118 S5540 IS: Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2024 U.S. Senate 2024-12-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 5540IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESDecember 16, 2024Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify payment rules for manual wheelchairs under part B of the Medicare program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2024.

2.

Special rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs under the Medicare program

Section 1834(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(23)

Special rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs

(A)

Requirement to establish separate HCPCS codes for certain manual wheelchairs

With respect to ultralightweight manual wheelchairs payable under this subsection furnished on or after January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall establish two or more HCPCS codes, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, for the base of such a wheelchair depending on the construction material used in such base (with 1 or more such codes for such a base with titanium or carbon fiber construction material and 1 or more such codes for such a base without such materials).(B)

Payment and beneficiary protections

(i)

Payment

On or after January 1, 2026, in the case where an individual purchases or rents from a supplier an ultralightweight manual wheelchair that has titanium or carbon fiber construction material used in the base of such wheelchair, payment to the supplier shall be made in the frequency and amount as would otherwise be made under this subsection (as described in paragraph (1)(A)) for such wheelchair.(ii)

Beneficiary charges

The supplier may charge the individual the difference between the payment amount described in clause (i) for such wheelchair and the supplier's actual charge for such wheelchair.(iii)

Beneficiary protections

In order to inform an individual of their potential financial liability under clause (ii), the Secretary may require a supplier to issue a notice to the individual (in a form and manner determined by the Secretary) prior to the purchase or rent of such ultralightweight manual wheelchair by such individual..