The SCOOTER Store Public Affairs

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For more information, please contact:

The SCOOTER Store
Public Affairs
Mark B. Leita
(830) 627- 4717

Power Chair Reimbursements

The chart below provides an overview of power wheelchair reimbursement since 2002. The graph depicts an unusual growth spike in late 2002. This unexpected increase was caused by random cases of fraudulent practices in the southern United States. This activity was reported to Federal agencies in early 2003 by The SCOOTER Store and other Power Mobility Coalition members.

The graph further depicts the current reaction by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to curb fraud and abuse. However, the restrictive criteria now being applied throughout the country seriously jeopardizes access to power mobility for thousands of senior citizens and disabled Americans. Further, a recent economic study* reports that due to a lack of power mobility, 12 people each day die prematurely. There have been over 48,000 senior citizens under-served due to these restrictive standards, resulting in a lost economic cost benefit of $530 million dollars.

*To view or download this study, click here.

Assumptions:
ANNUAL INDUSTRY GROWTH (Baseline) = 10%

Medicare Power Mobility Utilization

Medicare Power Mobility Utilization
 2001200220032004200520062007
Jan 12,01818,43813,93512,40613,27510,986
Feb 12,54018,26913,51713,73414,28710,153
Mar 13,09022,80715,32216,07917,09312,878
Apr 13,64024,31314,66215,87714,98011,843
May 14,19024,36913,91616,76717,08312,606
Jun 14,50823,57614,71618,19418,51513,017
Jul 14,95223,45914,16716,68616,29713,327
Aug 16,58922,99115,73119,40118,75816,288
Sep 15,82820,88714,89118,62416,94113,458
Oct11,28918,66219,42414,62917,25218,075 
Nov10,82017,26116,53714,41011,36513,296 
Dec10,36618,18915,60614,80614,4629,860