The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) has added three new members to its board of directors following a board election earlier this summer. Joining the NCART board are Alexis Ward, head of funding and advocacy, Cubby Beds; Derek Meier, director of government affairs and advocacy, Rifton; and Michael Hughes, ATP, national sales…
NCART Announces Election Results, Adds Three Board Members
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…
United Spinal Urges Support for Letter Opposing Including Urological, Ostomy, Tracheostomy Supplies in NCB
The letter, addressed to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, M.D., is targeting Republican members of Congress.
United Spinal Association is urging stakeholders to ask their members of Congress to sign onto a new letter that opposes the inclusion of urological, ostomy and tracheostomy supplies in Medicare’s proposed competitive bidding program. The letter, led by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) and addressed to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…
Department of Justice Sues Uber for Discriminating Against Wheelchair Riders
The lawsuit alleges that Uber drivers refused to provide rides to passengers with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued Uber Technologies for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs or service animals. The DOJ announced on Sept. 11 that it was suing the ride-hailing company “under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including blind…
UCP Letter: ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Budget Bill’s Impact on Disability Community
United Cerebral Palsy CEO Armando Contreras said the organization anticipates home-and-community-based services to be threatened.
In a new letter about H.R. 1, the so-called “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) said the organization remains “deeply concerned about the bill’s indirect consequences on the disability community and the providers that serve them.” The letter, signed by UCP’s President/CEO Armando…
Briefly: Ekso Bionics Joins NVIDIA Connect Program; CRT Fly-In Dates Announced
Featuring Ekso Bionics, NCART, iNRRTS, and U.S. Rehab.
Ekso Bionics Accepted Into NVIDIA Connect Program to Accelerate Product Development Ekso Bionics Holdings (Nasdaq: EKSO) has been accepted into the NVIDIA Connect program, which helps software development companies and service providers to accelerate product development, improve cost efficiency, and shorten time to market. “The company plans to use the valuable tools and resources provided…
Briefly: Dates Set for CRT Fly-In; RESNA Calls for Members to Develop Adaptive Golf Car Standards
Featuring the National Coalition for Rehab & Assistive Technology, the International Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers, U.S. Rehab, and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America.
CRT Legislative Fly-In Set for September A Complex Rehab Technology (CRT)-focused legislative fly-in has been scheduled for Sept. 16-17 in Washington, D.C. The National Coalition for Rehab & Assistive Technology (NCART) announced the dates in an April 16 bulletin to stakeholders and noted that additional information on the event would be released soon. The fly-in…
Commentary: What Schoolhouse Rock’s ‘Bill’ Would Want You to Know About Policy
Bills S. 247 and H.R. 1703 to upgrade ultralightweight wheelchair frames are currently in the Senate and House.
I grew up watching Schoolhouse Rock! between Saturday-morning cartoons. While those short videos on grammar, math and American history were great for my education — the preamble song is why my entire civics class scored 100% on that quiz — one video had an outsized impact on my understanding of the legislative process. “I’m Just…
DMEPOS Relief Act, H.R. 2005, Introduced in U.S. House
New bill seeks to restore Mediare 75/25 blended reimbursement rate.
A bill to provide Medicare funding relief to many home medical equipment (HME) providers has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa). H.R. 2005, the DMEPOS [durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies] Relief Act of 2025, seeks “a 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for DMEPOs in non-rural/non-competitive bidding…
Ultralightweight Wheelchair Upgrades on the Agenda at AAHomecare’s Expanded Legislative Conference
The conference is scheduled for May 12-13.
Carbon and titanium upgrade legislation will be among the talking points at this May’s legislative conference hosted by the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare). AAHomecare noted in a March 5 announcement that 2025 “has ushered in a new administration and major leadership changes on Congressional committees of jurisdiction for health-care finance issues. Our industry must…