Tag: Don Clayback

WASHINGTON – Complex rehab stakeholders are trying to find the right balance between excitement that a request for Medicare coverage for power seat elevation systems is finally moving forward and disappointment that the same request for power standing systems has been delayed.  “We have mixed feelings,” said Don Clayback, executive director of NCART.   CMS on Aug. 15 announced it had opened a 30-day comment period for the request to reconsider the national coverage...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – When Don Clayback steps down from NCART later this year, his parting wish for the organization is increased support – from providers, clinicians, manufacturers and consumers.  “We need to figure out how to double the core that we’ve created,” said Clayback, who will leave his executive director post on Sept. 30 after 13 years. “Our messaging is good – we have a good story to tell – but we need more voices and more financial...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – Don Clayback will step down as executive director of NCART on Sept. 30 after 13 years leading the organization.  “I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have had at NCART to help protect and improve access to CRT for people with disabilities,” said Clayback. “It has been an honor to advocate to ensure the children and adults we serve receive the highest quality equipment and supporting services they deserve to live full and independent lives....

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – Don Clayback will step down as executive director of NCART on Sept. 30 after 13 years leading the organization.  “I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have had at NCART to help protect and improve access to CRT for people with disabilities,” said Clayback. “It has been an honor to advocate to ensure the children and adults we serve receive the highest quality equipment and supporting services they deserve to live full and independent lives....

WASHINGTON – Complex rehab stakeholders helped to make sure that a recently passed omnibus bill extending telehealth services beyond the public health emergency included physical therapists and occupational therapists.  The bill, signed by President Biden on March 15 and passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate the week prior, extends telehealth services for 151 days beyond the PHE.  “This is a positive development for protecting remote services for people...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – NCART has come right out of the gate in 2022 to work on Medicaid issues, including protecting reimbursement for complex rehab.  The association, through its CRT Payer Relations Committee, is working on various issues in at least 10 different states, including California and Illinois, where legislation has been introduced to recognize and protect the specialized nature of complex rehab.  “That issue is going to continue to be a part of our priority...

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...

WASHINGTON – It’s not a permanent fix, but stakeholders say it’s a great sign that, about a month after taking the reins, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure agreed to extend a suspension of scheduled Medicare cuts to accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs.  CMS announced on June 23 that it would extend an 18-month pause on applying competitive bidding pricing to these accessories for an additional 90 days, until Oct. 1.  “We have seen some...

WASHINGTON – Stakeholders have been working hard to get accessories for complex rehab manual wheelchairs permanently exempted from competitive bidding pricing for more than a year, but with Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure finally in place at CMS, it’s go time, they say. These accessories have been temporarily exempted from bid pricing only until July 1.  “This has been anticipated, this appointment, and not having that leadership position filled at the agency has...

YARMOUTH, Maine – NCART wants to ramp up support for a bill that would permanently expand access to telehealth services, including those provided by physical therapists and occupational therapists.  H.R. 2168, which was re-introduced by Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and David McKinley, R-W.Va., on March 23, currently has 22 co-sponsors.  “The important thing for this bill is that it specifies PTs, OTs and SLPs need...