Mobility

TAMPA, Florida—With Thanksgiving approaching, Vela Chairs, a company that makes assistive devices and chairs to help individuals live independently at home, is offering tips for making your Thanksgiving celebration comfortable and inclusive for guests with mobility issues. The company said more than 10% of Americans over the age of 18 may be navigating the holiday season with mobility challenges.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee—U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Choices for Increased Mobility Act (S 5154) to increase access to wheelchairs made with advanced materials by allowing Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to lighter, more functional wheelchairs without bearing the entire upfront cost.

LAS VEGAS—ATLAS Technologies, a software company for rehabilitation mobility providers, named Bret Tracy as its new executive vice president (EVP) of operations. Tracy has been in the complex rehab technology (CRT) and durable medical equipment (DME) fields for more than 24 years. 

WASHINGTON—Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation that would improve access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries. The new bill, S 5154, would create two new HCPCS codes for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) manual wheelchairs and allow for an upgrade within a code.

HOPKINSVILLE, Kentucky—EZ-ACCESS, a provider of mobility and accessibility solutions, announced another step in its partnership with PBR (Professional Bull Riders) that commits to inclusivity and accessibility for everyone.

DURYEA, Pennsylvania—Pride Mobility, a provider of mobility products, officially launched the Go Go Carbon, a mobility scooter that offers users portability, a modern look and a lightweight solution. 

Weighing in at 35 pounds without its lithium battery, the Go Go Carbon folds down into a compact bundle in seconds and with a few simple steps, Pride said. Once folded, it can be towed like luggage, and due to its compact size, it fits into car trunks and other tight spaces.

ROCHESTER, New York—The National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) has announced that Mickae Lee of Permobil and Larry Jackson of Sunrise Medical have joined the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors as president and treasurer respectively. In addition, John Miller of Miller’s Rental and Sales and Michael Barner of the University of Michigan have completed their terms on the Executive Committee but will remain on the board.

CGS shared guidance on billing wheelchair electronics to DME MAC Jurisdiction B and Jurisdiction C pages. Power Wheelchair Electronics Clarification, published on May 30, is a step in the right direction of providing clear coverage guidelines for Medicare, the American Association for Homecare said.

OLD FORGE, Pennsylvania—Golden Technologies announced it has been awarded its fourth consecutive, five-year contract since 2003 by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to supply mobility products. Golden provides power scooters across the VA nationwide to enhance the quality of life for veterans and allow them freedom of movement and independence.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee—National Seating & Mobility (NSM), a provider of complex rehabilitation technology, mobility and accessibility solutions in North America, announced the appointment of Teresa “Terri” Kline to the NSM Board of Directors.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire—Mobius Mobility announced the launch of Medicare coverage for the innovative iBOT PMD, a multi-modal power wheelchair in which users can traverse a wide variety of terrain and add on the ability to climb stairs and operate at eye level.

Now, eligible users with Medicare insurance can purchase an iBOT PMD with reimbursement support. The company can now begin to process Medicare insurance claims for iBOT PMDs.

DURYEA, Pennsylvania—Pride Mobility launched its latest product, the Go Go Elite Traveller 2 4-Wheel on Monday, April 1. This first-of-its-kind addition to the Go Go series of scooters will set a new industry standard upon launch and boast the tightest turning radius of any 4-wheel mobility scooter on the market Pride said. 

On Friday, March 8 the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) announced it will launch a new newsletter theme along with additional news on how it plans to improve communication. The newsletter will move from the end to the beginning of the month. It will also send out a bi-weekly update, scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 20. 

NCART also said it added a new marketing resource, Barry Steelman. 

DURYEA, Pennsylvania—Following a months-long nationwide search, Pride Mobility welcomed two new members to its diverse team of brand advocates.

Chris Carrino and Brooke Slick have been named winners of the Pride Roll Model contest and will represent the company as Pride Roll Models. The contest attracted nearly 100 applicants from across the United States.

WATERLOO, Iowa— U.S. Rehab is excited to announce key leadership updates. Tyler Mahncke will now serve as president following the retirement of Greg Packer, and Ted Metcalf will serve as director of business development, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee—National Seating & Mobility (NSM), a North American provider of comprehensive mobility solutions, has named Crispin Teufel as chief executive officer (CEO). Chuck Bodner, who had been serving as interim CEO, will continue in his role as chief financial officer (CFO).

Following a nationwide search, Quantum Rehab said it is proud to welcome two new members to its team of brand ambassadors.

Elizabeth McCormick and Keith Russell have been named winners of the Q Roll Model contest and will be Quantum’s next Q Roll Models. The contest was active for two months and received nearly 100 entries from across the United States.

Each winner will receive a three-month paid Q Roll Model agreement and a new Quantum powerchair.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Permobil announced the successful acquisition of PDG Mobility, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The acquisition adds expertise and a range of tilt-in-space products to Permobil’s portfolio of complex rehabilitation solutions. Permobil said PDG is known for products with high durability, unique and improved functionality and attractive design, as well as customer support.