One More Reason to be Angry with Medicare !!

If you are a user of DME and Mobility Equipment, here's another reason for you to be upset !It's official, Medicare has reclassified Tilt in Space manual wheelchairs, powered assist wheels, and pediatric wheelchairs as capped rentals.  This was released late on Friday....Happy Thanksgiving?

This will, if implemented, certainly affect access and the quality of equipment provided to people with significant special needs. 

Tilt in Space Wheelchairs- many of you know that tilt in space wheelchairs, are specialty wheelchairs, that require a face to face visit, a specialty evaluation from a therapist and an ATP to be involved. These tilt in space wheelchairs involve specialty seating and positioning equipment and require a high level of technical experience from the equipment supplier to ensure the most appropriate equipment is provided.

The costs associated with having ATPs and Technicians to provide and support for this equipment have now tipped the scales.  Tilt in space wheelchairs are near $3000, with all the documentation, and expenses required to provide this equipment, suppliers will now be forced to accept ~ $250/month.  How many equipment suppliers can wait 7-9 months to recoop their investments on wheelchairs that are custom ordered and fitted to a individual?

Most specialty providers have already been excluded out of  much of the DME program (Durable Medical Equipment), where the new round of competitive bidding recently gave access to all standard wheelchairs to winning bidders.  This was a huge blow, as the winning bidders of this equipment do not (in most cases) have ATP certified technicians, leaving these companies to determine which wheelchair is right for which person. In the past month, we have already heard nightmares about people receiving inappropriate equipment, which is negatively affecting lives and function.  Tilt in Space wheelchairs in the rental market will cause suppliers to rent used equipment, or inferior equipment to fit an allowable and not the person.

Powered Assist Wheels- are a low utilized technology allowing powered assist wheels to be added to a manual wheelchair when a user has difficulty propelling a manual wheelchair. These powered options are near $5,000.00, suppliers will likely not be able to afford providing and waiting nearly a year to recoop their capital investment.

Pediatric Wheelchairs- are generally not covered under Medicare with few exceptions. Any individuals who fall into this area may lose access entirely.

I encourage you to watch this development closely and speak out before it is too late.  Medicare has already ruined much of DME program. What happens with Medicare becomes standard with private insurance and medicaid. Babyboomers should be very scared, as they are watching services disappear.

With Medicare's war on DME, it is curious to see what is left in 2014.  There are less than 50% of the quantity of providers of this equipment only 2 years ago.  This new round of bidding that goes into affect January 1st will likely reduce the number of providers again by 40-50%.  Choice of equipment and choice of a provider are rapidly ending as providers who have the knowledge, experience, and infrastructure are not able to compete.

This article was provided by Carey Britton, Seating and Mobility Specialist for Active Mobility Center. He can be reached at 954-946-5793 or cbritton@wheelchairguys.com.