Tag: Complex Rehab Technology

NEWNAN, Ga. – David Bedard, ATP, C.H.A.M.P., has joined ATF Medical as manager of complex rehab technology. Bedard oversees day-to-day operations and quality assurance for a team of professionals who help workers comp payers obtain rehab and mobility equipment and adaptive housing solutions for injured workers. He also coordinates ongoing training for staff on products and services. “David’s vast knowledge of complex rehab equipment is a great asset to our clients,” said ATF...

TORONTO – Motion, formerly Motion Specialties, will once again host the Motion Rehab Expo following a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Motion Rehab Expo is a complimentary full-day education and networking event for Canadian health care and industry professionals, including therapists, long-term care administrators, funding providers and many others. Attendees can expect 15-minute round robin presentations from equipment manufacturers for both adult and pediatric streams. They can also...

The Tennessee Senate has passed SB 2134, legislation to strengthen access to complex rehab technology. It would prohibit insurers from considering the location where CRT products will be used when making a medical necessity determination; require insurers to offer a prior authorization process for coverage determinations; and require insurers to pay 100% of benefits approved in a prior authorization issued by a plan. The legislation now heads to the Tennessee House for consideration. A companion...

Unite4CRT, a group of wheelchair users and complex rehab stakeholders that meets online for monthly “Conversations,” is organizing the first in what will be a series of focus groups to increase its participation and advocacy efforts.  The first focus group, led by Jean Minkel, a PT and ATP, will focus on Medicare’s in-the-home requirement, which restricts beneficiaries to getting wheelchairs that can be used in the home.  “We’re trying to collect people...

NRRTS is working on the fifth course for its CRT Supplier Certificate Program, Weesie Walker, executive director of the organization, announced in December.  Once complete, the organization will also offer courses 1-5 as a module.  “This is something that the industry has needed for a very long time,” she said of the certificate during a Dec. 14 webcast. “The subject matter expert group has put a lot of time and effort into producing the highest quality content to...

PITTSBURGH – Clinicians, suppliers and manufacturers have a unique opportunity to shape a potential new policy for wheelchair service and funding, says the University of Pittsburgh’s Mark Schmeler.  In November, the university, in collaboration with other investigators, launched a survey to identify the benefits and shortcomings of existing policy in the United States and around the world.  “We want to be able to show, when we design our new policy, that we didn’t...

PITTSBURGH – Organizers have moved the International Seating Symposium from October to January, in large part, to make sure clinicians are free to help with COVID-19 patients who are in recovery, says Mark Schmeler.  “We are all, as clinicians, busy taking care of people,” said Schmeler, an associate professor in the Rehabilitation Science and Technology Department at the University of Pittsburgh, which is organizing the event. “You see on the news that ICU beds are...

ELYRIA, Ohio – Invacare is sponsoring Rob Mendez, the inspirational high school football coach and 2019 ESPY winner of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Mendez, who was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, which left him without arms or legs, uses the Invacare Storm Series Torque power wheelchair equipped with Adaptive Switch Labs (ASL) technology. “We are proud to have Coach Rob Mendez represent Invacare,” said Matt Monaghan, chairman, president and CEO of Invacare. “His courage,...

WASHINGTON – The Virtual CRT Congressional Fly-in on Sept. 21 drew 184 attendees and resulted in nearly 230 visits with members of Congress, according to organizers NCART and NRRTS.  This year’s virtual format offered a number of benefits, they say, including the ability to “show” members of Congress and their staff complex rehab equipment, says Weesie Walker, executive director of NRRTS.  “In my group from Georgia, we had a therapist from the Clinician...

FRESNO, Calif. – MedSupply has launched MedSupply Mobility Solutions, a full-service complex rehab, seating, positioning and mobility program.  MMS delivers custom mobility equipment, which includes manual and power wheelchairs, adaptive seating and positioning systems and devices requiring evaluation, fitting, configuration, adjustment or programming. Every piece of specialized equipment is custom-made to optimize their customers' function and independence.  "Our goal is...