CRT Bill Introduced in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Another piece of a meticulous complex rehab puzzle fell into place last week with the introduction of S 948, a Senate companion to House Bill HR 942. more »

PMD Demo Reveals Roughly 50% of Prior Approvals Rejected
WASHINGTON, DC - Data collected since CMS began its demo for prior authorization of power mobility devices (PMDs) show that “roughly 50%” of beneficiaries have not been approved based on the documentation submitted. more »

AAHomecare Pushes Power Mobility Issues on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, DC –
Meticulous preparation by complex rehab advocates will likely pay off next week when Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is expected to introduce a Senate companion bill to H.R. 942. more »

Nordic Capital Sells Permobil
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Power wheelchair maker Permobil has a new owner. Eight years after Nordic Capital purchased the company, Swedish investment firm Investor AB will reportedly buy Permobil. more »

New York Auto Show Pays Attention to Accessibility
NEW YORK - The NV200 Mobility Taxi features a rear ramp, and an industry-first integrated restraint system that provides safe and quick securing of wheelchairs. more »

Federal Agents Raid The Scooter Store
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX - Doctors and former employees told CBS that the company “would harass physicians with non-stop phone calls and offices drop-ins in order to wear them down.” more »

Wheel:Life Launches as New Social Community for Wheelchair Users

ALPHARETTA, GA - Wheel:Life is a global initiative that assists people in addressing the challenges that come with using a wheelchair, allowing them to develop a network of friends along the way. more »

“Made in USA” Initiative Expands at GF Health Products
ATLANTA - GF Health Products Inc (Graham-Field®) has been awarded the exclusive licensing agreement for the manufacture of Simmons™ therapeutic support surfaces. more »

European Investment Firm to Acquire Sunrise Medical
MALSCH, GERMANY - Global mobility manufacturer Sunrise Medical has entered into an agreement to sell its global mobility and seating business to Equistone Partners Europe. more »

Lack of Clinical Template Clarity Muddies Mobility Waters
WASHINGTON, DC - CMS’ agreement to allow use of clinical templates prior to its massive prior authorization demonstration initially buoyed hopes at AAHomecare, but doubts persist. more »

Mobility Manufacturers and Providers Continue to Embrace Medtrade
ATLANTA - “Our competitors are there," says Mike Wahrmund, director of marketing, Power Mobility Division, Drive Medical Inc. "We want to see what they are doing, and we want to be seen." more »

No Rest for CRT
- Don Clayback
BUFFALO, NY - Our task is to get every member of Congress educated on CRT. If they are in the House, we need them signed on to HR 4378. If they are in the Senate, we need them to help get a “companion bill” introduced. more »

HR 4378: “One Conversation at a Time”
WASHINGTON, DC - The bill to create a separate benefit category for complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) is up to 23 co-sponsors. more »

The SCOOTER Store Names New CEO
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX - The SCOOTER Store tapped Martin (Marty) J. Landon as the company’s new CEO, replacing Board member J. Randall Bishop. more »

PVI and Comfort Company form Partnership
FAIRBURY, NE - The Comfort Company has partnered with Prairie View Industries (PVI) in a move that officials say will maximize product offerings nationwide. more »

“More Denials" Without Proper Template
WASHINGTON, DC - AAHomecare officials maintain that the Medicare prior authorization program for power wheelchairs could hit a snag without a proper template. more »

The “Little Couple” Visits Permobil
LEBANON, TENN - Viewers of “The Little Couple” TV show got a glimpse of complex rehab equipment last week when the stars visited Tennessee-based Permobil Inc. more »

HR-4378 Text Now Available
BUFFALO, NY - Clayback: “Once this legislation is passed...improvements will flow to Medicaid and other payers." more »

HR 4378: Crowley Comes Through
BUFFALO, NY - Six months after meeting with complex rehab technology (CRT) advocates, Rep Joe Crowley (D-NY) made good on his promises by introducing HR 4378 last week. more »

Scooter Store CEO Resigns
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX - The Scooter Store founder, chairman, and CEO Doug Harrison has resigned, effective immediately. more »

