Over 160 Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) stakeholders from across the country came together at the 2018 National CRT Leadership and Advocacy Conference on April 25 and 26 in Arlington, Virginia. The theme of the conference was protecting access to CRT for people with disabilities who depend on it to manage their medical needs, minimize their healthcare costs, and maximize their independence. The 160 attendees represented all sectors of the CRT community. That included providers, manufacturers, consumers and consumer organizations, clinicians and clinical organizations, family and caregivers, researchers, and other advocates from a total of 36 states. The first day of the conference included a variety of panel presentations covering "The CRT Consumer's Perspective", "Health Care Policy Trends and Politics", "Challenges Facing CRT Providers", and "Industry Issues and Initiatives". The final session of the day was "Capitol Hill Preparation" which opened with comments from Larry Larsen, a California CRT advocate who runs a Hollywood production studio while simultaneously coaching champion springboard and platform divers. Lenny uses a CRT standing power wheelchair that he operates with a sip-and-puff drive control system and a ventilator. Attendees left informed and motivated. The second day of the conference, Capitol Hill Day, centered around taking the critical CRT access message directly to Members of Congress. Delegations of CRT stakeholders met with over 240 offices to educate Members on the benefits of CRT and the barriers to access. The CRT legislative message was twofold: First and foremost, there is an urgent need to cosponsor and pass the "Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology" (S. 486 and H.R. 3730). This legislation will stop Medicare from inappropriately applying Competitive Bidding Program payments to critical components of CRT manual wheelchairs. These cuts must be stopped to protect access for the people with significant disabilities who depend on these specialized manual wheelchair systems. The bills currently have 22 cosponsors in the Senate and 99 cosponsors in the House. The second request was to cosponsor and pass the "Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehab Technology Act" (H.R. 750). This bill will create a Separate Benefit Category for CRT within the Medicare program and make needed changes to improve coverage policies and safeguards. This bill currently has 103 cosponsors. Passage of the CRT legislation is supported by over 50 national consumer, disability, and medical professional organizations.
Featured Blogs
September 4, 2024
NCART Announces Executive Committee Changes
July 22, 2024
July NCART Newsletter
July 22, 2024
June NCART Newsletter
May 13, 2024
May NCART Newsletter
May 13, 2024
April NCART Newsletter
May 13, 2024
March NCART Newsletter
May 13, 2024
December NCART Newsletter
November 30, 2023
November NCART News
November 8, 2023
CMS Issues Preliminary Coding Recommendation for Power Seat Elevation
October 31, 2023
October NCART News
NCART Announces Executive Committee Changes
July NCART Newsletter
June NCART Newsletter
Revised Fee Schedule Seat Elevation from CMS
May NCART Newsletter
April NCART Newsletter
March NCART Newsletter
December NCART Newsletter
November NCART News
CMS Issues Preliminary Coding Recommendation for Power Seat Elevation
September 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
August 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015