Seat Elevation Signature Push Continues

NCART reminds mobility stakeholders and providers that they have until Sept. 14 to submit public comments urging CMS to reimburse power seat elevation systems for power wheelchairs.

• By David Kopf
• Sep 01, 2022

The National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) reminded mobility stakeholders to submit their public comments regarding Medicare funding for seat elevation systems used with Group 3 power wheelchairs.

On Aug. 15, CMS opened reconsideration of the Medicare National Coverage Determination (NCD) for seat elevation systems used with Group 3 power wheelchairs. As part of that process, CMS opened a 30-day public comment period.

“We have been anxiously awaiting this public comment period and need to encourage submitted comments from across the CRT Community by the Sept. 14 deadline,” a statement from NCART read. “… Now is the time for all CRT advocates to submit their comments supporting the request for Medicare coverage.”

The deadline to submit is Sept. 14, and advocates can submit their comments on CMS’s site in reference to CAG-00461N.

There are resources available to help CRT stakeholders prepare and submit their comments:

The American Association for Homecare has built a Seat Elevation/Standing Systems NCD Reconsideration Central web page for messaging and resources.

The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition has created Rise4Access.org to help mobility device users and the public advocate for coverage of the systems. Providers are encouraged to share the webpage with patients, clinicians, and other contacts to drive a strong response on this issue.

Notably, the NCD reconsideration is limited to seat elevation and does not include power standing systems. CMS stated it had decided to delay that review until a later date.

“We are very disappointed with this delay and are actively working with the ITEM Coalition and our Congressional supporters to push CMS to open the public comment period for this technology as soon as possible so that review can continue,” NCART noted in its statement.