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06/26/2017

CRT Power Wheelchair Accessories Cuts Averted

NCART Message 6/23/2017

Late Friday, June 23, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will NOT be applying Medicare Competitive Bid Program (CBP) information to reduce payment rates for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT)  Group 3 power wheelchair accessories.  This averts significant cuts that were scheduled to go into effect July 1 and avoids drastic reductions in access to this specialized equipment. 

This is great news for people with disabilities who rely on  CRT Group 3 power wheelchairs.  Unfortunately, there was no change in payment rates for accessories used with CRT manual wheelchairs.  We will pursue relief from last year's cuts to these accessories as we continue to work with Congress and CMS to protect access. 

A copy of the CMS announcement can be found here.  CMS instructs providers to continue using the KU modifier for billing accessories furnished with CRT Group 3 power wheelchairs. There are no additional actions required for claims with dates of service on or after July 1.

Our sincere thanks to HHS Secretary Tom Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma for making this needed policy correction.  We particularly thank CRT Champions Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Representatives Lee Zeldin (R-NY) and John Larson (D-CT) for their leadership and commitment to protect people with disabilities.  Additional thanks go to the other Members of Congress, their staff, and the respective Committees' staff who worked very hard to resolve this issue.

Please take time next week to email your Members of Congress and thank them for their support.

This policy correction would never have happened without the dedication and collective advocacy work of the whole CRT community!

Sincere thanks to all the consumers, disability organizations, clinicians, providers, manufacturers, and others who worked extremely hard to produce this outcome.  It's through CRT stakeholders coming together that we are best positioned to build on this progress and continue to protect and improve access to CRT as we move ahead.

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