Do you want to make a difference? Join with thousands of other concerned citizens to help assure access for people with disabilities to the Complex Rehab Technology they require. Mark the date! *Tell your clients, patients, family, friends, colleagues, and workmates. *Tell anyone else you know who might feel that Americans with disabilities need access to the technology that improves their function, health and enhances the quality of their lives. *Tell them that, for this initiative to be successful, each of them needs to call their Members of Congress on February 16. *Tell them to let their Members of Congress know they should support legislation to establish a Separate Benefit Category for Complex Rehab Technology under Medicare . We are asking Congress to create a separate CRT benefit category under the Medicare program. This would include the elimination of Medicare's "In the Home" restriction for CRT products as well as the requirements laid out by the disability community in the document below. Our objective is to improve access for people of all ages, whether covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________ Go to _CELAadvocacy.org _ (http://www.uptilt.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=6do,1h96j,2aoq,4250,6kfi,1suz,lqso) - Register to make a difference. For the hundreds of you who have alredy registered, thank you. You will receive your information packet within the next 2 weeks. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ _Download an easier-to-read, printer friendly copy of this document_ (http://www.uptilt.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=6do,1h96j,2aoq,79s8,cqhi,1suz,lqso) Ensuring Consumer Access to Complex Rehab Technology Requirements for Maximizing Outcomes Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) products are defined as medically necessary, individually configured devices that require evaluation, configuration, fitting, adjustment or programming. Examples of CRT include individually configured manual wheelchair systems, power wheelchair systems, adaptive seating systems, alternative positioning systems and other mobility devices. These products and services are designed to meet the specific and unique medical, physical, and functional needs of an individual with a primary diagnosis resulting from a congenital disorder, progressive or degenerative neuromuscular disease, or from certain types of injury or trauma. CRT is essential for the health and well-being of people with disabilities who require the equipment and services and for their caregivers. The proper access to and provision of CRT products and services is critical for the independence, well-being, and ability of people with disabilities to live, attend school, work, worship and participate in their communities. To ensure there is appropriate access, the following requirements must be incorporated into all applicable policies and practices: * Consumers require a choice of appropriate quality equipment and services and the opportunity for input during the evaluation, selection, and procurement processes. * Consumers require access to a thorough evaluation by qualified clinicians and suppliers. * Consumers require transparency in the funding process and associated decisions, including an option for the consumer to provide supplementary funding above available allowable payment amounts. * Consumers require adequate customization, integration, fitting, adjustment, and training along with appropriate post-delivery maintenance and timely repair. * Consumers require that clinicians and suppliers be held accountable to appropriate quality and service standards. * Consumers require responsiveness from clinicians, suppliers, manufacturers, and payers along with timely complaint resolution and consumer recourse. * Consumers require that physicians, case managers, social workers, discharge planners, and other referral sources be provided a clear and concise process for making a referral for prescribed CRT. * Consumers require that physicians, other prescribing medical professionals, clinicians and suppliers be provided a clearly defined set of coverage and payment policies with reasonable, consistent, and explicit documentation requirements regarding medical necessity. * Consumers require that policies recognize the services and support systems necessary to evaluate, research, simulate, assemble, fit, educate and maintain the prescribed CRT. * Consumers require that payers establish adequate payment schedules that are appropriate given the product and service costs involved. * Consumers require replacement of prescribed CRT when the cost of repair exceeds 50% of the cost of replacement, regardless of the length of time it is in use. * Consumers require that payers allow the option for suppliers to obtain prior funding approval for uncertain coverage situations. In recognition of these stated requirements, CRT stakeholders and supporters request that federal, state and local policymakers and agencies incorporate these into all related coverage, payment, and quality standards policies to ensure appropriate access to prescribed CRT products and services for people with disabilities. ____________________________________________________________________________ ______________________ Consumer Advocacy Group Support The initiative to create a Separate Benefit Category for Complex Rehab Technology under Medicare is supported by the ITEM Coalition, whose 70 members include: *AAPD - American Association of People with Disability; *BIAA - Brain Injury Association of America; *Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation; *Easter Seals; *NCIL - National Council on Independent Living; *NSCIA - National Spinal Cord Injury Association; *National Stroke Association; *National Multiple Sclerosis Association; *SBAA - Spina Bifida Association of America; *UCPA - United Cerebral Palsy Association; and *United Spinal Association. You can view the entire ITEM Coalition membership list at: _http://itemcoalition.org/members.html_ (http://www.uptilt.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=6do,1h96j,2aoq,bk98,9xcf,1suz,lqso) To unsubscribe, _click here_ (http://www.uptilt.com/functions/mailing_list.html?mid=2484667&submitaction=2&mlid=107162&activity=submit&siteid=8268&ema [email protected]&redirection=http://www.uptilt.com/functions/unsubscrib ed.html)
