As we finish the month of February, the prospect of July 1 Medicare payment cuts to CRT Manual Wheelchair accessories is becoming a potential threat.

We are continuing the dialogue with CMS as to the need to “make permanent” the Congressionally mandated 18-month suspension of applying inappropriate Medicare Competitive Bid Program payment rates to these specialized items. NCART and other CRT industry stakeholders have provided analysis and recommendations to CMS as to the pathway to implement a permanent policy change, but CMS has not come to a conclusion yet.

Unfortunately, this is complicated by the change in Administration and the fact that a new Secretary of Health and Human Services and a new CMS Administrator have not yet been seated. Once the new Secretary and Administrator are in place, we will be emphasizing the need for quick action and engaging our Congressional champions to reinforce that request.

The clinician subgroup of the CRT Remote Services Consortium has been working diligently for months to develop a document that offers guidance to clinicians considering telehealth for clients using CRT. The “Clinician’s Guide to Use of Telehealth for CRT Service Provision” was published in February and offers information on determining when telehealth is an appropriate option for CRT, preparing for telehealth visits, case studies, and other considerations for those exploring telehealth options. Special thanks go to the Clinician Task Force for their leadership and development of this document and to others who provided input. The Guide can be downloaded by clicking the button below.

On Capitol Hill, Congress continues to consider legislative language that would make telehealth options permanent beyond the Public Health Emergency. NCART and other CRT stakeholders are meeting with Congressional staff to discuss the benefits for individuals using CRT and are requesting that any bills include Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists as approved telehealth practitioners. For more details and to email your Members of Congress to support this request visit www.protectmymobility.org.

As Governors share their state Budget proposals, NCART continues to monitor possible rate reductions for CRT suppliers. To strengthen these efforts, we have developed a “No Cuts to CRT” tool kit to provide guidance when communicating with state legislatures and health departments. The tool kit includes a position paper with key CRT talking points, infographics with state Medicaid information, a summary of the CRT delivery process, and other information supporting the need to protect CRT from rate reductions that would reduce access. For more details or to request the tool kit for work in your state, email Mickae Lee by clicking the button below.

Time flies and the first quarter of 2021 is already coming to a close. Don’t miss out on your chance to get important updates on CRT initiatives and resources. Register for the next CRT Industry Webinar, scheduled for March 16 at 4:00 PM ET, by clicking the button below. To listen to recordings of previous webinars, visit www.ncart.us.

NCART continues its work on state-level issues that impact access to CRT. If you are currently dealing with a CRT issue that we can help with, please send us an email using the button below. Here are the highlights from our February work:

NCART is growing again, adding CRT supplier Mobility First to the membership roster. Located in Independence, Missouri, Mobility First has been faithfully offering mobility solutions to their community since 1997. We’re excited to have the Mobility First team on board and look forward to their input and engagement in our CRT advocacy work.

If your company supplies or manufactures Complex Rehab Technology, now is the time to join NCART. As the national CRT advocacy organization, our work is focused on ensuring that policies and reimbursement support appropriate access to CRT for the community that depends on it. For more information on how to become a member, click the button below.

We're happy to share that we are in the process of upgrading NCART's websites, www.ncart.us and www.access2CRT.org.

The two redesigned websites will offer fresh features to provide education and advocacy information for advocates involved in protecting CRT access. New tools and updated resources will be available to support CRT advocacy work.

Be on the lookout for the final "reveal" soon!

NCART welcomes opportunities to support the CRT community by participating in events that promote education and advocacy. Here are some of the upcoming events we're proud to be a part of:

Anyone who has attended an Abilities Expo knows that the events are packed with tools, resources, new technology, and support for the disability community. Their next event on March 26-27 is not only completely virtual, it's also completely free! Learn more and get registered by visiting www.abilities.com. NCART will be exhibiting and Executive Director, Don Clayback, will be part of a live interview with Abilities staff on March 27!