Congressional Supporters Needed On The Letter Asking CMS To Exempt CRT Manual Accessories From The Competitive Bidding Program

Published in Complex Rehab on August 21, 2020

Reps. John Larson and Lee Zeldin have spearheaded a congressional sign-on letter to CMS urging that the agency use its administrative authority to permanently exclude CRT manual accessories from Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) pricing. This request would require CMS to use the same payment policies for accessories on manual chairs as it does for power chairs.  
 
There are currently four other supporters signed on to this letter. We need so many more! 

1. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
2. Dan Meuser (R-PA)
3. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
4. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA)

Please reach out to your members of Congress asking that they show their support by adding their name to the letter. You can easily reach out to your member of Congress by clicking here.
 
The deadline to sign this letter is August 31st, but act now! The end of the month will be here soon. Please encourage your co-workers and friends to reach out as well. 
 
As you may recall, CMS already exempted CRT power accessories in 2017, and Congress provided an 18-month statutory delay of the application of CBP pricing for CRT manual accessories last December, which is set to expire July 1, 2021. We need Congress to weigh in with CMS to make the exemption permanent to provide equal access to both CRT manual and power wheelchairs and accessories for Medicare beneficiaries.
 
This would establish a consistent policy across the fee schedule for all wheelchair accessories and back and seat cushions used in conjunction with complex rehabilitative wheelchairs so that they are based on the unadjusted fee schedule amounts updated by the covered item update specified in section 1834(a)(14) of the Act. This will ensure Medicare beneficiaries with significant disabilities who require complex manual wheelchairs have the same access as those who use complex power wheelchairs.
 
Your swift actions are greatly appreciated.

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1. cms
2. competitive bidding
3. complex rehab
4. vgm
5. vgm government