Choices for Increased Mobility Act Passes House of Representatives

WASHINGTON—The Choices for Increased Mobility Act (HR 1703), passed the United States House of Representatives by voice vote, advancing the legislation to the Senate.

“This is an important milestone and brings this legislation one step closer to becoming law,” said Tom Ryan, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare). “For more than six years, AAHomecare, VGM, NCART, CRT stakeholders and patient advocacy partners have worked tirelessly to advance this legislation. We’re grateful to everyone across the industry who has shared their stories, contacted lawmakers and continued to advocate for better access to mobility technology. That persistent advocacy has made today’s progress possible, and we encourage members to keep the pressure on during the August recess so the Senate can act quickly when Congress returns in September.”

The legislation would allow Medicare beneficiaries to access manual wheelchairs constructed with carbon fiber and titanium materials. The bill is budget neutral and widely supported by the durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics supplies industry and patient advocacy organizations, including the ITEM Coalition.

Introduced by Rep. John Joyce, HR 1703 passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in May. Since then, the legislation has gained additional support and continued momentum on Capitol Hill.

“Today’s House passage reflects years of collaboration and commitment from mobility manufacturers, suppliers, and consumer groups,” said Jay Witter, sr. vice president of public policy at AAHomecare. “This bill has hundreds of finger prints on it from those who worked on the legislation over the years. We are especially grateful to our members and advocacy partners who answered every call to action and to our lobbyists for their continued conversations to elevate this legislation on Capitol Hill. We look forward to continuing this effort as the bill advances in the Senate.”