WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2019)—Provisions permanently excluding manual complex rehab technology (CRT) wheelchairs from the competitive bidding program have been included in FY 2020 appropriations legislation. The legislation also exempts CRT manual accessories from bidding-derived pricing for an 18-month period, starting Jan. 1, 2020. The CRT provisions are part of a package covering funding for the HHS, FDA, HUD, Education, Energy, Interior, State, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs Departments, as well as for the Legislative Branch.
The CRT-related language can be seen here and can also be found in the complete draft of the appropriations package (see Section 106 on page 1432). The provisions cover manual CRT wheelchairs identified by HCPCS codes E1235, E1236, E1237, E1238, and K0008, as well as accessories associated with those chairs.
"This legislation ensures patient access and choice for the full range of CRT wheelchairs going forward, and also gives suppliers an important measure of relief on reimbursement for manual CRT accessories while we advocate for a longer-term legislative or regulatory fix," saidTom Ryan, AAHomecare president and CEO.
"HME and mobility stakeholders who helped build support for protecting access to CRT going back to bills in the last Congressional session deserve credit and thanks for making this happen," added Ryan. “Your persistence has paid off with another step forward in protecting access to these critically needed CRT products."
While nothing is certain until the legislation is passed and signed by President Trump, the bill is expected to move quickly. The House passed the measure on Tuesday, Dec. 17, and Senate vote is expected later in the week.
