HME News: Accessories: Time to Follow Up, Stakeholders Say

Published in Complex Rehab on August 03, 2020

Complex rehab stakeholders are working with their champions in Congress to craft a letter asking CMS to permanently change its payment policy on accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs, according to a recent article from HME News.

In a recent webcast, executive director of NCART Don Clayback said, "We’re asking CMS to change the policy so it’s consistent with (accessories for complex rehab power wheelchairs). When it comes to parts and accessories, there really should be equal access."

Late in 2019, Congress passed a bill that included language suspending competitive bidding pricing for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs for 18 months starting Jan. 1, 2020. 

“(Now we need) to make the request to CMS officially,” Don said. 

While the suspension of bid pricing technically went into effect Jan. 1, CMS was only able to update its systems for July 1. 

“For any claims submitted for (accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs), you should be using the KU modifier, regardless of where the beneficiary resides,” said Dan Fedor, director of reimbursement and education for U.S. Rehab, a division of VGM, during the webcast. 

Click here to read the full article from HME News.


TAGS

  1. cms
  2. complex rehab
  3. crt manual wheelchair accessory legislation
  4. vgm

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