Once again, a bill to provide a path for ultralightweight wheelchair riders to upgrade to titanium or carbon fiber frames has been introduced in the Senate.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) announced the bill’s introduction in a Jan. 27 bulletin. “The Choices for Mobility Act, S. 247, closely follows titanium/carbon fiber legislation introduced in the previous Congress, creating two new HCPCS codes for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) manual wheelchairs and allowing for an upgrade within a code,” the association said.
The bill was introduced Jan. 24 by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), AAHomecare added.
Previous Congressional ultralightweight bills — known in the House and Senate as the Choices for Increased Mobility acts — sought to improve access to titanium and carbon fiber ultralightweight frames for beneficiaries willing to pay out of pocket for the upgrades. Currently, Medicare requires a beneficiary to pay the cost of the entire titanium- or carbon fiber-framed wheelchair up front, then seek partial Medicare reimbursement for the wheelchair excluding the upgrade.
Requiring beneficiaries to foot the entire price then wait for reimbursement has kept titanium and carbon fiber out of reach for many wheelchair riders who prefer the upgraded frames and the functional benefits they offer. The current Senate bill, like House and Senate bills before it, would allow Medicare beneficiaries to pay out of pocket and up front just for the upgraded frame.
That policy change would make titanium and carbon fiber frames attainable for more Medicare beneficiaries.
“Improving access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs will allow individuals with mobility challenges to choose the wheelchair that is best suited for their medical, functional, and lifestyle needs and preferences, without increasing costs to the Medicare program,” AAHomecare’s announcement said.
AAHomecare is asking industry members to urge their senators to support the new bill. The association’s website includes a prewritten support letter to send to Capitol Hill.
AAHomecare added that advocates are working on getting a House version of the bill introduced.
