About

The ITEM Coalition was created to address inadequate access to assistive devices, technologies, and related services. ITEM Coalition is run by its members, which include a diverse set of national disability organizations, aging organizations, consumer groups, voluntary health associations, and non-profit provider associations.

The mission of the ITEM Coalition is to raise awareness about the importance of assistive devices, technologies, and related services in enhancing the function, independence, health status, and quality of life of people with disabilities and chronic conditions of all ages. The ITEM Coalition’s advocacy efforts target barriers to access to necessary devices and technologies under Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other federal health programs and private plans; and build support for broad-based legislative and regulatory changes to address the problem of inadequate access to assistive devices, technologies, and related services.

The ITEM Coalition follows five guiding principles:

(1) Medicare, Medicaid, and other public programs and private plans must enhance their coverage policies to provide those assistive devices, technologies, and related services that Americans need to be healthy, functional, and independent.

(2) The ITEM Coalition will raise awareness and advocate solely for greater access to and coverage of assistive devices, technologies, and related services for people with disabilities and chronic conditions of all ages, including children and older Americans;

(3) Consumers will lead the coalition with the goal of highlighting the importance of access to assistive devices, technologies, and related services in people’s lives.

(4) The Coalition will promote a broad-based assistive device benefit that helps as many users of assistive devices, technologies, and related services as possible.

(5) Membership in the ITEM Coalition will be open to all consumer and non-profit provider organizations without any requirement to contribute financially.

Our Current Policy Priorities

The ITEM Coalition’s 2022 Policy Priorities can be found here.