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CRT UPDATE: AUGUST 2024
Written by: WAYNE GRAU
POWER SEAT ELEVATION
NCART has submitted an Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System coding application to formally appeal the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ decision to increase the fee schedule by $13, which was recently released. NCART made the following statement, “While we appreciate CMS’ willingness to listen to our concerns and review the follow-up information we provided, they indicated it could not be considered since it was not part of the public meeting process last year. In addition, we will highlight the problems using internet pricing, which does not reflect the additional significant costs to comply with Medicare requirements compared to that retail model.”
UPDATE ON THE CONSUMER CHOICE BILL FOR TITANIUM AND COMPOSITE WHEELCHAIRS — HR 5371
HR 5371 would provide consumers with the choice of a lighter-weight manual wheelchair to best fit their lifestyle. Medicare beneficiaries are currently prohibited from upgrading to this equipment, even though it may be the best option to accommodate their needs. Lobbying efforts have begun in the Senate to get a companion legislation introduced to pass the bill before year-end. This bill will be one of our focuses for the upcoming Washington, D.C. Legislative Day in September.
POWER STANDING UPDATE
As we have shared, NCART, ITEM Coalition, Clinician Task Force, manufacturers, suppliers and other industry stakeholders continue to press CMS to open the NCD for power standing. The ITEM Coalition sent a letter signed by industry and consumer stakeholders to CMS and copied the Biden administration outlining our concerns with the delay. We will keep the industry informed of any changes because we will have limited time to rally the troops to provide the information and advocacy needed for a successful outcome.
THANK YOU
We would like to thank all the young people entering the Complex Rehab Technology industry. It is very exciting to see the energy and optimism of the younger generation as they embark on an incredible journey to fulfill the needs of individuals who need CRT equipment. In my 20 years in the CRT industry, I have seen incredible advancesand have been very lucky to have worked with so many incredible people (The list is too long to publish). As I face the last number of years in this industry, I am confident we have a new crop of leaders to take our place and move this industry and the people we serve to the next level. I look forward to watching as new technology and attitudes take on the industry’s challenges now and into the future.
BECOME AN NCART MEMBER
NCART is the only national advocacy association of leading CRT providers and manufacturers dedicated to protecting access to CRT. To continue our work, we depend on membership support to take on important federal, state and payer initiatives. Please consider joining if you are a CRT provider or manufacturer and not yet an NCART member. Add your support to that of other industry leaders. For information, visit the membership area at www.ncart.us or email wgrau@ncart.us to schedule a conversation.
CONTACT THE AUTHOR
Wayne may be reached at WGRAU@NCART.US
