Tag: Don Clayback

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...

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...