Signature Push is Underway for Seat Elevation Letter
NCART and ITEM Coalition work with lawmakers to introduce House sign-on letter urging CMS to fund seat elevation and standing systems for CRT patients. The deadline for signatures is Oct. 1.
Reps. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Don Young (R-Alaska) have introduced a sign-on letter into the House of Representatives that urges CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to advance coverage policy for power seat elevation and power standing systems in complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) wheelchairs.
The letter, which can be downloaded as a PDF, was the result of work by the National Coalition of Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) and the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition.
NCART noted formal request was submitted to CMS in September 2020 to establish Medicare coverage and was officially “deemed complete” in November 2020. However, CMS’ review of the coverage request has not formally progressed since that time.
The letter is part of an effort to encourage CMS to move the coverage request forward. The key is for providers and CRT stakeholders to encourage their lawmakers to add their signatures. The deadline is Oct. 1.
“Your help is needed,” NCART Executive Director Don Clayback emphasized. “We need your Representative to contact Reps. Langevin’s or Young’s office to add their name to the letter to CMS. The details are explained in the Dear Colleague letter.”
CRT stakeholders reach their lawmakers can use the email link at www.protectmymobility.org to ask their Representative to add their name to the bipartisan letter and support CMS moving forward to the next step in their review of the coverage request. Again, the deadline is Oct. 1.
A Senate companion is expected to debut soon in the upper chamber, as well, according to NCART.