Headline News
Activity Revs Up on Separate Rehab Benefit
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Complex rehab technology does not yet belong to its own distinct category, but rehab professionals from throughout the sector are continuing their efforts to make that a reality. Building a case through deliberate steps, NCART Executive Director Don Clayback, who is coordinating the efforts of the Separate Benefit Category Steering Committee, hopes Congress will see fit to carve out a separate Medicare benefit for CRT outside of the broad category of DME.
Last week, the group released a lengthy proposal on creation of such a benefit and is currently seeking comment. The 31-page document is a follow-up to its original March 2010 discussion paper.
The group undertook the effort, Clayback said, because of the "significant challenges" that stem from increasing coding, coverage and payment problems that threaten access to CRT. During an Oct. 4 webinar to bring stakeholders up to date, he outlined the steering committee's five objectives: 1) clearer and more consistent coverage policies; 2) stronger and more enforceable supplier standards; 3) formal recognition of product-related services and costs; 4) payment stability; and 5) an improved coverage and payment system that can serve as a model for Medicaid and other payers.
In addition to a review of past activities, the full proposal (available at www.ncart.us) includes a new draft CRT Stakeholders Bill of Rights and a CRT Service Delivery Matrix along with a definition of CRT, an evaluation requirement decision tree for beneficiaries seeking wheeled mobility and an initial list of existing HCPCS codes that would be classified as CRT.
Among other changes, the proposal would:
