Home Health & Hospice Week

Senate companion bill expected.

Patient advocates, power wheelchair makers and suppliers are backing the latest bill that would nix language limiting where Medicare beneficiaries can use their wheelchairs.

The bill, the Medicare Independent Living Act of 2007 (H.R.1809), was introduced March 29 by Reps. James Langlevin (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), and has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. So far, the bill has 16 co-sponsors.

This month, the SCOOTER Store announced its full support for the revisions to the Social Security Act, which would eliminate language restricting power wheelchairs and scooters obtained through Medicare to use inside a beneficiary's home.

The Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition and other groups representing people living with disabilities have also been vocal in their support of the bill, saying the limits unfairly restrict Medicare coverage and prevents many people who need mobility devices from obtaining them.

Background: The "in the home" language was originally drafted to differentiate between durable medical equipment used in hospitals and nursing homes from equipment used outside those facilities, such as in a beneficiary's home. Over the years, however, the government interpreted the language differently and used it to restrict Medicare coverage to power wheelchairs and scooters used exclusively in patients' homes.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) is likely to reintroduce legislation in the Senate, which would accomplish the same goal as the house legislation. Bingaman, with former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), last year sponsored the Medicare Independent Living Act, a measure that would have removed the restriction.