Tag: Wheelchair
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...
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...