Tag: Wheelchair
Rehab Medical marks 20 years of service
March 26, 2025HME News Staff
INDIANAPOLIS – Rehab Medical is celebrating 20 years of service and dedication to improving the quality of life for individuals with mobility challenges.
From its founding in 2005 as a durable medical equipment provider to its transition to a complex rehab technology (CRT) provider, Rehab Medical has supported countless users, providing them with custom mobility solutions that empower independence and confidence.
"As we take this time to reflect on what the...
Mobility City’s Craig Kreakie: From finance to franchise lead
March 21, 2025Tracy Orzel
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Craig Kreakie, Mobility’s City’s new vice president of franchise operations, was looking to buy a franchise, not secure an executive position, but the company’s leadership and support drew him in.
Now he’s keyed in to improving the efficiency of franchises on a broad scale, so they can do what they do best – help people.
HME News: What do you bring to the table at Mobility City?
Craig Kreakie: I started my career as...
United Spinal launches impact fund
March 11, 2025HME News Staff
NEW YORK – United Spinal Association has launched its Advocacy Impact Fund to defend disability rights and social programs that benefit people with disabilities. The fund will help provide the association with the resources to expand its nationwide Grassroots Advocacy Network to ensure that policymakers hear the needs and challenges of wheelchair users firsthand. "In these uncertain times, it's more critical than ever that our elected officials hear from the people they represent,”...
In wake of survey, ‘it’s time to rewrite CMS policy,’ stakeholders say
March 7, 2025Liz Beaulieu, Editor
PITTSBURGH – A recent survey that shows most stakeholders are not satisfied with the current wheelchair service delivery process is damning but necessary if the industry wants to drive change, Mark Schmeler and Brad Dicianno say.
The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, The Ohio State University and University of Michigan, found that only 18% of 1,052 respondents felt positively about the delivery process.
“People may say, why is this significant; we knew...
Service and repair: How do providers ‘get back in the game’?
February 5, 2025Liz Beaulieu, Editor
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Numotion’s Tim Casey believes a mix of administrative and reimbursement relief, as well as provider improvements, would go a long way to “turn the tide” on access issues for wheelchair service and repair.
“I think, one, you can eliminate a good chunk of the administrative burden,” said Casey, general counsel for Numotion. “We should get rid of the requirement that there needs to be a script and a prior authorization for a repair....
New research: Wheelchair service delivery process in need of reform
January 27, 2025HME News Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine – Stakeholders don’t think the wheelchair service delivery process is performing well, citing negative views on funding, procurement, maintenance and repairs, according to the results of a survey from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University. Only 18% of the 1,052 stakeholders who responded to a cross-sectional, observational, online questionnaire reported they felt positively about the process, a research article...
CMS, PDAC detail plans for new E1028 code
January 20, 2025HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS has accepted some but not all NCART’s recommendations as part of its preliminary decision on the PDAC’s code application to review E1028 and establish three new codes to describe manual, swing-away and retractable or removable mounting hardware used in conjunction with medically necessary wheelchair accessories. NCART agreed with the programmatic need for the change but requested CMS consider several edits to more accurately describe the components associated with...
Power seat elevation: NCART zeroes in on access issues in Medicaid
December 6, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – Now that there is a Medicare code and payment for power seat elevation systems, NCART is doing the painstaking work of making sure state Medicaid programs have a pathway to also cover the technology.
In November, for example, the organization announced that it had secured coverage for E2298 for adults 21 and over in Alabama starting Jan. 1, 2025, with help from Cathy Carver, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS, at University of Alabama Birmingham/Spain Rehabilitation Center, as well the...
Cruise, Numotion partner on WAV pilot
December 5, 2024HME News Staff
HOUSTON – Cruise, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, has partnered with Numotion to introduce a six-month wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) pilot program in Houston. The program offers free, dependable transportation for qualifying Numotion customers, enabling travel to and from the company’s Houston facility for essential wheelchair repairs. “Numotion is excited to partner with Cruise to offer a seamless and convenient solution for wheelchair users in the Houston area,”...
Disability groups launch safe travel campaign
November 4, 2024HME News Staff
NEW YORK – United Spinal Association, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) are urging Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to build on the landmark $50 million fine on American Airlines and issue a final rule, “Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs,” with the strongest possible training requirements. Those requirements...