NCART Comments on Wheelchair Policy

Washington

According to NCART, the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology, the only way for CMS to adequately control abuse and ensure appropriate reimbursement while maintaining beneficiary access to the most appropriate technology is to adopt a “holistic approach” when developing coverage policy for wheelchairs.

In comments submitted to the Interagency Wheelchair Work Group, the organization listed a number of building blocks for the development of coverage guidelines. These include: requiring a physical evaluation by appropriate personnel; using functional mobility levels similar to the functional levels used by Medicare in determining the needs of patients with lower extremity amputations; developing HCPCS codes that adequately describe the various levels of technology and are aligned with functional mobility; using clinical indicators when developing HCPCS codes; using the CMN (certificate of medical necessity) to document the ICD-9 code, functional mobility level and the HCPCS code; requiring a technology assessment for beneficiaries in need of high-technology rehab products; and maintaining in the supplier’s records a copy of the physical evaluation and technology assessment for high-end rehab products.

A coalition focusing on rehab issues, NCART held its first Medicaid Summit June 9 to address what rehab companies can do at the state level to improve their current Medicaid program. A second Medicaid Summit is scheduled for Aug. 8 in St. Louis. For more information, visit www.ncart.us.

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