Hi Tom ! Great Question. Repairs, like new wheelchairs have been affected by those winning competitive bidding for repairs in many areas of our country. Many of the local repair companies and organizations have lost tons of business due to competitive bidding. Illinois and Indiana are both affected states. For example, one of the service companies offering national repair service is X-Med or Express Medical in Texas. An evaluation is done and parts ordered. No mods are allowed, just repairs to restore the chair to its original condition. Now if a patient/customer has a custom positioning seat or backrest, they have to go to another service provider who won the bid for that area. People in need have to contact the CMS Dept and ask who's got the repair bids in their area. Best Wishes In a message dated 4/8/2014 4:25:01 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Dear QUAD-LIST members, Have you or any of your friends had problems with access / availability / payment for wheelchair repairs that involve Medicare? If so, we need your voice to be heard by CMS (Medicare). A special national Work Group which includes United Spinal Association, the ITEM Coalition, AA Homecare, and others is working with CMS on this issue, and according to CMS they are "not aware of any access problems" regarding Medicare beneficiaries getting wheelchair repairs. This is contrary to what the above referenced consumer organizations are hearing from their members. If this is an issue you have experienced, please take action as detailed below. To help gather data, two new tools have been developed by the Work Group: 1.) A website has been established that allows a Medicare beneficiary to send an email directly to their members of Congress asking them to "Fix Access To Medicare Wheelchair Repairs". The website can be accessed at _http://action.savemymedicalsupplies....echair-repair/_ (http://action.savemymedicalsupplies.org/issue/wheechair-repair/) . 2.) A "Wheelchair Repair Survey" has been developed through United Spinal and ITEM. This will help gather real data from both Medicare and other beneficiaries on accessibility to timely and professional wheelchair repairs. This survey can be accessed from the website above or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wheelchair-repair. Please share this information with anyone who has concerns/problems relating to wheelchair repairs. Thanks for spreading the word and encouraging Medicare beneficiaries who depend on their wheelchairs and need available repair services to let their voices be heard. Thank you! Tom Borcherding ROHO Inc. [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) This e-mail contains information and/or documents from The ROHO Group, Inc. Any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.
