Alexandria, Va.

In its ongoing effort to clarify and expand Medicare's and Medicaid's coding system for rehab and assistive technology products, AAHomecare's Re/hab and Assistive Technology Council Coding Task Force last month submitted more than 20 code applications to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The task force, which consists of rehab suppliers and manufacturers, has worked for more than two years to develop consensus proposals for codes in the categories of alternative positioning, ambulatory products, bath safety, configured seating, manual wheelchairs and wheelchair accessories.

Its mission —” to identify coding deficiencies in the current Medicare [HCFA Common Procedure Coding System] with respect to rehab products” — is critical in light of upcoming regulatory deadlines, AAHomecare said. “All private and public payers must use national HCPCS codes, instead of their own local codes, once the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act goes into effect in October 2003,” the association explained.

At CMS' request, the task force will attend a June HCPCS coding meeting to answer questions regarding code applications, AAHomecare said. The association expects CMS to make final coding decisions in November 2003.

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