Shepherd Center Calls on Washington to Postpone Upcoming Power Mobility Reductions

November 9, 2006

Contact: Larry Bowie (404-350-7708)

ATLANTA - Shepherd Center, one of the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, announced today it has joined other rehabilitation hospitals and disability organizations across the country in calling on leaders in Washington to postpone the new Medicare pricing and coverage polices for power wheelchairs scheduled to go into effect November 15.

In a letter sent to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation, Shepherd Center Founder James H. Shepherd, Jr. asked Leavitt to support a call to postpone the new Medicare policy changes until adjustments can be made to better accommodate the needs of those with mobility impairments.

“The changes will severely restrict access to the more technically-advanced power wheelchairs that many people with long-term disabilities and chronic conditions need to live independent lives and participate fully in society,” Shepherd said in the letter, a copy of which was sent to each member of the Georgia Congressional Delegation.

The new policy, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), reduces Medicare reimbursement rates for some power wheelchairs by as much as 40 percent. It also creates new eligibility restrictions that could make it harder for people with mobility impairments, such as a spinal cord injury, to obtain the proper mobility equipment they need to maintain as independent a lifestyle as possible.

Shepherd said he is concerned for people with mobility impairments who won’t have the resources to obtain the equipment they need. “Access to appropriate mobility devices is essential to allow people with mobility impairments to live independently, to work, and to participate in community life,” he said.

Shepherd Center has provided medical and rehabilitative treatment to thousands of people with spinal cord injuries since it was founded in 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. As a supporter of disability rights, Shepherd Center also monitors local and federal legislation and upcoming issues that are expected to have an impact on the disability community.

“Part of our mission at Shepherd Center is to act as an advocate to ensure that people who have experienced catastrophic injuries or diseases are able to rebuild their lives with dignity, hope and independence,” said Gary R. Ulicny, Ph.D., President and CEO of Shepherd Center. “We are disappointed in the new pricing and coverage policies because of the negative impact it will certainly have on the ability of Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities to obtain medically-necessary and appropriate power mobility technology.”

In August, CMS issued a final local coverage determination (LCD) for power mobility devices, which places strict limits on access to “Group 3” power wheelchairs, the type of wheelchairs often needed by those with long-term disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, and chronic conditions. CMS has also issued new reimbursement levels for these Group 3 wheelchairs that will cut reimbursements by up to 40 percent. These cuts will likely translate into serious access problems for beneficiaries as many providers say they will be unable to provide these high-end devices to Medicare beneficiaries at the new reimbursement levels. Both of these changes are scheduled to take effect on November 15.

In the letter, Shepherd urged Leavitt to:

1. Ask the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to postpone the new local coverage determination (LCD) for power wheelchairs and the planned cuts to reimbursement for Group 3 wheelchairs until adjustments can be made to better accommodate the needs of those with mobility disabilities.

2. Support the “Medicare Independent Living Act of 2006” (S.3677/H.R.5983), which would remove the “in the home” restriction on access to mobility devices. Without enactment of this important legislation, Medicare will continue to use this discriminatory coverage restriction that prevents access to appropriate mobility devices for people with disabilities.

About Shepherd Center
Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems. Each year Shepherd Center admits more than 700 patients and conducts thousands of outpatient clinic visits. For more information, visit Shepherd Center online at www.shepherd.org.