This just in on the first-month purchase option
By Liz Beaulieu, Editor
Updated Thu December 17, 2009
As we reported in our HME NewsWire on Monday, the "clawback" alternative for standard power wheelchairs crafted by the industry and proposed by Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., has been killed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
But not all hope is lost, according to AAHomecare, which just sent out this bulletin to members:
In an effort to preserve the first-month purchase option, an alternative was discussed on the last joint CRMC-State Leaders' call which would propose an across-the-board rate cut or CPI freeze for standard power Group 1 and Group 2 chairs. Senate allies have informed AAHomecare that this cut cannot be phased-in over a 10-year period but would require a 3- to 5-year phase-in period instead. The CRMC council and AAHomecare guest members on the call agreed to request that the cut apply to Group 1 and 2 base chairs only and not to options and accessories. The group agreed that if more than 3.5% cuts are required to reach budget-neutrality, then the CRMC will reconvene to discuss.
Liz Beaulieu
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