Tag: Wheelchair
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...
OIG adds reviews for wheelchair repairs, oxygen
October 31, 2024HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – The Office of Inspector General added wheelchair repairs and oxygen and oxygen equipment to its work plan in October. For wheelchair repairs, the OIG will examine suppliers who provide these services and will consider the duration of repairs, their implementation of selected quality standards, and their identification of deficiencies related to wheelchair repairs. It will review documentation from wheelchair suppliers and accreditation organizations and conduct interviews with...
United Spinal applauds airline fine
October 23, 2024HME News Staff
NEW YORK – United Spinal Association applauds the $50 million fine levied against American Airlines by the U.S. Department of Transportation to addresses the airline’s longstanding mistreatment of passengers who use wheelchairs. “It is very unfortunate that the DOT has to enforce a monumental fine against an iconic air carrier to ensure our basic rights are respected and protected,” said Vincenzo Piscopo, United Spinal President & CEO, who uses a wheelchair. “Money won’t...
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...
JCPenney launches clothing line for wheelchair users
September 19, 2024HME News Staff
PLANO, Texas – JCPenney recently announced Jamey Perry for JCPenney, a new limited-time collaboration featuring fashionable and functional apparel for women who use wheelchairs. The exclusive collection, launching Sept. 9 at Runway of Dreams’ Fashion Revolution show during New York Fashion Week, is the latest extension of JCPenney’s commitment to adaptive apparel offerings and embodies the retailer’s pledge to make fashion truly accessible for America’s diverse, working...
Numotion settles FCA allegations
August 27, 2024HME News Staff
PHOENIX – United Seating and Mobility, d/b/a Numotion, has agreed to pay $13.5 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the federal False Claims Act.
The settlement resolves allegations by the United States that Numotion submitted false claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs for custom wheelchairs and wheelchair parts. According to the allegations, the claims were false because they were based on patient evaluations that were unlawfully authored,...
Mobility and More sticks with it
July 3, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
LOVELAND, Colo. – Mobility and More’s commitment to staying independent and openness to evolving has helped the company stay in business for 20 years, says Tab Black, business manager.
When Black’s parents opened the company in 2004, it was one of more than a dozen HME companies serving its primary service area – the northeastern quadrant of Colorado. Today, it’s the only wholly locally owned and operated company in that area, Black says.
“We...
WHILL powers up
June 21, 2024Liz Beaulieu, Editor
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – WHILL, known for its modern looking power wheelchairs, is on an expansion kick in the U.S., attending Medtrade this spring with a new product and announcing the addition of five executives to its leadership team in May.
“We’re newly re-energized,” said Carl Crabill, senior vice president, WHILL Business Development, Mobility Sales. “Our strategy is really unique and it’s going to deliver a lot of growth.”
In...
U.S. Rehab to offer tech training seminar
June 20, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – U.S. Rehab, a division of VGM, will offer tech training Sept. 10-11 in Minneapolis. U.S. Rehab tech training is two days of in-person education and hands-on experience with manual and power wheelchair repair. Technical trainers from Ki Mobility, Merits/Avid Rehab, MK Battery, Motion Concepts, Permobil, and Sunrise Medical will present product specifics and work through basic repair strategies, troubleshooting, and programming. Tech Training participants have the choice...