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 hosted by the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) and U.S. Rehab.

The two bills would create a way for Medicare beneficiaries to pay out of pocket to upgrade their new ultralightweight wheelchairs to carbon fiber or titanium frames.

In a Sept. 30 news announcement, NCART said, “The industry eagerly awaited the release of the Senate companion for H.R. 5371, and the timing could not have been better. The bill would allow consumers to choose a titanium or composite manual wheelchair without paying fully for it upfront. We expect this bill, just like H.R. 5371, to be budget neutral for the American taxpayer.”

Last week’s fly-in, NCART added, hosted nearly 40 advocates who visited 70 Congressional offices. H.R. 5371 and the Senate companion bill were priority topics during the meetings, with Complex Rehab Technology advocates asking members of Congress and Senators to co-sign.