Tag: titanium
Industry’s post-election mindset: ‘All we can do is be prepared’
November 15, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – How the HME industry’s legislative efforts fare in a post-election Congress will depend a lot on whether president-elect Donald Trump and his supporters want to “clear the decks,” say industry stakeholders.
From meetings on Capitol Hill last week, Jay Witter says committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives are preparing for an end-of-year package but are waiting for a signal as to whether that gets done this year or kicked to next year.
“All...
In brief: Wheelchair bill, RPM monitoring, catheter billing
September 27, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., have introduced legislation that would improve access to titanium and carbon fiber manual wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries.
S. 5154, which would create two new HCPCS codes for complex rehab technology manual wheelchairs and would allow for upgrades, is a companion bill to H.R. 5371.
“The Senate bill drops at an opportune time for mobility stakeholders and disability advocates to ask their...
Senators intro titanium wheelchair bill
September 26, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., have introduced legislation that would improve access to titanium and carbon fiber manual wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries.
S. 5154, which would create two new HCPCS codes for complex rehab technology manual wheelchairs and would allow for upgrades, is a companion bill to H.R. 5371.
“The Senate bill drops at an opportune time for mobility stakeholders and disability advocates to ask their...
High-tech wheelchairs: AAH pivots strategy on bill, plans blitz on Capitol Hill
May 17, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare and its champions in the House of Representatives have modified the language of a bill to improve access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries and will make it the focus of a new congressional fly-in scheduled for September.
H.R. 5371, the “Choices for Increased Mobility Act,” would now establish two or more HCPCS codes for the base of an ultralightweight manual wheelchair depending on the construction material used,...
Stakeholders take to Hill to promote high-tech wheelchairs
April 22, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare will host a complex-rehab specific congressional fly-in in September to support H.R. 5371, the “Choices for Increased Mobility Act,” which would improve consumer access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs. The association says a specific date for the fly-in will be announced soon. “This Hill Day will be an opportunity for members of the manufacturing and supplier community to showcase the technology and equipment currently utilized by consumers,...
HME bills move to full committee
November 15, 2023HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee in the House of Representatives has approved two HME-related bills, AAHomecare has reported.
The bills, The DMEPOS Relief Act of 2023 (H.R. 5555) and The Choices for Increased Mobility Act (H.R. 5371), will now move to the full E&C Committee for consideration in the coming weeks, the association says.
“This is a major step forward for our priority legislation in the House,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare president...
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...
Bill strengthens access to titanium wheelchairs
September 11, 2023HME News Staff
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...
CMS limits K0108 for manual wheelchairs
February 10, 2017Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - CMS has taken away a Medicare beneficiary's “right to choose,” now that providers aren't allowed to use K0108 for titanium or heavy duty upgrades for manual wheelchairs, industry stakeholders say.In a joint article on Dec. 15, the DME MACs state that the codes for manual wheelchairs—K0001 through K0009—have always included the cost of these upgrades.“Suppliers billing for manual wheelchair bases must not include HCPCS code K0108 in addition to the base wheelchair...
NCART fights for separate billing
January 27, 2017HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - NCART has formed a work group and developed an issue paper in response to CMS's decision not to allow separate billing for titanium wheelchair frames and heavy duty upgrades.The agency argues these features are included in the initial fee schedules developed for manual wheelchairs.“This is the most recent example of policy changes and re-interpretations over the past few years implemented by CMS and its contractors that eliminate access,” said Don Clayback, executive director...