Page 16 - Mobility Management, March 2017
P. 16

mm beat
New CRT Separate Benefit Bill Introduced in U.S. House
The complex rehab technology (CRT) industry has a new Medicare separate benefit category bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) introduced H.R. 750, the Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2017, on Jan. 30.
In an announcement about the new bill, NCART Executive Director Don Clayback expressed gratitude to Crowley and Sensenbrenner “for their continued leader- ship in protecting access for people with disabilities.”
Clayback added that the former bill, which expired at the end of last year, had “strong bipartisan support with 173 Representatives and 20 Senators signed on.”
In introducing the bill, Crowley said in a news announcement, “This legislation would guarantee that
patients have access to the high-quality products and services they need to lead a more independent life. For those with disabilities and other medical conditions, these complex rehabilitation technology products are necessities. The quality standard and consumer protec- tions included in this bill will also make the Medicare program stronger for all individuals seeking care.”
In his announcement, Sensenbrenner said, “As a leader in the fight for the rights of the disabled, I want to ensure all Americans have access to the tools needed to live each day to the fullest. Disabled Americans should not be denied rehabilitation or medical equip- ment that can enable them to live and work freely and independently. With increased flexibility and proper oversight, we can help those in need while inhibiting fraud and abuse.” l
Blog: Significantly Unique
As many millennials do these days, when I heard that I’d be writing for Mobility Management, I did a quick “Google” of the mobility, accessibility and complex rehab technology industries. What I thought would be a few Web pages helping me to understand the industry turned into a wormhole of educational information, videos on client success and amazing technological advances that helped to shape my view of the industry.
Included in my search results was an academic paper explaining eye gaze technology. I had heard the words before, as Editor Laurie Watanabe had said them to me in passing during a conversation about the industry. I had jotted the phrase down in my notebook with the intentions of looking it up, but was later side tracked.
But there it was: the fifth search result.
For a lot of those reading my blog, eye gaze tech- nology is nothing new to you, so I won’t bore you with explaining what it is. For me, however, this leads into a world of understanding independence in the seated and wheeled mobility community.
The eye gaze technology shows just how far this industry’s professionals are willing to go to give freedom to someone who may only be able to physically move their eyes. From my research (and yes, I Googled it),
I found that even if a person has no mobility of the
16 march 2017 | mobilitymanagement
extremities at all, they usually do have control of their eyes.
What this says to me is that
someone saw a small bit of leniency
and jumped on it. What a feat in
perspective! Instead of doctors and
providers asking a client to adjust
the way they move, such as build
up strength in a certain area to fit
the constraints of a technology already made, they find out what is best and most comfortable for the client and tailor a solution to them.
I found this in several different instances: Perhaps the client can blow on a straw, use their fingertips or tap their foot. While eye gaze technology helps with communica- tion or to navigate a computer, other small movements can be utilized to mobilize a wheelchair and give back some independence.
Again, this may seem like old news to a lot of those who will read my blog, but the recurring theme of meeting the client where they are rather than where you want them to be doesn’t happen in many other indus- tries. The mobility sector is significantly unique, and you should be proud to be a part of it. l
— Sydny Shepard
mobilitymgmt.com





































































   14   15   16   17   18