Patchogue, NY – January 29, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced today that the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (S-2425), which was passed and signed into law by the President, includes a one year delay in the application of Medicare competitive bid pricing for Complex Rehab Power Wheelchair Accessories, a top priority that Congressman Zeldin has been fighting for and a victory for the disabled.
Under a 2014 ruling by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which was expected to go into effect this month, accessories that are used on complex rehabilitative wheelchairs would no longer be a part of a fixed fee schedule; instead, it would be subject to competitive bidding pricing, which would decrease individuals’ access to wheelchairs and accessories relied on by adults and children with disabilities. Congressman Zeldin has been working in Congress to ensure the ruling does not go into effect. In 2015, the Congressman introduced bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives, H.R. 3229, which would make permanent a fixed fee schedule for specialized power wheelchairs and related services that are relied on by people with disabilities and their families. S-2425, which the Congressman supported, includes a one year delay of the implementation of a competitive bidding fee structure and will keep fees from rising an estimated 20%, while providing ample time to pass the Congressman’s permanent measure.
Congressman Zeldin said, “A one year delay is an essential first step towards ensuring this price structure remains unchanged. Without this delay, individuals with disabilities would have been thrown into an unfamiliar landscape, making it much more difficult to access the necessary quality products at an affordable price. I will continue to push in Congress for the passage of my legislation to ensure those with disabilities can access the complex rehabilitative equipment they require to meet their medical needs and to function at the highest level possible.”
“Under my legislation, through a commonsense clarification to existing law, we can ensure that those in the Medicare program do not have to struggle year after year with new rules and pricing arbitrarily reached by CMS to receive equipment that they need,” continued Congressman Zeldin.
“Providing support for those who need it the most has always been a principle Americans have stood by for generations. I will continue to push for the passage of this critical legislation to ensure that we help the many vulnerable men and women who are living with disabilities,” Congressman Zeldin concluded.
The legislation has strong bipartisan support in Congress with nearly 90 cosponsors. It is also fully supported by the ALS Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, VetsFirst and the United Spinal Association.
