WASHINGTON — More than 300 complex rehab stakeholders will
muster their muscle toward getting a separate Medicare benefit for
the category during the Continuing Education and Legislative
Advocacy Conference Feb. 16-18 in Washington.
"We've got more than 200 appointments scheduled with attendees
visiting their senators and representatives," said Don Clayback,
executive director of the National Coalition for Assistive and
Rehab Technology. NCART is co-sponsoring the CELA conference with
the National Registry of Rehabilitation Suppliers.
"The message," Clayback said, "is basically sharing the story
for the need for a separate benefit for complex rehab. There are
100 new congressional men and women we need to be talking to."
This year's conference features a roster of noted speakers,
including Jean Minkel, PT, ATP, MSPT, of consulting firm Minkel
& Assoc., and Jennifer Higgins, the policy expert-in-residence
for the Washington, D.C.-based Capitol Health Group.
The focus of the event, however, will be to kick off what
organizers are calling a "marathon" effort to get complex rehab
carved out as a separate benefit. In fact, the conference is
purposely being held four months earlier than usual to take
advantage of a longer legislative session, Clayback said.
The hunt is on for congressional champions to take up the cause
and author a separate benefit bill, and "CELA is really our kickoff
for having these one-on-one discussions with the various offices
and identifying where we have some strong interest," he added.
Attendees will be outfitted with the newly revised (as of
January) proposal for creation of a separate benefit and draft
language for its legislation. The two components are vital for
members of Congress get a sense of the issue so that "we can have
some substantive discussions," Clayback said.
In addition to CELA's face-to-face visits on Capitol Hill, a
national
call-in day will be held Wednesday, Feb. 16, for those who are
unable to attend but want to campaign on behalf of the benefit.
(Register www.celaadvocacy.org.)
NCART and NRRTS have been working toward a separate benefit for
three years to distinguish the complex rehab sector from
traditional home medical equipment. "We are different," said
Clayback.
The talking points provided to conference attendees spell out
the "whys:"
- Complex rehab technology is individually configured to people
with complex disabilities. - Products and services are different than standard DME.
- Outdated DME policies and codes do not address needs of people
with disabilities. - CRT is similar to orthotics/prosthetics.
- A separate benefit category would provide needed distinction
and solutions. - Significant challenges threaten access to complex rehab
technology products and services for individuals with
disabilities. - These threats (coding, coverage, payment) will only increase
unless meaningful changes are made. - The purpose of a separate benefit category is to improve and
protect access to these products and services for these
individuals.
"We need to have some distinction, and as CMS or Congress looks
through the proposal, hopefully we can point out things we think
are pluses," Clayback said.
He acknowledges this is a tough time to be launching the drive,
considering the economic and financial difficulties the country is
facing and the health care reform boondoggle. "It certainly is a
challenging environment, but the dilemmas and the challenges that
consumers, suppliers and clinicians are facing haven't decreased.
We need to protect access and institute additional safeguards,"
Clayback said.
"While it is a challenging path," he continued, "there are some
things going on that are very concerning from an access level
… If we don't do something that is not this comprehensive, we
know things are not going to change at all."
For information about CELA, see target="_blank">www.ncart.us or target="_blank">www.nrrts.org.
