CR T UP DAT E
THE LATEST ON CRT ISSUES AND ACTIVITIES Written by: DON CLAYBACK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NCART
PREVENTING MEDICAID PAYMENT CUTS TO CRT The potential of Medicaid payment cuts was identified as a 2021 risk to Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) access given the financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic was projected to have on state budgets. Accordingly, we have been monitoring state budget announcements and working with state associations and other stakeholders to minimize this threat. To strengthen these efforts, we have developed a “No Cuts to CRT” tool kit for communicating with state legislatures and health departments. The tool kit includes a position paper with key CRT talking points, infographics with state Medicaid information, a summary of the CRT delivery process, and other information supporting the need to protect CRT from rate reductions that would reduce access. For more details, or to request the tool kit for use in your state, email Mickae Lee at mlee@ncart.us.
STOPPING JULY 1 CUTS TO CRT MANUAL WHEELCHAIR ACCESSORIES As we enter the month of April, the prospect of July 1 Medicare payment cuts to CRT manual wheelchair accessories looms as a threat to reduce access for those individuals who depend on this technology. We are continuing the dialogue with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to “make permanent” the Congressionally mandated 18-month suspension which stopped CMS from inappropriately applying Medicare Competitive Bid Program payment rates for “standard DME” items to set payment rates for the more specialized items used with CRT manual wheelchairs. To make this suspension permanent, CMS action is needed before the expiration on June 30. NCART and other CRT industry stakeholders have provided analysis and recommendations to CMS as to the pathway to implement a permanent policy change. Unfortunately, CMS has yet to come to a decision if and when they will take the necessary action. This process has been complicated by the change in administration and the fact that a new Secretary of Health and Human Services and a new CMS administrator (the key decision-makers) have not yet been seated.
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As soon as the new secretary and administrator are in place, we will be emphasizing the need for quick CMS action and engaging our Congressional champions to reinforce that request. We will keep the CRT community updated as we move ahead and seek grassroots engagement as needed.
PERMANENT CRT TELEHEALTH SERVICES On the legislative front, the topic of telehealth is again generating much discussion in the first weeks of the new session of Congress. Of particular significance, on March 2 the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health held an over four-hour hearing entitled, “The Future of Telehealth: How COVID-19 Is Changing the Delivery of Virtual Care.” The hearing presented a robust discussion from committee members and invited witnesses regarding making telehealth options permanent beyond the public health emergency (PHE). Several pieces of telehealth legislation have already been introduced this year. It is expected that a key bill impacting CRT access, the “Expanded Telehealth Access Act (ETAA),” will be reintroduced shortly by Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-NJ, and David McKinley, R-WVa. This legislation gives CMS specific direction to authorize physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists as permanent telehealth practitioners once the PHE expires — a key provision for the CRT provision process. NCART and other CRT stakeholders continue to meet with Congressional staff to discuss the benefits of telehealth for individuals using CRT and requesting that any final Congressional legislation include language directing CMS to include physical therapists and occupational therapists as permanent authorized telehealth practitioners. Here is some homework. Congress needs to hear from their constituents. CRT stakeholders are encouraged to use the links at www.protectmymobility.org to email their Members and request that any new legislation include the provisions that are important to maintain CRT access. On the clinical practice front, new CRT telehealth information is available. Under the umbrella of the CRT Remote Services Consortium, the Clinician Task Force worked diligently to develop a document that offers guidance to clinicians considering telehealth for clients using CRT. We are happy to report the “Clinician’s Guide to Use of Telehealth for CRT Service Provision” has been released.
