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…
Ultralightweight Upgrade Bill Called ‘Common Sense’ at Congressional Meeting
Congressional Subcommittee to Discuss Ultralightweight Upgrade Bill on Jan. 8
The House Energy & Commerce’s subcommittee will also discuss bills related to durable medical equipment funding.
The House Energy & Commerce’s subcommittee on health will be discussing H.R. 1703, the titanium/carbon fiber ultralightweight upgrade bill, among other bills during a Jan. 8 hearing. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) called for constituents of health subcommittee members to reach out to their representatives’ health care staffers by Wednesday, Jan. 7, “and ask…
Mobility Management Product Awards: QUICKIE QS5 X Manual Folding Chair, Sunrise Medical
The QUICKIE QS5 X Manual Folding Chair by Sunrise Medical has been named a 2025 Mobility Management Product Award winner.
The QUICKIE QS5 X Manual Folding Chair by Sunrise Medical has been named a 2025 Mobility Management Product Award winner in the Wheelchairs, Manual: Ultralightweight category by Mobility Management. The Mobility Management Product Awards program honors outstanding product development in Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) and accessibility. Jesus Ibarra, Product Manager – Adult Manual at Sunrise…
Motion Composites Celebrates Opening of New York Assembly Facility
The new facility will start with the assembly of select ultralightweight wheelchair models.
Motion Composites has officially launched a facility in New York for the assembly of its ultralightweight wheelchairs. CEO Eric Simoneau was among the Motion Composites team members on hand in Plattsburgh, New York, to open the facility that will reinforce “the company’s long-standing commitment to its U.S. customers and end users by providing U.S.-assembled wheelchairs…
Briefly: Colours’ Soft Opening Continues; Rory Cooper Named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Featuring Colours Wheelchair, Rory Cooper, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Colours Wheelchair Update: Now Processing Dealer Quotes, Orders Colours Wheelchair, which paused production in February, continues to expand the “soft opening” it announced on May 14 via social media. A social media post on May 27 said, “We are now scheduling appointments. Dealers, we are now providing quotes and processing orders. When ordering parts, expect…
Chuck Witkowski to Become CEO of Permobil on July 1
Witkowski succeeds Bengt Thorsson, the manufacturer's CEO for the last seven years.
Chuck Witkowski, president of Permobil Americas, has been named the new CEO of Permobil effective July 1. Permobil’s board of directors chose Witkowski to succeed Bengt Thorsson, who has been CEO for the last seven years. Witkowski, the manufacturer said in a May 20 announcement, “has been leading Permobil’s operations and expansion in North America…
Colours Wheelchair Announces ‘Soft Opening’ Plans After February Pause
The ultralightweight wheelchair manufacturer resumed processing orders and working with providers and customers.
Colours Wheelchair, manufacturer of ultralightweight wheelchairs for adults and children, has announced a “soft opening” after pausing operations in February. In a May 14 social media post, Colours said it would “begin to take quote request[s]” and would resume processing orders and providing services to its providers and customers on May 14. Because phones are…
Sunrise Medical Announces New Colors for Manual Wheelchairs, JAY Backs
The new palette launched May 12; discontinued colors will continue to be available for spare parts for five years.
Sunrise Medical has updated its color choices for QUICKIE adult manual wheelchairs, ZIPPIE pediatric manual wheelchairs, and JAY backs. The new palette will be available across the manufacturer’s North American, European, and Asia-Pacific markets, Sunrise Medical said in a May 12 announcement. In introducing the set of 24 color/pattern options, the company said it is…
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…
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…