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| Invacare Rear Drive Powerchair |
For years, DME vendors have been given a bad name, with a
few bad companies taken advantage of the system and many times committing
fraud. CRT was born, when Medicare
created the Competitive bidding process and they didn't understand the level of
involvement with Specialty Seating and Equipment. After much work from the
Rehab industry, some specialty equipment was exempt from the competitive
program; including ultra light weight wheelchairs, tilt in space wheelchairs,
and group 3 powered wheelchairs.
Medicare, who sets precedent for Medical Equipment to all funding
sources, accepted that the skill level and expertise in providing this level
equipment was above the typical DME provider.
Since that time, NRRTS ( National Registry of Rehab
Technology Suppliers ) and NCART ( National Coalition of Assistive and Rehab
Technology ), has been lobbying Congress to further separate Complex Rehab
equipment from DME. It is understood
that there is a value for this equipment provided and that there needs to be
increased safeguards, and education from individuals providing this level of
equipment. If this industry is not
protected, and the value shown, it will disappear in the upcoming years. The average age of Rehab Technicians are late
30's, with most over 40, and few new people learning this trade.
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| Carey Britton |
With the baby boomers
aging, we will need more specialists involved;
helping match proper equipment for seating and mobility needs. A further issue causing challenge, is that
there are fewer physician and therapists specializing in this field; leaving
more pressure and expectations on the Seating and Mobility Specialists. Although the Seating and Mobility Specialist
is a critical component in the team that provides and supports these services; the
clinician is the gatekeeper, and we need
more clinicians to step up become
community leaders.
In order to ensure good outcomes, we continue to progress in
this industry with increased credentials, increased education, and increased
safeguards to protect patients. Our
industry needs to continue to educate the allied services to become more involved
in the team that is required to improve seating, function and overall
satisfaction.
This article was written by Carey Britton, Seating and
Mobility Specialist at Active Mobility Center. He can be reached for comment at
954-946-5793 or at cbritton@wheelchairguys.com .
