Tag: Don Clayback

WASHINGTON - Stakeholders are still waiting to see who will officially lead CMS under President Biden, largely stalling their efforts to permanently eliminate competitive bidding pricing for accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.  An 18-month suspension on bid pricing is set to expire on July 1.  “Between the COVID uproar last year and the fact that we’re now still waiting for the CMS administrator –...

BUFFALO, N.Y. - State Medicaid programs are keeping a close watch on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the progress of relief-related packages in Congress as they make their budget plans for 2021, says Don Clayback. That's the takeaway that Clayback, the executive director of NCART, had after attending the virtual meeting of the National Association of Medicaid Directors earlier this month. “With all of the COVID-19 expenses going on, along with the drop in revenues at the state level,...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. - Complex rehab stakeholders need to “dig into” any new legislation related to permanently expanding the use of telehealth to make sure it includes occupational therapists and physical therapists, says Don Clayback. Earlier this year, CMS expanded the use of telehealth, including for OTs and PTs, through the public health emergency. “Congress needs to give CMS the authority to extend the expansion of telehealth outside of the public health emergency,”...

YARMOUTH, Maine - Complex rehab providers could see a downturn in revenues in late summer, early fall, says Don Clayback.“The next three months are going to be challenging,” said Clayback, executive director of NCART, during a recent webcast on CRT and COVID-19 sponsored by NCART, NRRTS, The Clinician Task Force and U.S. Rehab. “As we all know, the evaluations that are being done this month are the deliveries and revenues (we'll have) three months from now, and the three months...

Taking a short and long viewWhile there are “still some fires to put out,” complex rehab stakeholders are shifting part of their focus on longer-term issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, says Don Clayback.“There are real practical challenges that we're encountering, whether you're a customer, a clinician, a supplier or a manufacturer,” said Clayback, executive director of NCART, during a May 14 “CRT Industry and COVID-19 Update” sponsored by NCART, NRRTS,...

WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM & Associates, U.S. Rehab and NCART are raising awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act, in honor of the landmark legislation's 30th anniversary.The campaign kicks off with a video featuring retired Sen. Tom Harkin, a champion of the disabled and lead sponsor of the ADA.“We are so pleased to have worked with NCART and Senator Harkin to put some great info together for the anniversary of the ADA,” said Greg Packer, president of U.S. Rehab, the complex rehab...

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Medicaid issues have always been a priority for NCART, but they're more urgent than ever, says Don Clayback.With the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act and the proliferation of managed care organizations, NCART has decided to expand its Medicaid Committee and add California to the list of states in which it engages lobbyists.“When you look at the CRT population, Medicare is a payer for some, but Medicaid is the bigger payer typically,” said Clayback, executive...

WASHINGTON - A bill in the House of Representatives that would temporarily stop Medicare from applying competitive bidding pricing to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs is headed to the floor for a full vote.The Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 3429, the “HEARTS and Rural Relief Act,” with a voice vote after a “mark up” session on Wednesday, June 26.“This means the bill has been fully vetted, so it'll be much easier to get it to a full vote,”...

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A new bill to create a separate benefit for complex rehab that's “less prescriptive” than previous bills will improve the chances of Congress passing it and CMS embracing it, stakeholders say.“The general idea was to give CMS, in essence, direction, but to leave them some flexibility,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NRRTS. “Congress (works on the assumption) that CMS can take care of issues like these, with some direction.”Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner,...

WASHINGTON - Industry stakeholders have moved on to Plan B to stop competitive bidding pricing for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.In December, a bill was passed in the House of Representatives 400-11 to stop the cuts for 18 months, but amid a government shutdown later in the month, it stalled in the Senate.“This shows you how complicated it is getting something passed,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NCART. “You never know what might pop up.”H.R. 7217, a larger...