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H.R. 1703 · House bill · 119th Congress
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish specific billing codes under Medicare for certain materials used in ultralightweight manual wheelchairs.
Specifically, the CMS must establish at least two billing codes for the base of the wheelchair, with at least one code for a base with titanium or carbon fiber construction material and at least one code for a base without these materials. Suppliers receive the same payment under Medicare for these wheelchairs as would otherwise apply, but may bill beneficiaries for any difference between the payment and the actual charge for the wheelchair. The CMS may require suppliers to inform beneficiaries of their potential financial liability in these cases.
This Act may be cited as the “Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026”.
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:
“(24) 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, 2028, 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, 2028, 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 supplier's actual charge for such wheelchair and the payment amount described in clause (i) for such wheelchair.
(iii) Beneficiary protections.— In order to inform an individual of the individual’s 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 rental of such ultralightweight manual wheelchair by such individual.”.