The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined American Airlines $50 million for mistreating passengers using wheelchairs, and for mishandling those passengers’ wheelchairs and other mobility equipment. The DOT made the announcement in late October and noted that the fine “is 25 times larger than any previous DOT penalty against an airline for violating disability…
American Airlines Fined $50 Million for Mistreating Wheelchair Riders, Mobility Devices
Senate Companion Bill Introduced for Ultralightweight Frame Upgrade
S. 5154, like its House counterpart, would be budget neutral for taxpayers, NCART said.
A companion bill to H.R. 5371 — the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, which would provide a path for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade their ultralightweight wheelchair frames — has been introduced in the Senate. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced S. 5154 on Sept. 24, the day of the legislative fly-in…
AAHomecare Focuses on H.R. 5371 at Congressional Fly-In
The Choices for Increased Mobility bill would provide a way for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to carbon fiber and titanium ultralightweight wheelchair frames.
Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) stakeholders at a Sept. 10 Congressional fly-in urged Congress to support H.R. 5371, a bill to provide Medicare beneficiaries a path for upgrading their ultralightweight wheelchair frames to carbon fiber or titanium at their own cost. In a Sept. 18 news announcement, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) reported that advocates…
Advocates to Lobby for H.R. 5371 at Two September Fly-Ins
Both legislative events will focus on ultralightweight frame upgrades for Medicare beneficiaries.
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…
Tennessee House and Senate Pass CRT Preventive Maintenance Bill
The new legislation also addresses consumers’ right to repair and providers’ service requirements.
The Tennessee House of Representatives has unanimously passed HB 2147, a bill governing maintenance and repair policies for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) wheelchairs. An April 25 bulletin from the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) noted that the House’s passage clears the way for Gov. Bill Lee to sign the measure into law. AAHomecare added that…
AAHomecare: HME Suppliers Still Suffering After Change Healthcare Cyberattack
Association has reached out to policymakers to explain the disruptions in claims processing.
Home medical equipment (HME) suppliers are still reporting significant disruptions in timely claims and payment processing following the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) said in a March 20 bulletin. As a response to what AAHomecare called an “unprecedented disruption,” the association said it sent letters the week of March 11…
Top Trends & Headlines for Complex Rehab Technology in 2024
Building on successes and addressing unfinished business.
With every new year come new possibilities, and 2024 seems especially full of promise for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT), which looks to build on a landmark Medicare funding win last year. Still, the year will bring challenges as well, and plenty of unfinished business. Funding for seat elevation gets underway In May 2023, the formal…
House Energy & Commerce Committee Passes Amended H.R. 5371
Amended section includes new coding information.
The U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee has passed an amended version of H.R. 5371, also known as the “Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2023” bill. The bill, passed by the committee on Dec. 6, would provide Medicare beneficiaries the option of paying out of pocket to upgrade to a titanium or carbon fiber…
Briefly: ISWP Shows Off New Logo; SCOTUS Tosses ADA “Tester” Case
Featuring the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals, the U.S. Supreme Court.
ISWP Has a New Logo On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3), the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) introduced its updated logo. (Editor’s note: We love it! It looks sleeker and more “in motion” than the previous version.) Comment on the new logo on X (formerly Twitter) @ISWPorg, or visit the…
CRT Industry Shares Coding Recommendations for Seat Elevation
The need for a separate heavy-duty code was debated at CMS coding meeting.
In a Nov. 30 discussion with officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), representatives from the Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry made their case for the complexity of power seat elevation and the CRT clients who use it. The forum was the second biannual HCPCS Coding Cycle public meeting, held by CMS…