Tag: ITEM Coalition
Stakeholders make progress on power standing, repair
October 13, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – Complex rehab technology stakeholders participated in a call with CMS on Sept. 26 to provide the agency with additional information to support Medicare coverage for power standing systems.
The meeting was led by the ITEM Coalition and attended by Wayne Grau, executive director of NCART, and Cara Masselink, executive director of the Clinician Task Force, as well as physicians, clinicians, manufacturers and consumers.
“I would love to tell you, ‘It’s...
Seat elevation: Stakeholders applaud CMS’s proposal
February 24, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – It’s a “pretty big milestone” for CMS to agree, in a recent proposed national coverage determination, that power seat elevation systems are “medical in nature,” says the ITEM Coalition’s Peter W. Thomas.
CMS published the proposed NCD on Feb. 15, saying it planned to, for the first time, expand coverage for seat elevation on Group 3 wheelchairs for beneficiaries who perform weight-bearing transfers to/from their wheelchair in the...
‘We’re looking closely at Group 2’
February 24, 2023Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – There was one surprise in CMS’s proposed national coverage decision for power seat elevation systems: a request for specific comments on whether having the systems on Group 2 power wheelchairs serves a medical purpose.
When the ITEM Coalition made its request to reconsider the NCD to expand coverage for seat elevation, it specified Group 3 wheelchairs.
“The reasoning was, we needed to get a foothold in the DME benefit and we didn’t feel like...
CMS opens NCD for seat elevation
August 16, 2022HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – CMS has opened the National Coverage Determination for seat elevation systems used with power wheelchairs, but the agency is not reconsidering coverage for power standing systems at this time.
CMS said in May it would commit to re-opening the NCD, nearly two years after the ITEM Coalition submitted a formal request to reconsider the NCD for mobility assistive equipment to include coverage for these systems.
“Now is the time for Medicare – the...
Stakeholders on power seat elevation: ‘We’re hoping to hear concrete steps’
December 22, 2021Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON – Complex rehab stakeholders were scheduled to meet with CMS officials right before the holidays to check on their request to reconsider coverage for power seat elevation and power standing systems.
The meeting was scheduled to take place on Dec. 22 with Dr. Meena Seshamani, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare, and others.
“We’re hoping to hear from them about specific, concrete steps that the agency is taking and, hopefully,...
Congressmen urge Sec. Becerra to move on seat elevation
July 29, 2021HME News Staff
WASHINGTON – Reps. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and Don Young, R-Alaska, have asked Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to encourage CMS to move forward with a pending request to include power seat elevation and power standing systems in the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment.
“These systems improve the health and independent function of mobility-impaired individuals and allow them to more fully participate in mobility-related activities...
Stakeholders ask CMS to make seat elevation a priority
October 9, 2020Liz Beaulieu, Editor
WASHINGTON - The ITEM Coalition's Peter Thomas is bullish on a recent formal request to reconsider the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment to include power seat elevation and power standing systems for Group 3 power wheelchairs.
“We believe coverage of these features is inevitable - there's no question they will be covered in the future - and we believe CMS should be leading in this respect,” said Thomas, a principal at Powers Law Firm and coordinator...
Stakeholders formally ask CMS to reconsider coverage for seat elevation
September 22, 2020HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The ITEM Coalition has submitted a formal request for reconsideration of the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment to include coverage of power seat elevation and power standing systems for Group 3 complex rehab power wheelchairs, according to AAHomecare. The request spans more than 60 pages, references 129 clinical articles and includes a redline revision of the existing NCD for MAE, as well as a draft local coverage determination for both systems, the association...
ITEM Coalition adds voice to vent concerns
June 20, 2019HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The ITEM Coalition has sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma to express its concerns about including non-invasive vents in Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program. The coalition is comprised of consumer organizations like The ALS Association, which represents individuals with neuromuscular conditions who may need the life-saving devices. “CMS's decision sets an alarming precedent by forcing patients to rely upon the lowest DME bidder to receive life-saving ventilators...
Coalition pushes leadership to pass accessories bill
November 30, 2018HME News Staff
WASHINGTON - The ITEM Coalition has sent a second letter to leaders of the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees in the House of Representatives, urging them to pass H.R. 3730. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., and John Larson, D-Conn., would stop CMS from using competitive bidding-related pricing for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs. The letter follows up on an earlier letter sent in September. “We now urge you to pass this important legislation before...