Help Protect Our Reimbursement Rights! Starting January 1, Medicare makes drastic reimbursement cuts (as high as 30% to 40% or more) to complex rehab components on wheelchairs. This means everything from cushions and seat backs to wheelchair controllers on both manual and power chairs—put another way, almost everything but the frame of the wheelchair will be affected. This is the date CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) Final Rule 1614-F goes into effect.
I’m in my 30th year as a T10 complete para, and I’ve worked as manufacturer’s sales rep and as a sales rep for a local wheelchair dealer and I’ve seen first hand that Medicare reimbursement margins are wheelchair already so thin that these cuts will make it extremely difficult to get many components and others will no longer be offered, company’s can’t make a product at a net loss. Worse yet, private insurance companies generally use Medicare as a guideline for what they will pay for, if these cuts are allowed to stand, every wheelchair user will be affected. WE CAN REVERSE THIS BUT WE MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY. Every one of us needs to two simple things: send an email, and follow up with a phone call to our senators and representatives. In the emails and phone calls to state three simple things: First: Identify yourself “I am, your name, and I am a constituent (voter—give your city, state). Next: State that you are asking the Congressman/ Congresswoman to support HR3229 (for House of Representatives offices): For Senate offices say you are asking the Senator to support S2196. Third: Say why this issue is important. For example, I explain that I need the proper wheelchair cushion to prevent life threatening pressure sores—something that would put me in the hospital and cost tax payers upward of $50-thousand to $100-thousand dollars or more in hospital bills and could prove fatal. AND I need the proper wheelchair back to prevent scoliosis. Representatives count EACH email and EACH phone call in support or opposition to an issue. One more thing, please have friends and family members email and call as well. WE CAN REVERSE THIS! Remember, government works for us, but only when we let them know what we want! For me, finding and contacting my representatives seemed intimidating—but I found it was easy and when I did it, I became empowered—and have a good feeling. I’m not just yelling at my TV or posting my opinion on social media, I have become part of the solution! Here is a link to an-easy-to-follow guide I wrote (about 4 years ago) on how to find and contact your representatives. This was written about another funding cut back issue but serves as a great blueprint. https://roho.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-contacting-us-representatives-and-senators/ <https://roho.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-contacting-us-representatives-and-senators/> Below is a letter to NCART, the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology, that explains what is happening and a call out for help. Lets take 20-30 minutes and contact our representatives and fight for the equipment we need. Sincerely, Bob Vogel > > > November 25, 2015 > > CRT Stakeholders and Friends, > > Late Monday, CMS published the 2016 Medicare fee schedule. As feared, the new > payment rates include major reductions (as high as 30% to 40% or more) to > complex rehab wheelchair accessories. > > These cuts are being implemented by CMS in violation of prior Congressional > legislation. They will dramatically reduce or outright eliminate access for > people with disabilities who rely on individually configured complex rehab > wheelchairs and critical components such as seating equipment, positioning > systems, and specialty controls. > > There is one last chance to stop this and protect access. We need to use the > next 7 to 10 days to get Congress to add our complex rehab wheelchair > accessory legislation, HR-3229/S-2196, to a larger bill and pass it before > they adjourn in mid-December. > > We have had discussions with our Congressional champions. The good news is > they remain committed to working to getting our bill passed. But they can't > do it alone. They have indicated that constituents must generate more support > by connecting with their own representatives and telling them this is a > priority. > > Now is the time to contact or re-contact your Members via phone. The message > is simple: "I need you to attach HR-3229/S-2196 to larger legislation and > pass it before you adjourn in December". > > Please go to www.protectmymobility.org > <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001z9a6z-R30Tfcg44gwu6AdAFN4Lh-OME0oEMPey-WjyvxkAwGIRarFXCuigy4ypGsh5aVz_5--U6t3HCRDC99W-IQAyjERy81couVxsUFGXWCb4n3tFVbFI4nnsAEVcyuOIMqchsDNa1n3lYbFv43bQ9a_qXKknYGvPY9vwEPJRsCmDVMghV4Yw==&c=4ISofZ4XN8t0rMgPLKx0YLhqo348Xl2mCoX1vars1qymBNFXybM0yg==&ch=uFEkO0YfK9RZac44kiC8GqQC7cxAXVxdVfa-DKClKOe1uLpwAZncOA==> > and use the links to make your contacts. Be persistent until you get a > commitment and let us know if you need any assistance. > > We can make this happen if enough people make the time to contact Congress. > We will be providing further updates as we move ahead. Thanks for making this > a priority! > Regards, > > Don > > Donald E. Clayback > Executive Director | NCART > Office 716-839-9728 | Cell 716-913-4754 > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> |www.ncart.us > <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001z9a6z-R30Tfcg44gwu6AdAFN4Lh-OME0oEMPey-WjyvxkAwGIRarFdyYwC0g0b0xAzhK8kRlvfHKLEidYYhKyNqvGIW4jpfS__F8bt9KPPdBEQoRGBwGOme6GSlpnCyuiiDJDalAWRR-W1vVdXVUb4mpnxPv20tk&c=4ISofZ4XN8t0rMgPLKx0YLhqo348Xl2mCoX1vars1qymBNFXybM0yg==&ch=uFEkO0YfK9RZac44kiC8GqQC7cxAXVxdVfa-DKClKOe1uLpwAZncOA==> > > P.S. If you know of other CRT stakeholders who would like to receive these > types of updates please have them sign up at the NCART website > <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001z9a6z-R30Tfcg44gwu6AdAFN4Lh-OME0oEMPey-WjyvxkAwGIRarFXtC-Hqw_5BvoXqKg-vDa_ptuyI2NATZLydwPwT7h9u9bGL8SBxY8SzMYwomqnvBsrAddNCduq4dN8sqAZ20ScQjs8_zsg_2XUxIe-V2ZqhhQ071lsrDG6zGIRITj6TzUQ==&c=4ISofZ4XN8t0rMgPLKx0YLhqo348Xl2mCoX1vars1qymBNFXybM0yg==&ch=uFEkO0YfK9RZac44kiC8GqQC7cxAXVxdVfa-DKClKOe1uLpwAZncOA==>. > >
