorized wheelchair dealer shall not be included in the 10 business days.”
Effective July 1, SB 308 said, “An authorized wheelchair dealer shall timely repair a wheelchair, including a Complex Rehabilitation Technology wheelchair, sold or leased by such dealer in the state. An authorized wheelchair dealer who sells or leases a complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair in the state shall provide timely repair of such wheelchair at a consumer’s home upon request.”
SB 308 also would require wheelchair dealers to “maintain an electronic mail address and a phone line for consumer repair requests that are accessible each business day and capable of receiving and recording messages. The authorized wheelchair dealer shall (1) respond to a request for wheelchair repair not later than one business day after the date of request, and (2) order parts for a repair not later than three business days after assessing the need for the repair or after receiving prior authorization from an insurer for the repair.”
The bill additionally requires “refurbished wheelchairs, parts and components” to be used “whenever practicable. The Department of Social Services may designate categories of durable medical equipment in addition to customized wheelchairs for which reused equipment, parts and components shall be utilized whenever practicable.”
After July 1, “the Commissioner of Social Services shall not require a new prescription or prior authorization for the medically necessary repair of a customized wheelchair unless the original prescription for such wheelchair is more than five years old,” the bill added. “The Commissioner shall seek any federal approval necessary, including amending the Medicaid state plan or applying for a Medicaid waiver, to implement the provisions of this section.”
