NCART, NRRTS organize call-in day in conjunction with conference

WASHINGTON - If you're not one of the 200 people who will be descending on Capitol Hill this week for the National CRT Leadership and Advocacy Conference, you can still participate.

On Tuesday, April 29, NCART and NRRTS are also hosting a call-in day. They're encouraging thousands of people to call members of Congress and ask them to sign on as co-sponsors to H.R. 942 and S.948, bills to create a separate benefit for complex rehab.

To participate, go to www.access2crt.org to see if your representative or senator has already signed on to co-sponsor the bills. If not, call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to your lawmaker's office. When connected, say you're calling about pending Medicare legislation and that you'd like to speak with the health legislative assistant. From there, NCART and NRRTS suggest the following script:

“I am calling to ask Representative __________ (or Senator __________) to sign on as a co-sponsor to House Bill H.R. 942 (or Senate Bill S. 948) to establish a Separate Category for Complex Rehab Technology under the Medicare program. This bill protects access to specialized wheelchairs, seating systems, and other adaptive equipment used by a small population of people with significant disabilities such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, ALS, and multiple sclerosis. It is gaining strong support in Congress and already has 109 Representatives and 12 Senators signed on. The bill is also supported by over 50 national consumer and medical professional groups including the United Spinal Association, the ALS Association, the MS Society, the American Association for People with Disabilities, and the Paralyzed Veterans Association.”