Tag: Power seat elevation

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...

WASHINGTON – An Aug. 3 roundtable discussion hosted by the National Council on Disability set the stage for responding in large numbers to an upcoming 30-day public comment period on Medicare coverage for power seat elevation and power standing systems.  CMS has committed to opening the comment period in August, almost two years after the ITEM Coalition submitted its formal request to reconsider the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment to include coverage...

WASHINGTON – The National Council on Disability (NCD) will host a virtual public roundtable on Aug. 3 at 1 p.m. EST to promote Medicare coverage of power seat elevation and standing systems, according to NCART. The two-hour roundtable will include perspectives from members of Congress, people with mobility disabilities, clinicians, researchers and others regarding the legal and policy implications of coverage. “This is a very positive development in establishing Medicare coverage for...

WASHINGTON – CMS has committed to seeking public comments on the request to reconsider the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment to include power seat elevation and power standing systems no later than August, according to NCART. This 30-day public comment period is the next step in the process. “NCART continues to collaborate with the ITEM Coalition on preparing advocates for this,” it stated in a bulletin. “A website dedicated to this issue will...

EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – NCART says it grew its membership by nearly 20% in 2021. Two of the organization’s newest members include Alpine Home Medical, a provider with 10 locations in Utah and Idaho; and Matia Robotics, a manufacturer of “innovative solutions” for individuals with disabilities. “Thank you to both organizations for adding their support to CRT advocacy work,” the organization stated in a bulletin. “We couldn’t be prouder to be working alongside...

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,...

WASHINGTON – Complex rehab stakeholders have added additional layers of pressure on CMS to improve access to power seat elevation and power standing systems.  Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Robert Casey, D-Pa., in October sent a letter to CMS asking the agency not just to take the next step but to amend the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment to include coverage of seat elevation and standing systems that are embedded in power...

WASHINGTON – Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Robert Casey, D-Pa., have sent a letter to CMS asking the agency to amend the national coverage determination for mobility assistive equipment to affirm coverage of standing and seat elevation systems embedded in power wheelchairs. “This should be followed by CMS developing necessary local coverage determinations to assess the medical necessity for such equipment on an individual basis in accordance with the NCD...

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...

In my travels and discussions with clinicians and providers I am hearing a disturbing myth that “nobody” pays for a power seat elevation system. This could not be further from the truth.E2300—“Wheelchair accessory, power seat elevation system, any type”—was added to the HCPCS code set on Jan. 1, 2004, and is listed as valid for DMERC submission. Unfortunately, Medicare policy states that a power seat elevation feature is non-covered because it is not primarily...