The ITEM Coalition’s 2012 Policy Agenda is listed below. We value input from our members – if you have ideas for additions to the policy agenda, please comment below.
ITEM Coalition – 2012 Policy Priorities
- Implementation of Healthcare Reform through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
- the definition and scope of rehabilitative and habilitative devices
- the impact on Medicaid benchmark package
- Making Complex Rehabilitation Technology a new and separate category and Medicare Independent Living Act
- Competitive Bidding Expansion
- CMS Demos and payment reforms that could affect device access
- Medical Device Tax and other Affordable Care Act provisions
- Long term budget debates and cuts (i.e. sequestration, SGR fix, Medicare and Medicaid reforms) and their impact on assistive technology and devices
- Communicating to HHS the need to fix HCPCS codes, particularly around mobility devices and CRT
- Threats to coverage through Medicaid program and possible cuts of optional services including coverage of devices
- O&P Parity (H.R. 5615)
- The elimination of First Month Purchase Option
- Monitor the policy change’s impact on access to devices
- Continue to advocate for exception for beneficiaries with a physician notice of necessity
The ITEM Coalition is working to develop specific legislative and regulatory policy proposals that seek to improve assistive device coverage policies in both publicly-supported programs and private health plans. The Coalition is also collecting personal stories of individuals about the challenges they face in obtaining the assistive technologies they need to be health, independent and functional.
