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NCART Upcoming Webinar!

NCART will host a webinar for the CRT industry titled “What to Expect in 2025 to Help Protect and Grow the CRT Industry.” NCART has a very aggressive strategic plan to help our members and the CRT industry grow and prosper in 2025. We are finalizing the details but will send out the invitation shortly. 2025 will be a pivotal year for CRT, and NCART wants to share how we will create a positive business environment for our members.

Keep following for more details!

Regulatory Update

New and Revised HCPCS Codes Coming April 1, 2025

CMS accepted some, but not all NCART's recommendations in response to their preliminary decision on the PDAC’s code application to revise the E1028 HCPCS code and establish 3 new codes to describe manual swing-away, retractable, or removable mounting hardware used in conjunction with medically necessary wheelchair accessories.

In its application the PDAC stated, “The mounting hardware allows the correct placement of the accessories to support the individual, access controls and/or move accessories out of the way when getting in and out of the wheelchair. An individual will often need multiple accessories to be mounted, and this will require multiple billings of E1028, each needing a narrative description to identify the type of accessory being mounted. Creation of the new codes will help with multiple billings of E1028, and the need to review the narrative description, manual tracking of the rental months, and correction when Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE) are applied.” NCART agreed completely with the programmatic need for this change, but requested CMS consider several edits to more accurately describe the components associated with the hardware. CMS accepted our submitted description for the E1032 code, recognized the use of this type of hardware with other wheelchair accessories (i.e., lateral thigh and knee supports, medial thigh supports, etc.) but did not add our requested code EXXX4 as these components fall under the description of “other” in the new E1028 HCPCS code. The new codes and descriptions are as follows:

E1028 – Wheelchair accessory, manual swing-away, retractable or removable mounting hardware, other

E1032 – Wheelchair accessory, manual swing-away, retractable or removable mounting hardware used with joystick or other drive control interface

E1033 – Wheelchair accessory, manual swing-away, retractable or removable mounting hardware for headrest, cushioned, any type

E1034 – Wheelchair accessory, manual swing-away, retractable or removable mounting hardware for lateral trunk or hip support, any type

E1028 is in the capped rental pricing category, has an established reimbursement rate and may be purchased in the first month when used on a CRT wheelchair. NCART submitted comments recommending the reimbursement rate for the new codes be mapped to the E1028 code, recognize and implement the KU modifier for the new codes, and permit the purchase option in alignment with the E1028 code. CMS acknowledged the fee schedules for the new codes will be mapped to the E1028 HCPCS codes by state. In addition, the KU modifier will be recognized as will the purchase option.

Goodbye To A CRT Industry Veteran

NCART wants to salute a great friend of NCART and someone who helped the CRT industry over the past 30 years. Jackie Semrad of Reliable Medical is retiring. Jackie has always been the first to participate in NCART committees and take a leadership role in the regulatory and payer relations committee. Wayne Grau, executive director of NCART, said, “I started lobbying with Jackie during the competitive bidding years, and she continued to be engaged either with MAMES, AAHomecare, and NCART. She truly believes in the value of CRT and how it can change people’s lives.” We will miss her laughter and spirit but wish her the best as she will spend more time with her family and friends. Thank you, Jackie.

Advocacy Quotes

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” –Christopher Reeve

NCART is the only national organization dedicating every effort and resource entirely to representing suppliers and manufacturers of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) products. NCART is strictly focused on working with policymakers, legislators, and others to establish and maintain appropriate coverage and funding to protect and improve CRT access.

If your company provides or manufactures CRT, help us fight the negative trends in coverage and payment that continue to mount by becoming an NCART member. Your support will enable us to continue to advocate aggressively as we work to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to the specialized equipment and services you provide.

You can easily and securely submit your application online by clicking the button below. For additional information or questions, please contact Wayne Grau, Executive Director, at wgrau@ncart.us or 570-902-9878.

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