November 2023 Advocacy Update

From The Disability Policy Consortium

LEGISLATIVE ACCESS AGENDA

DPC’s mission is to bring the perspectives of people with disabilities to the table on key issues, empower our community through healthcare support and advocacy, participatory research, and expert policy analysis, and lead grassroots campaigns that make Massachusetts more accessible and inclusive. Our credo is "About Us, By Us" — the belief that when decisions are made about people with disabilities, people with disabilities should be the ones making them.

Click here to download the Legislative Access Agenda PDF booklet from the DPC.

Your Mental Health Matters – Invitation to Participate in a Mental Health Program for people with a Spinal Cord Injury:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging, evidence-based, psychotherapy approach that can improve mental health through mindfulness, acceptance processes and behavior change. Lakeshore Foundation is helping to recruit for a remote, ACT study with the following requirements:

1. Adults who have acquired an SCI within 5 years
2. Participation in 8 weekly videoconference sessions with a coach
3. Completion of questionnaires 3 times
4. Participants must have access to a computer or smart phone with internet access in their home.
5. This study is remote and is open to anyone living in the USA.

The purpose of this project is to understand how well a coach-guided 8-week online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program improves mental health of individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) within five years.

Participants who complete the study will be compensated up to $215!

For questions and more information, contact Jessica Hawkins at jshawkins@uabmc.edu or 205-975-2882.

One Care Fact Sheets & Other Materials:

See below for the One Care fact sheets and other helpful materials like a comparison document comparing SCO plans.

Important! If you need an interpreter or translation help with any One Care: MassHealth plus Medicare notice or form, or if you have any questions about OneCare, please call us at 1-800-841-2900 (TTY: 711 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled). We do not discriminate on the basis of national origin.

To see the SCO plan comparison list follow this link: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/one-care-fact-sheets-other-materials

From United Spinal National

CMS Announces Public Meeting for Seat Elevation Coding Decision

As we've shared, CMS has been in the process of determining coding for power seat elevation systems used with complex power wheelchairs. They are also working to establish appropriate reimbursement to ensure access.

A coding decision is expected to be announced by CMS shortly and a public meeting is scheduled for November 28-30. Reimbursement rates will be announced following the coding determination and are anticipated in December. Final implementation of coverage will be in early 2024. In the interim, the DME MACs will continue to determine reasonable and necessary coverage as they work to develop local coverage determinations that are in line with the national coverage determination.

CRT advocates also continue to pursue establishing Medicare coverage for power standing systems used with complex power wheelchairs. During a September meeting with CMS leadership, ITEM Coalition and others continued the dialogue and provided additional clinical and consumer feedback regarding these systems. NCART was pleased to participate in that discussion and offer CRT perspectives that support coverage. CMS did not indicate a timeline for next steps, but additional data is being provided and additional meetings will be scheduled.

NCART will be providing additional guidance and updates as the information becomes available.

Protecting Access to CRT in the States

 Coverage and funding at the state level play a key role in the availability and provision of CRT products and supporting services. NCART offers providers, manufacturers, associations, and policy makers strategic advice and direct advocacy on state issues to protect and improve access to CRT.

When a significant access issue is identified within a state, NCART's Payer Relations Committee and our state workgroups convene to review the problem, identify needed solutions, and implement the necessary advocacy plans. Below is a summary of some of our ongoing work:

Massachusetts – NCART, HOMES, and others continue working with legislators and consumer advocacy organizations to advance legislation that addresses CRT repair reform needs in the State; NCART has testified at multiple hearings and has coordinated meetings with key legislators in August and September; October committee hearings were held and NCART provided written and verbal testimony.

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Accessible Bathing Rooms

The design of bathing rooms can vary, but specific sizes, clearances, elements, and features are required to ensure bathing rooms are accessible to people with disabilities. The next webinar in the U.S. Access Board's free monthly series will take place November 2 from 2:30 – 4:00 (ET) and address requirements for bathing facilities in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards for transfer showers, roll-in showers, and bathtubs in transient lodging/hotels, residential dwelling units, and other locations, which ensure those with disabilities have the option to clean themselves unassisted. Presenters will review and clarify the accessibility requirements for different types of accessible bathing fixtures and their associated components, including shower and tub seats, grab bars, shower spray units and controls, and required clearances. 

Visit Great Lakes ADA Center’s Accessible Bathing Rooms webinar webpage for more information or to register. All webinars include video remote interpreting (VRI) and real-time captioning. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar. Webinar attendees can earn continuing education credits. The webinar series is hosted by the ADA National Network in cooperation with the Board. Archived copies of previous Board webinars are available on the site. 

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