Pushin' On: UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Digital Newsletter Volume 37 | Number 1

Pushin’ ON VOL 37 | NUM 1 2019 UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Digital Newsletter Headline News The University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS) provides Pushin’ On twice annually as an informational resource for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). UAB-SCIMS Program Director: Amie B McLain, MD Pushin’ On Editor: Phil Klebine, MA 529 Spain Rehabilitation Center 1717 6th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233-7330 Phone: [phone] TDD: 205-934-4642 Fax: [phone] WWW.UAB.EDU/SCI [email protected] /UABSCIMS /UABSCIMS /UABSCIMS The contents of this publication were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90SI5019). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this publication do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. ©2019 University of Alabama Board of Trustees. The University of Alabama at Birmingham provides equal opportunity in education and employment. Imagine if state or federal rules and regulations forced everyone to wear the same size shoes. Seems silly to think of this as reality, huh? One size does not fit all. The is the long-fought message that advocates continue to press to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) about Complex rehab technology (CRT). CRT is medically necessary, individually- configured manual and power wheelchair systems, adaptive seating systems, alternative positioning systems, and other mobility devices that require evaluation, fitting, configuration, adjustment or programming. Back in 2016, advocates fought and won to prevent CMS from cutting reimbursement rates for CRT. Now the University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS) is asking readers to consider supporting the aims of 2 proposed legislative priorities. S. 1223 is a bill that will stop CMS from applying set standards for manual wheelchair CRT and allow manual wheelchair users the same access to critical CRT as power wheelchair users. H.R. 2408 will create a separate category for wheelchair-related CRT similar to Orthotics and Prosthetics categories allowing for custom braces and artificial limbs. This bill no longer allows specialized CRT items to be grouped within Medicare’s “standard” Durable Medical equipment category and allow coverage, coding, and safeguard improvements for individual needs. This will allow for improvements in coverage policies, coding, and supplier standards to better address the unique needs of the individuals with significant disabilities and chronic medical conditions who rely on these specialized products and related services to manage their medical needs, minimize their health care costs, and maximize their function and independence. Visit access2crt.org to get CRT information, resources and tools. Thank you. - Phil Klebine, Editor LandAjob is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps those on SSI or SSDI receive up to $13,000 for job-expense reimbursements. If you are looking for work, you can search the database of over 500,000 active job openings across the country. Here is the 3-step process. 1. Find a Job - Do you receive disability benefits and have a job that pays at least $880 a month? Are you unemployed right now but thinking about working in the future? You qualify. 2. Fill Out a Short Form - LandAjob will help you fill out the Individual Work Plan (IWP) the Social Security Administration needs to start your reimbursement payments. 3. Talk to a Counselor - A brief counseling phone call lets LandAjob help you complete your IWP. After that, your IWP to the Ticket to Work people at Social Security. LandAjob, coordinates with Social Security and will notify you when all is done. You then move forward with the reimbursement process. All LandAjob’s services are free as part of a partnership with Social Security’s Ticket-to-Work program.