Mobility

WATERLOO, Iowa – U.S. Rehab plans to have a new program up and running in January that will give rehab technicians another opportunity to become assistive technology professionals (ATPs).  The ATP Academy is an online program that comprises several modules on everything from anatomy and physiology to seating and mobility to fundamental engineering principles to service and delivery.  “Basically, what we tried to do is develop a checklist of items that you’d need...

PITTSBURGH – RESNA will present a course on its code of ethics and standards of practice for the first time at the International Seating Symposium in March to provide attendees with a better understanding of how these principles apply to everyday practice.  The organization updated its code of ethics and standards of practice in 2022, involving more than 100 subject matter experts, and put them into effect in 2023.  Julie Piriano, senior director of payer relations & regulatory...

PITTSBURGH – The upcoming International Seating Symposium will feature longer and uninterrupted blocks of exhibit hall time, a Hands-On Zone for demoing equipment in real-life environments and a more diverse education program, organizers say.  Hours for the exhibit hall, which will span some 100,000 square feet and feature about 100 exhibitors, will include large blocks from 11:30 to 3:30 on March 20 and 11:30 to 2:30 on March 21.  “The nature of the convention center...

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...

PHOENIX – AZ Mobility debuted a new name, EZmobility Direct, and website, www.ezmobilitydirect.com, on Nov. 12 to better reflect its ability to sell and ship wheelchair accessible vehicles nationwide.  “The name AZ Mobility was a little too restrictive,” said Chris Paczak, chief marketing and merchandising officer for MobilityWorks, which bought AZ Mobility about three years ago. “We serve Arizona and the Southwest, but we wanted to open things up nationally.”  AZ...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Medicaid program will cover E2298, power seat elevation system, for adults 21 and older starting Jan. 1, 2025, according to NCART.  “NCART remains in hot pursuit of coverage for power seat elevation in several other states and greatly appreciates the support of our provider and manufacturer members as we seek to get this enabling technology covered in all 50 states,” the group stated in an email bulletin.  NCART says it was assisted...

COLUMBUS, Ohio – JTEK Solutions Group has a new name, JTEK Home Access Design, and a second location here, its first franchise, marking a significant step in the company’s evolution.  “JTEK Solutions Group served us pretty well in the beginning, but we wanted a name that was a little more narrow in scope and said what it is we do,” said Jared Chevraux, executive vice president.  Founded in 2011 in a home office and two-car garage, JTEK offers home access installations...

DALLAS – Medtrade in February will feature a new hub for complex rehab technology called CRT Live, giving exhibitors and attendees a dedicated area on the show floor to check out products and get educated.   “We’re working on getting the complex rehab side (of the show) back up in full force,” said Alexis Ward, senior director of payer relations for AAHomecare and a member of the Educational Advisory Board for Medtrade. “We want to build it back up for everyone,...

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Reliable Medical’s Katie Stevens made employee recruitment, retention and culture a big focus as CEO, but now she can double down as the company’s new chief people officer.  Reliable Medical named Charles Sargeant CEO over the summer, replacing Stevens and allowing her to transition into this new role.  “My superpower is really in the people sphere, and I determined that that would be the best way to continue serving the organization,”...

WASHINGTON – Two congressional fly-ins in September, which resulted in more than 100 meetings with lawmakers and their staff, served as a call for action to improve access to titanium and carbon fiber ultralightweight manual wheelchairs.  AAHomecare hit the Hill on Sept. 10, followed by NCART and U.S. Rehab on Sept. 24, to ask lawmakers to consider passing “Choices for Increased Mobility Act” or including it in end-of-year legislation.  “I was pleased we were...