Monday, June 26, 2017

CMS Announces Long-Term Relief on CRT Accessories

Policy Change Marks an Important Win for CRT Providers and Patients Who Depend on Highly Specialized Mobility Products

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that accessories for group 3 power Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) mobility products will continue to remain exempt from the application of competitive bidding derived pricing for Medicare beneficiaries.  Congress has twice passed legislation delaying the application of bidding derived pricing, including a six-month delay as part of last December’s CURES bill that was set to expire on June 30.  This policy change, announced here by CMS, essentially extends the CURES provisions indefinitely.  From CMS’ announcement:

CMS is issuing a new policy on how adjustments to the fee schedule based on information from competitive bidding programs apply to wheelchair accessories and back and seat cushions used with group 3 complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs.  Section 16005 of the 21st Century Cures Act currently allows higher payments for these items but is set to expire after June 30, 2017. By continuing these higher payments, this new action will help to protect access to complex rehabilitative power wheelchair accessories on which people with significant disabilities depend.

The full release and AAHomecare president Tom Ryan's remarks on this issue can be found in the Association's press release.

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