Tag: Manual Wheelchair
Capitol Hill or bust: NCART, U.S. Rehab emphasize ‘real issue’
July 12, 2024Tracy Orzel
WASHINGTON - NCART and U.S. Rehab are set to host an in-person legislative day on Sept. 24 to address the economic challenges of being a complex rehab technology provider and to advocate for H.R. 5371, a bill that would improve access to titanium and carbon manual wheelchairs.
Given the current political upheaval and the unpredictable environment created by the ongoing presidential race, strategic engagement in Washington, D.C., has become increasingly important, stakeholders say.
"Taking...
DME MACs ease wheelchair policies
June 25, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The DME MACs have announced increased flexibility for home assessments for manual wheelchairs and streamlined replacement in certain cases.
Home assessments
This change allows for indirect assessments, such as phone calls, easing the burden on providers and improving access for Medicare beneficiaries in remote areas, AAHomecare says. The documentation for these assessments must clearly detail the beneficiary's home layout, surfaces and any obstacles that might...
Bill would clear ‘major issue’ for high-tech wheelchairs
September 29, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow Medicare beneficiaries to pay the difference to upgrade to a titanium or carbon fiber manual wheelchair.
Right now, if a consumer wants a titanium or carbon fiber manual wheelchair, they must pay for the full cost of the wheelchair out of pocket, have their provider file a non-assigned claim on their behalf and, if approved, wait to receive 80% of the Medicare allowable.
“These numbers aren’t...
Dr. Cooper named to Hall of Fame
January 25, 2023HME News Staff
ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA Fellow Dr. Rory Cooper is one of 16 innovation pioneers who will be honored as part of the 50th class of National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) inductees, the organization has announced. The 2023 class was announced at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in New York. Cooper is the founder and director of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the University of Pittsburgh. A biomedical engineer,...
RGK launched in North America
August 9, 2022HME News Staff
FRESNO, Calif. – RGK, a range of advanced, made-to-measure manual wheelchairs, is now available through Sunrise Medical North America. RGK, which Sunrise Medical acquired in 2015, has more than 30 world champion ambassadors globally. “I don’t compromise my manual mobility, why would I expect others to?” said Josh Anderson, vice president of business development and a RGK rider. “Good is not good enough. We are committed to making a better product than we are obligated...
Motion Composites grows US sales team
April 6, 2022HME News Staff
SAINT ROCH de L’ACHIGAN, Quebec – Motion Composites has added Michael Hughes as U.S. sales director. Since joining the HME and complex rehab technology industry in 2009, Hughes has advanced across several leadership positions by developing and implementing market-specific strategic sales and marketing plans that exceeded objectives. “Michael’s leadership, experience and deep understanding of the CRT industry will help us drive significant growth in the U.S. market,”...
RESNA seeks comments on ultralight manuals
February 9, 2022HME News Staff
ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA has posted a draft position paper called “RESNA Position on the Application of Ultralight Manual Wheelchairs: Literature Update 2021” for a required 60-day public comment period. All RESNA members and stakeholders in the assistive technology community are invited to submit comments. “This paper intends to contribute to the evidence-based practice that we all try to implement on an every-day basis,” RESNA states. “We are combining lived experiences...
The Scooter Shop relocates
February 9, 2022HME News Staff
HANOVER, Md. – The Scooter Shop has a new 2,500-square-foot space in a retail center in the Perry Hall section of Baltimore County, according to the Commercial Observer. The company is relocating its showroom and corporate headquarters there from a 3,000-square-foot space in Elkridge, Md. “We expanded into Baltimore County at the 9810 Belair Road location to cover Baltimore County, Harford County, Cecil County, Southern Pennsylvania and Western Delaware,” Jim Luttrell, owner of...
Sunrise taps Jim Black to grow manual business
January 18, 2022HME News Staff
FRESNO, Calif. – Sunrise Medical has appointed Jim Black, a three-time Paralympic athlete, as the business development manager for North America for its RGK brand of sport and made-to-measure manual wheelchairs. Black has more than 30 years of experience in sales, product management and marketing in complex rehab technology. “Bringing innovative solutions to the market and to the people who use our products is part of Sunrise’s and Jim’s DNA,” said Larry Jackson, president...
Permobil expands manual offering
November 1, 2021HME News Staff
TIMRA, Sweden – Permobil has entered into an agreement to acquire Stockholm-based Panthera, strengthening its offering of manual wheelchairs.
“Panthera’s products strengthen Permobil’s offering in the market with the world’s lightest wheelchairs for active users, alongside our Progeo and TiLite ranges,” said Bengt Thorsson, CEO and president of Permobil.
Permobil acquired Pasco, Wash.-based TiLite in 2014.
Both Permobil and Panthera...