The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a policy that will protect beneficiary access to wheelchair accessories, including seating systems, for Group 3 or higher complex rehabilitation power and manual wheelchairs. Access was threatened by a prior CMS rule that would include them in Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bid Program (CBP) pricing. Because the CBP does not account for the higher cost to supply complex rehabilitation wheelchair “accessories” (non-standard, more costly components added to wheelchair frames), advocates had feared inclusion in CBP pricing would leave few suppliers willing to participate in supplying accessories for complex rehabilitation wheelchairs, and beneficiaries would lack options to obtain the necessary items.
In the final rule, CMS excludes fee schedule amounts for Group 3 or higher complex rehabilitation power and manual wheelchair accessories from adjustments based on information from the DMEPOS CBP. The final rule can be found at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-08-04/pdf/2021-16310.pdf