C RT UP DAT E
LOOKING TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR Written by: DON CLAYBACK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NCART
WASHINGTON, D.C., AND CRT For the Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry, our year-end focus with Congress is preventing potential Medicare payment cuts, pursuing possible supplier COVID-19 relief and establishing a permanent CRT telehealth legislation. These CRT issues were communicated to Congressional offices in September by advocates participating in the NCART/NRRTS CRT Virtual Congressional Fly-In. The ongoing CRT requests to Congress include: (1) provide additional federal financial assistance in light of the ongoing COVID-19 operating challenges and increased expenses so CRT companies (who are limited by fixed fee schedules) can continue to provide needed equipment and services to people with disabilities; and (2) recognize the benefits of the unique CRT telehealth flexibilities that have temporarily been put in place during the public health emergency (PHE) and ensure they are made permanent and continue post-PHE to protect consumer access. Other issues being tracked are the Medicare Sequestration Moratorium that is set to expire at the end of 2021 that could result in 2022 payment cuts and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) DMEPOS Payment Rule, which is expected to solidify 50/50 blended Medicare rates for rural areas and hopefully extend the 75/25 blended rates for non-bid, non-rural areas as well.
Sincere thanks to these congressional champions for their leadership and actions. This strong show of Congressional support is a very positive step toward securing access to these important technologies that people with disabilities require and deserve.
CRT AND TELEHEALTH Discussions indicate that Congress may be passing legislation before year-end regarding certain telehealth expansions that have been temporarily in place during the COVID-19 PHE. The good news is the PHE declaration has been extended through late January 2022 (and could be extended further), so these current policies will remain in effect until at least that date.
During the month of October, we received strong bipartisan Congressional support for the national initiative to secure Medicare coverage for power seat elevation and standing systems used with CRT power wheelchairs.
When it comes to CRT access, some Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities have only been able to obtain CRT because of the COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities put in place by Congress and CMS. Unfortunately, when the PHE ends, the ability for certain Medicare beneficiaries to access needed CRT via telehealth will also end unless Congress acts.
Reps. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and Don Young, R-Ark., led the submission of a bipartisan House of Representatives letter to CMS that garnered 77 signatures. The signers included 14 members of the House committees that oversee the Medicare program. The letter encourages CMS leadership to prioritize the coverage request and expeditiously proceed to the next step in the review process.
The CRT telehealth option must allow occupational and physical therapists to continue to participate remotely for CRT evaluations, fittings and training when an in-person visit is not possible due to medical risks, transportation barriers, lack of experienced clinicians in the community or other factors.
We are also pleased to report that Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., submitted a bipartisan Senate letter to CMS regarding this issue as well. She was joined by Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. The letter contained a very direct request to not only move forward in the review process, but also to approve the application for Medicare coverage.
Rather than allowing these proven flexibilities to expire and harm Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities, Congress must take legislative action to make CRT
POWER SEAT ELEVATION AND STANDING SYSTEMS
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We are awaiting the next step in the review process, which is CMS formally announcing the reopening of the related National Coverage Determination (NCD) and commencing a 30-day public comment period. This public comment period will be the opportunity for CRT stakeholders to express their support for coverage. We continue to collaborate with the ITEM Coalition to move this process forward.
DIRECTIONS 2021.6
