The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) DME MAC contractors have removed ICD-10 codes from its wheelchair seating requirements. The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) reported the change in an Oct. 2 breaking news bulletin to stakeholders while linking to the updated article. The article’s revision date is Oct. 1, 2025.…
CMS: ICD-10 Codes No Longer Required for Wheelchair Seating Documentation
Medicare Claims on Hold as Government Shuts Down, Telehealth Flexibilities End
As the government shut down Oct. 1, pre-pandemic Medicare telehealth policies resumed.
As the federal government shut down on Oct. 1 due to lack of funding, Noridian Healthcare Solutions — the DME MAC for Jurisdiction A — sent out a reminder to stakeholders that Medicare claims would be put on hold. “When certain legislative payment provisions (“extenders”) are scheduled to expire, CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…
Legislation Introduced as Sept. 30 Telehealth Deadline Looms for Clinicians
Two new bills seek a two-year extension, as advocates work on permanent telehealth coverage.
The Medicare telehealth flexibility granted to physical and occupational therapists since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic is about to expire, again. But newly introduced bills seek a two-year extension. After multiple telehealth extensions throughout the pandemic’s public health emergency (PHE), the current waiver is due to end on Sept. 30, unless Congress takes action.…
Briefly: DME MACs Issue October HCPCS Changes; RESNA Pop-Up Certification Event Is Sept. 18
Featuring CGS Administrators, the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America, and The Ohio State University.
DME MACs List October HCPCS Code Changes The DME MAC contractors have released the list of HCPCS code changes going into effect on Oct. 1. In a Sept. 9 notice, CGS Administrators, the Jurisdictions B and C DME MAC, released code changes in the seating and mobility segment: — E0150: Combination wheeled walker with seat…
August 2025: The Complexities of Wheelchair Repair
All seating and wheeled mobility stakeholders agree that repairing Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) wheelchairs often takes far too long. But many stakeholders — consumers, caregivers, clinicians, providers, manufacturers, funding sources, policy makers — disagree on what’s at the root of the problem … making it challenging to agree on a way forward. In this digital…
AAHomecare: Proposed Rule’s Competitive Bidding Plan an ‘Asteroid’ Heading for DME Industry
CMS is taking public comments on its proposed Medicare competitive bidding process till Aug. 29.
The home health proposed rule’s plans for the resumption of Medicare competitive bidding for durable medical equipment (DME) is an “asteroid” whose impact would be devastating for home medical equipment (HME) providers and the patients they support. Tom Ryan, the CEO/president for the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare), made that comment during an Aug. 6…
2026 Proposed Rule: CMS Recommends Annual DMEPOS Accreditation, Prior Authorization Changes
The changes were listed in the proposed rule for the calendar year 2026 home health prospective payment system.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) providers to be re-accredited annually, and also wants to change the prior authorization process for suppliers billing Medicare. The proposed changes were listed in the Calendar Year 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule Fact Sheet, CMS-1828-P, released June 30.…
Insurers Pledge to Streamline Prior Authorization, Ease Provider Burden: What CRT Should Know
AHIP says it is committed to improving the prior authorization process across commercial insurance.
The practices of the nation’s commercial insurance giants – tactics that have included stringent prior-authorization requirements – have increasingly come under scrutiny. In turn, members of Congress and federal health care regulators have called for drastic reform. Those calls for action are now starting to see progress, which could mean a more streamlined reimbursement landscape…
NCART Provides HCPCS Update for Wheelchair Securement Systems, Vehicle Components
The effective date of service for E1022 and E1023 was April 1.
Following DME MAC and Pricing, Data Analysis, and Coding (PDAC) bulletins on May 22, the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) issued a reminder on June 3 on coding for wheelchair transportation securement systems, components, and accessories, along with a warning about coding for securement systems mounted on motor vehicles. The NCART update…
New CMMI Paper Lists Three ‘Strategic Pillars’ to Guide Medicare, Medicaid Strategies
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Director Abe Sutton published the paper on May 13.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI/Innovation Center) has revealed three pillars that will guide Medicare and Medicaid strategies as part of President Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) mandate. Abe Sutton, CMMI director and deputy administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), authored the paper, “CMS Innovation Center Strategy…