New ADA Regs Take Effect in March
WASHINGTON, DC - The latest ADA provision requires property owners to meet expanded regulations for renovation and/or construction projects. more »

Vehicle Conversions: Another Acquisition Down South
MOBILE, AL - New acquisition establishes HASCO in the burgeoning business of modifying wheelchair vans for people with disabilities. more »

First Factory-Made Accessible Van to Make Debut
MILWAUKEE - One independent vehicle manufacturer has finally caught up to the accessibility trend in the form of the MV-1, the first wheelchair-accessible vehicle designed from the ground up. more »

CMS Vows to Abandon Prepayment Review Phase of PMD Demo
BUFFALO, NY - “We were also concerned about physicians submitting paperwork for prior authorization, but they also changed that,” reports Don Clayback, executive director, NCART. more »

New NCART Video Serves Up Education and Advocacy
BUFFALO, NY - A powerful video from NCART is continuing to make waves as an educational/advocacy tool in the complex rehab technology (CRT) movement in 2012. more »

New Study Bolsters Case for CPAP
DARIEN, IL - A new study linking inadequate sleep to poor school performance adds yet another wrinkle to the growing body of evidence for sleep treatment. more »

PMD Prepayment Review On Hold
WASHINGTON, DC - The holiday interlude brought welcome news to PMD providers with the announcement that CMS would delay its PMD prepayment review program. more »

China Deal Buoys Wheelchair Manufacturer
CONYERS, GA - GeckoSystems Corp has released a concept drawing of a new wheelchair, with engineering plans being reviewed in China. more »

New Modification Service at Sunrise Medical
FRESNO, CA - Sunrise Medical launched a new custom modification service last week for the company’s JAY cushions and backs. more »

New Group 3 Power Wheelchair at Sunrise Medical
FRESNO, CA – Sunrise Medical has launched the Quickie® QM-710™, a new Group 3 power wheelchair. more »

Some Relief for Complex Rehab in Round Two
WASHINGTON, DC - According to last week’s CMS announcement, K0005, E1030, and E0986 mobility equipment will not be part of the second round of competitive bidding. more »

Prepayment Review: Open Door Sparks Concerns
WASHINGTON, DC - “For CMS to rush ahead with a surprise program that will impact almost half of the PMD claims starting in less than 30 days is a recipe for disaster,” says Don Clayback, executive director, NCART. more »

CMS to Discuss Power Wheelchair Demo on Dec 2
WASHINGTON, DC - After taking mobility advocates by surprise with the announcement of a demonstration project that will require prepayment review and prior authorization for power mobility devices, CMS scheduled an open door forum to address concerns. more »

Sunrise Launches New Cushion at Medtrade
FRESNO, CA – Sunrise Medical has launched the JAY® Union™, a skin protection and positioning cushion that features a high performance foam base for optimal stability. more »

Prior Authorization and Prepayment Demo for Power Wheelchairs Draws Criticism
WASHINGTON, DC - In a move that took mobility advocates by surprise, CMS announced a new demonstration project last week that will require prepayment review and prior authorization for power mobility devices. more »

Sunrise Debuts Seating System
FRESNO, CA – Officials at Sunrise Medical launched the JAY® SureFit™ seating system last week, a product that features bundling opportunities with Sunrise mobility bases. more »

Crowley Agrees to Introduce Complex Rehab Legislation
- Greg Thompson
ATLANTA - When legislation to recognize complex rehab technology as a separate benefit is ready, Rep Joseph Crowley (D-NY) will introduce it on behalf of mobility providers. more »

Ms. Wheelchair America Gets Out the Message
PITTSBURGH - Ms. Wheelchair America has a form of muscular dystrophy, but she holds down two jobs. “I’ve always been pretty stubborn,” she says. more »

Medal-Winning Paralympic Skier Hits the Road
He is the most decorated male skier in Paralympic history, but these days Chris Waddell is on a new mission to change attitudes about disabled people. He recently climbed 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro, and a 10-week national tour will promote a documentary about the feat, while also seeking to inspire others at school assemblies and corporate events. more »