Tag: Legislation

WASHINGTON – Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa., has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow for code upgrades for titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs under Medicare. “Stronger patient access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs will allow more individuals with mobility challenges to function independently and take part in their communities,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO. “Working to build support for this measure has...

WASHINGTON – A bi-partisan group in the House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would prohibit “drop shipping” of custom orthoses and protheses to Medicare beneficiaries.  H.R. 4315, the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act, would also:  Ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access the full range of orthotic care from one O&P practitioner, rather than requiring them to visit multiple providers when the treating orthotist or...

WASHINGTON – A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives to improve access to home infusion therapy for Medicare beneficiaries.  Introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Vern Buchannan, R-Fla., H.R. 5067, the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act provides technical clarifications that would remove the physical presence requirement, ensuring payment regardless of whether a health care professional is present in...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – The California State Legislature on July 15 passed Assembly Bill 133, which includes language to improve and protect access to complex rehab technology for people with disabilities, according to NCART.  The bill will permanently exempt CRT from a long-standing Medi-Cal provider cut of 10% and will strengthen policies regarding the evaluation and delivery of complex rehab.  “We are extremely thankful to the California Legislature for passing this important...

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill that would extend the moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequestration cuts from March 31, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2021.  H.R. 1868, which passed 246-175, would also exempt the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan from the statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, eliminating an additional 4% Medicare cut that would amount to about $36 billion in 2022.  On March 15, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine,...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – NCART and the CRT Remote Services Consortium on Jan. 4 submitted comments to the Telehealth Workgroups of the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives making the case for a permanent telehealth option for people with disabilities who require complex rehab technology. The comments are another step toward getting Congress to include in legislation the ability for CMS to “make permanent” the temporary COVID-19 policies that designate physical therapists and...

WASHINGTON - As the second session of Congress gets underway this week, stakeholders say it's time to amplify their efforts seeking relief from Medicare's competitive bidding program. With temporary relief in non-bid areas set to expire at the end of this year, the clock is ticking, says AAHomecare's President and CEO Tom Ryan. “This is the second Congress where we've had the bill to get that support,” he said. “That relief is likely to go away if we don't...

WASHINGTON - In a hard-fought win, industry stakeholders have succeeded in getting Congress to suspend competitive bidding pricing for accessories for complex manual wheelchairs.Both the House of Representatives and the Senate last week passed H.R. 1865, a year-end spending bill that includes language requiring CMS to stop applying bid pricing to these accessories for 18 months starting Jan. 1, 2020.“This really has been a four-year battle that involved getting resolutions for complex power...

WASHINGTON - Language suspending competitive bidding pricing for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs has passed as part of year-end spending legislation in both the House of Representatives and Senate, NCART reports. The language, included in H.R. 1865, would require CMS to stop applying bid pricing to these accessories for 18 months starting Jan. 1, 2020. The House passed the bill 297-120; the Senate 71-23. The president is expected to sign it Friday. The language would also...

WASHINGTON - NCART is calling on industry stakeholders to contact their members of Congress before their holiday break about supporting legislation to protect accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs. “Congress needs to hear from CRT advocates this week, as they are planning action on certain bills before they adjourn for the holidays,” wrote Don Clayback, executive director, in a bulletin. “We've been communicating with our congressional champions who are working behind...