A new bill to enable ultralightweight wheelchair riders to upgrade to titanium or carbon fiber frames has been introduced in the Senate.
“The Choices for Mobility Act, S. 247, closely follows titanium/carbon fiber legislation introduced in the previous Congress, creating two new HCPCS codes for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) manual wheelchairs and allowing for an upgrade within a code,” the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) announced in a Jan. 27 bulletin.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the bill on Jan. 24.
Previous House and Senate bills — known as the Choices for Increased Mobility acts — also sought to improve access to titanium and carbon fiber ultralightweight frames for beneficiaries willing to pay out of pocket for the upgrades. Currently, Medicare requires a beneficiary to pay the cost of the entire titanium- or carbon fiber-framed wheelchair up front, then seek partial Medicare reimbursement for the wheelchair excluding the upgrade.
S. 247 would allow beneficiaries to pay up front only for the price of the upgrade, a change that should make titanium and carbon fiber frame upgrades more financially accessible.
“Improving access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs will allow individuals with mobility challenges to choose the wheelchair that is best suited for their medical, functional, and lifestyle needs and preferences, without increasing costs to the Medicare program,” AAHomecare’s announcement said.
AAHomecare is asking industry members to ask their senators to support the new bill. The association’s website includes a prewritten support letter to send to Capitol Hill. AAHomecare said advocates are also working on getting a House version of the bill introduced.
