1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Access to Wheelchairs Act”.
Protecting Access to Wheelchairs Act
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs from the Medicare competitive acquisition program, and for other purposes.
2. Exclusion of complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs from Medicare competitive acquisition program; Non-application of Medicare fee-schedule adjustments for certain wheelchair accessories and cushions
Exclusion of complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs from competitive acquisition program— Section 1847(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3(a)(2)(A)) is amended—
by inserting “, complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs (as determined by the Secretary), and certain manual wheelchairs (identified, as of October 1, 2018, by HCPCS codes E1235, E1236, E1237, E1238, and K0008 or any successor to such codes)” after “group 3 or higher”; and
by striking “such wheelchairs” and inserting “such complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs, complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs, and certain manual wheelchairs”.
Non-Application of Medicare fee schedule adjustments for wheelchair accessories and seat and back cushions when furnished in connection with complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs—
In general— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not, during the period beginning on July 1, 2019, and ending on December 31, 2020, use information on the payment determined under the competitive acquisition programs under section 1847 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3) to adjust the payment amount that would otherwise be recognized under section 1834(a)(1)(B)(ii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(1)(B)(ii)) for wheelchair accessories (including seating systems) and seat and back cushions when furnished in connection with complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs (as determined by the Secretary), and certain manual wheelchairs (identified, as of October 1, 2018, by HCPCS codes E1235, E1236, E1237, E1238, and K0008 or any successor to such codes).
Implementation— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may implement this subsection by program instruction or otherwise.