The Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) Fly-In to Capitol Hill on Sept. 9-10 will focus on creating a path for Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to titanium or carbon fiber frames for ultralightweight wheelchairs (HCPCS code K0005).

“Mobility stakeholders are having in-person meetings with House and Senate offices on Sept. 10 to advocate for improved consumer access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs,” the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) said in an Aug. 21 bulletin. “CRT and mobility suppliers who are not coming to Capitol Hill can bolster these efforts by reaching out to their representatives in the House in support of current legislation on the issue.”

CRT advocates will be discussing H.R. 5371, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, which would “restore access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries, and would also improve access for individuals covered under plans that follow Medicare policy and coding,” AAHomecare said. “An amended version of H.R. 5371, which instructs CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] to establish new HCPCS codes for ultralight manual wheelchairs, including a separate code for ones with titanium or carbon fiber, was approved by the House Energy & Commerce Committee in December 2023.”

Currently, a Medicare beneficiary who wants to upgrade to a titanium or carbon fiber ultralightweight frame cannot pay for just the upgrade out of pocket. Instead, the beneficiary must pay the entire cost of the wheelchair up front, then go through the process of getting partially reimbursed by Medicare.

CRT advocates argue that requiring beneficiaries to pay the entire cost up front, rather than just the cost of the upgrade, limits access to titanium and carbon fiber frames, since many beneficiaries cannot afford to pay the cost of an entire wheelchair and then wait for reimbursement.

“Mobility and CRT suppliers are encouraged to reach out to their representative’s health-care staffers to ask for support in moving H.R. 5371 forward before the end of this Congressional session,” AAHomecare said, adding that a Senate version of the bill “is currently being drafted.”

The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) and U.S. Rehab are hosting another Washington, D.C., fly-in on Sept. 24.