A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks a five-year postponement of Medicare competitive bidding for ostomy and urological supplies. Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-N.C.) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) introduced the Access to Medical Supplies Act on Oct. 9. Ostomy supplies, urological supplies, and hydrophilic urinary catheters are in Round 2028 of…
Bill Seeks Delay of Competitive Bidding for Ostomy, Urological Supplies
Texas v. Kennedy: Court Removes Community Integration Provisions from HHS Regulations
The district court decision follows June’s Department of Justice notice that called the Olmstead decision “not enforceable.”
A United States District Court has vacated several provisions related to community integration for people with disabilities. The U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division — in the State of Texas, et al, vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. case — said in its Sept. 23 judgment that it vacated several provisions of the…
Upcoming CRT Awareness Week to Promote Value of CRT
Awareness Week is Sept. 14-18.
This year’s Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) Awareness Week — Sept. 14-18 — will focus on building support for S. 247, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act currently in the U.S. Senate. The bill, introduced in January by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), is a companion to House bill H.R. 1703, which passed…
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…
Ultralightweight Upgrade Bill Called ‘Common Sense’ at Congressional Meeting
H.R. 1703 would reduce the financial barriers for Medicare beneficiaries.
The bill that would create a more accessible path for Medicare beneficiaries wanting to upgrade their ultralightweight wheelchairs was described as “common sense” during a Jan. 8 Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee meeting. The meeting centered on several bills related to durable medical equipment and funding barriers such as competitive bidding. Tom Ryan, president/CEO of…
AAHomecare, VGM Seek Grassroots Accountability Project Volunteers
GAP advocates will bring industry issues to their specific members of Congress.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) and VGM & Associates are partnering on the Grassroots Accountability Project (GAP) — and as the project’s name suggests, they are seeking advocacy volunteers. In a Nov. 19 bulletin, AAHomecare described GAP as “an initiative focused on strengthening the HME [home medical equipment] industry’s presence on Capitol Hill. We…
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: Registration Opens for September Legislative Fly-In; CRT Awareness Week Is Aug. 18
Featuring NCART, iNRRTS, and U.S. Rehab.
Registration Now Open for September D.C. Fly-In Registration is now open for the Sept. 16-17 legislative fly-in hosted by the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART), the International Registry for Rehab Technology Suppliers (iNRRTS), and U.S. Rehab. NCART announced the opening of registration in a July 28 email. The in-person event gives Complex…
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…
Bill for Medicare Carbon Fiber, Titanium Upgrades Introduced in House
The bill would make upgrading ultralightweight frames more accessible for Medicare beneficiaries
A bill that would provide a more accessible pathway for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to carbon fiber or titanium ultralightweight wheelchairs has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 1703 was introduced on Feb. 27 by Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.). It’s described on the Congress.gov website as amending…