Rethinking Growth? CRT Could Be Your Next Path Forward

Published in Member Communities on August 27, 2026

For home medical equipment (HME) providers looking to diversify their business and expand their role in the care continuum, complex rehab technology (CRT) and related specialties stand out as strategic landmarks toward long-term growth. 

Where Does This Opportunity Come From? 

• Reimbursement pressure on traditional HME services leads providers to evaluate growth and diversification strategies. 
• Competitive bidding headaches continue for oxygen and CPAP suppliers, while CRT remains exempt from the program. 
• Referral sources want trusted providers to expand into CRT to meet more patient needs. 
• Opportunity to serve patients more comprehensively across the continuum of care, including orthotics and prosthetics (O&P), mobility, home accessibility services, or rehabilitation needs within the home. 

Next Steps for Exploring CRT: Start with VGM 

Those who want to expand into CRT and related specialties can get help with VGM for guidance, education, and business support. 

Resources are available for members who need: 

• Billing and reimbursement support 
• Technical training for mobility and wheelchair service professionals 
• Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) development programs 
• Diversification guidance and playbooks 

The best way to start is to contact VGM and learn how your organization can expand into CRT and related mobility specialties. 

For more on diversification opportunities, check out our latest playbook: “VGM Playbook: Emerging Markets and How to Expand Your Business” 

For billing and reimbursement support, members can contact industry experts Dan Fedor and Stephanie Robinson for guidance and best practices. 

For ATP development programs, discover the many ATP training programs and education opportunities available for certification preparation and recertification. 

For hands-on and online technical training opportunities, browse upcoming sessions tailored to assistive mobility repair technicians here.

Read the original article from HME News below or click here.

Is CRT gaining traction, as providers rethink growth? 

This article was written by Liz Beaulieu, originally featured in HME News. 

As reimbursement pressures mount on traditional home medical equipment (HME) categories, providers are increasingly looking to complex rehab technology (CRT) and related specialties as a path to diversification – and growth, say leaders at U.S. Rehab. 

Ted Metcalf, VP of Clinical Mobility & Accessibility, a division of VGM & Associates, says more providers are being pulled into CRT not by strategy alone, but by demand from referral sources. 

“We have members coming to us – some traditional oxygen and CPAP companies – saying, ‘We have a referral source that says we’re doing great work, and they want us to get into CRT,’” he said. “They come to us, and we’re turning on those members to CRT, which is exciting.” 

It’s a welcome development for providers facing ongoing pressure from programs like competitive bidding, which has significantly impacted oxygen and CPAP and is expected to affect medical supplies in 2028. CRT, notably, remains exempt. 

“There’s a major opportunity here,” said Matt Filippis, Director of Business Development for VGM’s Clinical, Mobility, and Accessibility business unit. 

For providers considering diversification, the overlap between CRT, orthotics and prosthetics (O&P), and home accessibility offers a natural extension, Filippis says, even if few companies today offer all three. 

“There are a lot of similarities, especially between CRT and O&P,” he said. “There’s significant patient interaction, custom equipment design, and a complex billing environment. Every single pediatric patient that needs a manual complex wheelchair is going to need braces.” 

VGM is working to change limited crossover by offering billing support, technical training, and ATP development programs. 

“We have a playbook,” Filippis said. 

While the industry has trended toward specialization in recent years, Metcalf says diversification, ultimately, comes back to better understanding patient needs – and capturing more of the care continuum. 

“Are we asking the right questions when we’re talking to the patient, the caregiver, and the clinician?” he said. “If you’re in a wheelchair, what else are you going to need? What else are you going to need in the home?”

TAGS

1. complex rehab
2. hme