Stakeholders streamline complex rehab fly-in

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - NCART and NRRTS are shaking up their annual fly-in to Washington, D.C., to accommodate complex rehab providers who are strapped for time and cash.

The groups have slated the event for April 26-27—two days instead of the customary three days—at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.

“We feel that with the constraints we're working under, a condensed version will be easier for folks, and just as effective,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NCART. “We'll offer the same, if not better, coverage.”

NCART and NRRTS are still working on the details of the event, but Clayback says April 26 will feature optional education in the morning and mandatory preparation for the following day's Hill visits in the afternoon. Also slated for April 26 in the afternoon: an annual industry update from a panel of leading providers and manufacturers.

By the event in April, Clayback says NCART and NRRTS expect to have bills introduced to permanently delay CMS's plan to apply competitive bidding-derived pricing to accessories for manual and power wheelchairs, and to create a separate benefit for complex rehab.

“We're getting everything lined up,” he said in January. “We're working with the same sponsors as last year on the mechanics of getting the bills introduced and we're working on re-securing co-sponsors for them.”

Thanks to legislation passed in December, CMS's plan to apply bid pricing to accessories has been delayed until June 30, giving stakeholders a small window to get a more permanent fix through Congress.

Last year, NCART and NRRTS hitched their event to the annual RESNA conference. Because this year's RESNA conference will be June 26-30 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, the groups decided to return to holding their own event, though Clayback says he will be attending and participating in the RESNA conference.

Also, that doesn't mean the three groups won't partner again in the future, Clayback says.

“Every year their event is in a different location, and every year we want to be in Washington, D.C., to carry on our message with Congress,” he said. “We're still talking about potential plans for 2018.”
Attendees will be able to register for the fly-in through NCART or NRRTS soon.