AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Congress recommends principles for Medicare coverage of power wheelchairs.
2004 DEC 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Congress is urging the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a more "functional" standard for determining Medicare eligibility for power wheelchairs and to ensure that the government's coverage policy is not keeping people from getting the mobility they need.
Language included in the Omnibus Fiscal 2005 Appropriations Bill Conference Report is a major victory for advocates for senior citizens and Americans with disabilities, as well as clinicians, their patients and power wheelchair manufacturers and suppliers. Representative Don Sherwood (R-PA) inserted language into the House bill and Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) worked to ensure similar language was included in the final version of the bill which was recently passed by Congress.
"The Congress is telling CMS that the country needs a coverage policy for power wheelchairs that provides this equipment to the people who need it," said Scott Meuser, CEO of Pride Mobility Products Corp. "Over the past year, Congress has heard from clinicians and advocates for people with disabilities that the current policy is restricting access to mobility equipment, rather than allowing it to be used to allow citizens across the country to increase their independence and mobility. Now, Congress seems to be sending a direct message to CMS: 'Please fix this.'"
While the language in the Appropriations Bill Conference Report doesn't have any direct authority over how CMS operates, the lawmakers generally expect the spirit of their directives to be followed by government agencies, or Cabinet secretaries and their deputies can expect stern questioning when their budgets are up for approval by Congress.
The coverage guidelines have been an issue since last December when a policy shift limited the Medicare benefit for power wheelchairs to people who could not take a single step in their home. People ...
- Congress recommends principles for Medicare coverage of power wheelchairs.
- Newspaper article from: Biotech Week December 29, 2004 700+ words
...recently passed by Congress. "The Congress is telling CMS that...coverage policy for power wheelchairs that provides this...consumers may suffer. "Congress recognizes that...suppliers provide power wheelchairs to people who meet...
- New Coalition Launches Campaign to Rescind Medicare Restrictions on Power...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire January 30, 2004 700+ words
...patients requiring power wheelchairs. Together national...the White House, Congress and the Department...could lose access to power wheelchairs, which can significantly...AAPD). "Without power wheelchairs, many beneficiaries...
- Court Ruling Helps Patients in Need to Gain Access to Power Wheelchairs;...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire July 7, 2004 700+ words
...with the supplier, the Court held that Congress, not CMS, sets the criteria and documentation...physician. As the Court wrote: Given that Congress designated the vehicle by which suppliers...misconduct, it seems implausible that Congress would allow suppliers to obtain and keep...
- Court ruling helps patients gain access to power wheelchairs.
- Newspaper article from: Biotech Week August 4, 2004 700+ words
...Human Services for denial of Medicare claims for motorized wheelchairs. In siding with the supplier, the Court held that Congress, not CMS, sets the criteria and documentation necessary to demonstrate Medicare eligibility for DME items. Further, CMS...
- GRASSLEY REVVED UP OVER WASTEFUL MEDICARE SPENDING ON POWER WHEELCHAIRS
- Transcript from: Capitol Hill Press Releases September 2, 2009 700+ words
...Over Wasteful Medicare Spending on Power Wheelchairs September 2, 2009 WASHINGTON-Senator...average paid by suppliers for standard power wheelchairs in the first half of 2007. The report...of 2007. A copy of the report, "Power Wheelchairs in the Medicare Program: Supplier...
- Funding power wheelchairs.
- Magazine article from: The Exceptional Parent Epstein, Richard October 1, 1994 700+ words
...services or equipment, including power wheelchairs--sometimes listed as "durable...master contract" . If no exclusion of power wheelchairs is listed, you need only to demonstrate...insurance companies require that power wheelchairs meet certain specifications before...
- SEN. GRASSLEY REVVED UP OVER WASTEFUL MEDICARE SPENDING ON POWER WHEELCHAIRS
- News wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News September 3, 2009 700+ words
...average paid by suppliers for standard power wheelchairs in the first half of 2007. The report...of 2007. A copy of the report, "Power Wheelchairs in the Medicare Program: Supplier...money and is still overpaying for power wheelchairs," Grassley said. "It looks to...
- CMS and industry find common ground on power wheelchairs.
- Newspaper article from: Medical Device Daily April 30, 2004 700+ words
...and industry find common ground on power wheelchairs By CHRISTOPHER DELPORTE Medical Device...McClellan, MD, Medicare spending for power wheelchairs and scooters has risen to more than...CMS, the technology and market for power wheelchairs have changed substantially since...
