Now that Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and John Larson (D-Conn.) have introduced H.R. 3730 to stop CMS from using competitive bidding-derived reimbursement for accessories used with manual CRT wheelchairs, providers are being urged to help make the most of the bill’s initial bi-partisan support.
The bill’s co-sponsors currently include 19 Republicans and 22 Democrats who attached their names to the bill as original co-sponsors. A full list of initial backers for the bill is available at bit.ly/2eMnNl2. Both the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) and the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) urged providers to keep that momentum going by lobbying their Representatives to co-sponsor the legislation.
To help in that effort, NCART posted a position paper at http://bit.ly/2x5rc8h and has updated the materials and tools at www.protectmymobility.org to facilitate providers’ outreach to their Representative via tools such as a email and call links. The language of the bill is available at http://bit.ly/2h59bxP.
“… It’s important everyone now take the time to reach out to their Representative and get them to sign as a cosponsor,” NCART Executive Director Don Clayback said. “The CRT community will need to work hard to be get this supported and passed. … Remember, polite persistence is key to a successful outcome.”
“AAHomecare looks forward to working with mobility providers, patient groups, and other stakeholders to build support for this legislation and ensure that the full range of CRT accessories remains available to patients and their caregivers,” added AAHomecare President and CEO Tom Ryan.
