When board members from the National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS) visit Washington, D.C., in September, they’ll carry with them a petition signed by people — consumers, clinicians, industry members, and other stakeholders — who support the effort to create a separate Medicare benefit category for complex rehab technology.
H.R. 4378 was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives in April by Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.). NRRTS board members plan to follow up that historic act by again visiting with elected officials to rally support for the bill.
One of the newest tools for that strategy can be found here, where supporters can sign the H.R. 4378 petition.
At press time, the petition had more than 900 signatures.
“We would love to carry a petition with thousands of signatures,” says Thana A. France ATP/SMS, CRTS, NRRTS’s review chair for Region A. While the new petition has quickly gained supporters, “we need so many more to be impactful,” France says.
Also supporting the separate benefit category effort: a Web site called access2crt.org.
The site includes such resources as a list of House members who have signed on as bill co-sponsors; a 12-minute video that explains the value and necessity of complex rehab technology; a position paper; and links to send e-mails to members of Congress.
At press time, H.R. 4378 had 22 co-sponsors, including several members of the House Ways & Means Committee.
