03/27/2015

URGENT: Ask Your Members of Congress to Sign the Letter to Protect CRT

Deadline Extended to 5 p.m. on Wed., April 15

In December, CMS issued a Frequently Asked Question document in which they said they intended to apply competitive bid pricing to complex rehab technology (CRT) beginning in 2016. This goes against the mandate in MIPPA (2008) that exempted CRT accessories from the Medicare bidding program.

In response to the FAQ, Representatives Bill Johnson (R-OH), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), John Larson (D-CT), and Devin Nunes (R-CA) wrote a bipartisan House sign-on letter telling CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt to maintain the current payment policy and prevent the application of competitive bid rates to complex rehab wheelchairs accessories. Without action from Congress to stop these drastic cuts of 20% to 50%, people with significant disabilities or other medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries will not be able to get the specialized equipment they need.

Please ask your representatives to sign the letter, and also please circulate this email to your members and encourage them to reach out to their representatives.  Given the seriousness of this issue and the need to allow adequate time for House offices to sign on to the letter, the six House authors are extending the deadline for additional signatures to 5:00 PM on April 15^th. 

As of 3/27/15, four Ohio Congressional legislators have signed on to the letter:  Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Dave Joyce and Rep. Pat Tiberi. 

Click here to send your letter or visit action.aahomecare.org/