Healthcare organizations — including a group of 48 nonprofit, nonpartisan patient associations — are expressing concern over the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) interim final rule requiring “80 hours per month of qualifying activities, such as employment, participation in certain work programs, or community service, or [enrollment] in educational programs at least half…
Patient Organizations: Medicaid Interim Final Rule Will Cause Massive Coverage Loss
Medicaid Interim Final Rule Spells Out Work Requirements, Exemptions
Interim rule provisions are effective July 31, 2026.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new interim final rule will implement “a new statutory requirement for certain adults in Medicaid to meet an 80-hours-per-month work requirement — sometimes referred to as Medicaid community engagement — as a condition of eligibility.” In its June 1 announcement, CMS said states “must generally implement this…
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…
Nebraska Prepares to Enact Medicaid Work Requirements on May 1
The state will become the first to launch the work policy signed into law last July.
On May 1, Nebraska will become the first state to begin enforcing the Medicaid work requirements in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025. Here’s what to know as the work requirement policy gets underway. — Nebraska is ahead of schedule. Jan. 1, 2027, is the official…
Commentary: 4 Takeaways from the DME MAC PMD/Seat Elevation LCDs Meeting
Individual consideration, prior authorization and other key talking points from the March 25 virtual event.
If our same-day coverage of the March 25 DME MAC-hosted local coverage determinations (LCDs) meeting for power mobility devices and seat elevation was TL;DR — here are the highlights, as well as our take on their potential impact. — It’s all about preserving individual consideration and access. The DME MACs — Noridian Healthcare Solutions (Jurisdictions…
DME MACs Announce Meeting on Proposed LCDs for Seat Elevation Coverage on Group 2 Power Chairs
The March 25 virtual meeting will provide time for public comments.
Nearly three years after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) affirmed Medicare coverage for power seat elevation on power wheelchairs, the Medicare DME MACs — Noridian Healthcare Solutions (Jurisdictions A and D) and CGS Administrators (Jurisdictions B and C) — have announced a March 25 meeting to discuss proposed local coverage determinations (LCDs)…
Gauge Capital Invests in Reliable Medical, Sets Sights on Next Phase of Expansion
The move demonstrates continued investor interest in the Complex Rehabilitation Technology and mobility sector.
Private equity firm Gauge Capital has acquired Reliable Medical. Broadly, the move signals continued investor interest in the Complex Rehabilitation Technology and mobility sector amid demographic tailwinds and persistent demand for specialized care. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “[Reliable CEO Charles Sargeant] and the broader Reliable management team have done an excellent…
CES 2026: 4 Assistive Technology Exhibitors to Watch
Mobility is on display in Las Vegas this week.
The first week of January can mean only one thing (beyond the fact that those holiday decorations really need to be put back into the garage): CES is lighting up Las Vegas once again. Formerly the Consumer Electronics Show, CES says it “connects innovators, decision makers, media, influencers, visionaries and potential customers across the entire…
The Art & Science of the First Fit
Behind the WC-FIT configuration tool for seating teams.
Configuring a client’s first wheelchair is like facing a blank canvas: full of promise, but sometimes too full of possibilities. With that in mind, the Wheelchair Functional Impact Tool (WC-FIT) bridges gaps that can occur from a lack of experience on the client’s side, as well as potentially a lack of wheelchair assessment experience on…
Telehealth Update: Industry Organizations Comment on Latest Extension, 2025 Wins
While the latest continuing resolution provided another extension, a permanent telehealth option remains elusive.
Telehealth proved its efficacy during the heart of the COVID-19 public health emergency, when hospitals and clinics sharply limited in-person appointments, but wheelchairs and seating provision for Medicare beneficiaries still needed to move forward. The telehealth option isn’t the answer in every situation: It’s not a good fit where internet connections are unreliable or when…