May 1, 2019
CRT Stakeholders and Friends,
It's shaping up to be a great week for protecting access to Complex Rehab Technology (CRT).
Yesterday Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Brian Higgins (D-NY) re-introduced legislation to create a separate benefit category for CRT within the Medicare program. The bill number is H.R. 2408 and follows Monday's introduction of S. 1223 (the Complex Rehab Wheelchair bill). That makes two CRT related Congressional bills introduced in a 24 hour period and is a great sign of the continued CRT support in Congress.
A separate benefit category for CRT will allow for needed improvements in coverage policies, coding, and quality standards to better address the unique needs of people with significant disabilities and chronic medical conditions. Last session's bill garnered strong bipartisan support and finished 2018 with 116 cosponsors. Further background and other details can be found in the supporting Position Paper here.
With CRT advocates in Washington D.C. today and tomorrow for the National CRT Leadership and Advocacy Conference, this week will provide a great kick start to pursuing cosponsors for this important legislation.
We'll be updating related advocacy documents and tools to assist all CRT
stakeholders reach out to their Members of Congress in the weeks ahead.
Regards,
Don Clayback
Executive Director | NCART
dclayback@ncart.us | www.ncart.us