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Breaking: Titanium/Carbon Fiber Upgrade Bill Introduced in the Senate – S.5154

Published in Government Relations on September 25, 2024

Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the titanium/carbon fiber wheelchair upgrade bill on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.

S.5154 aims to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify payment rules for manual wheelchairs under part B of the Medicare program. Currently, if a consumer wants a titanium or carbon fiber manual wheelchair, they must pay for the full cost out of pocket, have their provider file a non-assigned claim on their behalf, and, if approved, wait to receive 80% of the Medicare allowable. This bill is the Senate companion to the identical House bill, H.R.5371 - Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2023.

The CRT industry has amplified their voice recently regarding CRT legislation. Both NCART and AAHomecare have hosted in-person events in Washington, D.C., to encourage support for this and other CRT bills.

Tyler Mahncke, President of U.S. Rehab, reports, “U.S. Rehab has been actively engaged in Washington, D.C., over the past few weeks, collaborating closely with NCART and AAHomecare. Our efforts have focused on educating policymakers about the health benefits and consumer choice associated with upgrading to carbon or titanium base manual chairs. We are thrilled to announce that a bill supporting this initiative has been introduced in the Senate. As a budget-neutral measure that offers significant benefits to consumers, this initiative represents a positive step forward.”

The goal is to pass the bill by the end of the year. Strong support from Senate Finance will be crucial in passing this bill. Please reach out to your Senators today asking them to support S.5154. Click here to send a message directly to your Senator asking them to support this important legislation.

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