We Still Need your Help to Make a Change in CRT- HR 942

I am sitting here on the first day of June, thinking of how far we have come in our quest to change Complex Rehab Technology.  CRT is a relatively new term, which covers custom configured equipment including ultra light weight wheelchairs, powered mobility and seating and positioning equipment. 

It is mostly understood that, CRT is not a order and drop equipment, and requires skilled staff to help with the evaluation and assessment, the gathering and submission of paperwork to insurance funding, the ordering, assembly, delivery and fitting of this specialty equipment. 

Unfortunately our industry has not done enough to police itself and has a black eye, as it is lumped in with DME.  Every month you can see in the news DME suppliers investigated for fraud and abuse.  It is unfortunate that instead of CMS doing a better job screening their suppliers, they have placed higher and higher requirements which are negatively affecting the beneficiaries. What CMS/Medicare does, is adopted by all other insurance carriers.

I am excited to tell you at this moment we have 130 House Co-signers and 15 Senators who have Co-Signed on to this Legislation. This is a great start but we need more to make this legislation to be important enough for Congress to move on this.

None of us know if/when we may need these products and services; and there is a real concern that if things do not change, then this industry will certainly change; and possibly disappear.

A friend of mine reminded me that, Orthotics and Prosthetics went through this Journey several years ago, and it took them over a decade to be recognized and have their products/services separated from basic DME and are understood that it takes a special group of people to take care of those with special needs.

Take a moment to sign on to the petition to separate CRT. If you want to be move involved please contact me and I can put you in touch with several groups who are leading the charge to change CRT.

This Article was written by Carey Britton, ATP/SMS, CRTS for Active Mobility Center. He can be reached for comment at (954) 946-5793 or at cbritton@wheelchairguys.com.

Is a Wheelchair is a Medical Failure ?

I was appalled when I first heard that a Wheelchair is a Medical Failure. Apparently in the Medical Model, it is taught that when resorting to long term use of wheelchairs and other mobility devices, that you have given up.

It is not surprising then, that the community perspective is that a person in a wheelchair is lame, an invalid, or handicapped....all negatively describing a person's DISABILITIES. This is also why that Prosthetics are much more acceptable, even when they are not as functional.

It may come at a surprise, but mobility equipment is provided not for mobility or independence but to reduce the medical costs associated with an individual stuck in bed. It is clear that a bed bound individual will cost the Health care system more than what it costs to get them out of bed.  Cushioning and Positioning is not for the comfort of a wheelchair user, but to reduce injury, reduce skin breakdown and to reduce contracture and deformity.  We look at this equipment to increase function, independence and quality of life, but the funding sources (all based on Medicare's policy) does not.

Therapy services for individuals with long term mobility challenging conditions are limited. It seems that the Medical Model if there is not documented gain in function then therapy services are not needed. After spending over 20 years in this industry, the question should be without therapy services how much loss will occur. 

Medicare who creates Medical and Equipment Standards, approves equipment based on use within the home and has little flexibility about looking at equipment for recreation and vocation. 

In my 20+ year career, I have seen huge change.  I am concerned with the changing policies that more equipment users need to voice their challenges and their victories.  Not unlike the Women's Rights Movement, where women didn't have a voice, and where they were stuck in the home; equipment users deserve the same. 

If this article has moved you, I encourage you to look at www.usersfirst.org, or www.ncart.us and get involved, share your story, and be heard.  You can reach Carey Britton, Seating and Mobility Specialist at Active Mobility Center at 954-946-5793 or cbritton@wheelchairguys.com .

It's Time to Advocate for the Future Access of Complex Rehab Equipment

Demand your Rights, Get out and Live !

For years, the DME (Durable Medical Equipment) and HME industries have given away too much in the attempt to best service our customers.  Our industry is comprised of caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of patient's we serve. What drives us is that we know at the end of each day, we made an impact, and improved the lives of the people we touched.

The DME and HME industries were created to help reduce the costs of Health Care. Research shows that getting a patient home from the hospital they heal and recover faster. Having a system where equipment and services are provided to the home reduces costly Hospital and Nursing Home Care. The DME industry is 1% of the Healthcare Budget, and saves a lot of money.

In the past few years, the pressures of insurance reductions, fraud and abuse, and increasing equipment costs have affective the way we conduct our service delivery.  What started out as a noble profession of helping, has become a business of becoming efficient.

Caring for our customers, we created networks and groups to lobby the state and federal governments trying to avoid further reduction in access to wheelchairs, scooters, powered wheelchairs, standers, gait trainers and seating and mobility equipment.

What happens at CMS/Medicare is adopted by all other insurance carriers; so those who don't care what happens with Medicare are fooling themselves. Many of our customers cannot speak, many fear that if they complain and lobby that they could lose more than they already have, and others don't know how. Many providers have continued to give away services and equipment and now are no longer able to.  We have failed to educate our customers, and now we are caught in an insurance system who isn't paying and customer's who are angry that they can't get what they used to.

Suppliers and Manufacturer's have commited time and resources to this battle; however since these groups profit from the provision of this equipment their voices are not heard as loudly as when it comes from the customers and beneficiaries of these insurances. Beneficaries will need to Advocate or Accept reduced access to quality equipment and services.

In the past few years, Medicare has instituted competitive bidding, where they forced providers to issue their lowest bid in order to stay in business. The first round of bidding caused hundreds of companies to go under, and 33% of the winning bidders closed within the first year.  This program is being launched nationwide this year, and will certainly cause havock on beneficaries.  As you may have seen the Scooter Store was raided and closed (for now), and all of their customers are stranded. Since they were investigated for fraud, providers are concerned. If a provider repairs and submits a claim for one of these customers, and that customer's paperwork is investigated and found that the Scooter Store did not complete their paperwork properly, that the funds for the chair and all services can be recooped by Medicare.

CMS/Medicare in the past two years had created a system where private companies are auditing providers in hopes to find missing or incomplete documentation so they can recoop money back to Medicare. These companies (bounty hunters) receive money based on this recoopment.  Generally these recoopments are not because the customer/beneficiary didn't need the equimpent, not because they didn't get the equipment; but because their was a T-not crossed or an I not dotted.

Major insurance companies are following Medicare's programs, and it is affecting everyone needing durable medical equipment (DME).  Many DME companies have stopped accepting Medicare as a payment sources as the risk of audits are too great.

There is still time to improve access to this life enhancing equipment.  There are several groups looking for your and your voice to send a message that will affect the future of Medical Equipiment. I encourage you to research these groups and commit to sending emails and making calls to help reduce the future pressure. We cannot afford to lose more companies with the baby boomer population retiring and who will need access to these services. With the pressures from Insurance, the risks are too great for any new companies to invest in the infrastructure of a company to provide these services.

Important Pending Legislation

HR-942- House Bill to Separate Complex Rehab Technlogy Equipmentt from DME, an important step in ensuring Access
S-948- Senate companion bill to separate Compex Rehab from DME

HR-1717- Bill to Stop Competitive Bidding


Get involved:
NRRTS- National Registry of Rehab Technlogy Suppliers
NCART- National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technlogy
USREHAB- a Division of VGM
Users First- Voice of Consumers using Equipment

Any questions or comments can be directed to Carey Britton with Active Mobility Center, located in Pompano Beach, Florida.