Special Open Door Forum September 16, 2005

Special Open Door Forum: Conditions for Payment of Power Mobility Devices, Including Power Wheelchairs and Power-Operated Vehicles Tuesday, September 13, 2005 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) invites you to participate in a Special Open Door Forum (ODF) on September 13, 2005 focused on the recently published interim final rule regarding the Medicare Conditions for Payment of Power Wheelchairs and Power-Operated Vehicles. Along with Medicare’s decision earlier this year to replace the old ‘bed or chair confined’ standard with new functional criteria for eligibility, this interim final rule is part of a comprehensive strategy to help Medicare beneficiaries get the mobility assistance equipment they need while avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens and inappropriate Medicare spending. This Open Door Forum will provide an opportunity for CMS to provide an overview of the current Interim Final Rule (published August 26, 2005 in the Federal Register), and to provide more information on the coordination of this rule with the National Coverage Decision for Mobility Assistive Equipment (implemented July 5, 2005). CMS intends to also discuss upcoming instructions for different health care providers (physicians, non-physician practitioners, and suppliers) and our Durable Medical Equipment Regional Contractors (DMERCs), associated with providing wheelchair and power-operated vehicle equipment to Medicare beneficiaries. We hope to be able to provide feedback or clarifications to your questions associated with the overall Medicare rules and regulations associated with the provision of these benefits. If further instructions or information for providers are completed prior to the Open Door Forum, these will be posted into the web page announcement at: www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor [link=\"http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-17098.pdf\"]Click here[/link] for the current rule The Mobility Assistive Equipment National Coverage Decision can be found at the [link=\"http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewncd.asp?ncd_id=280.3&ncd_version=2&basket=ncd%3A280%2E3%3A2%3AMobility+Assistive+Equipment+%28MAE%29\"]CMS website[/link] We look forward to your participation. Open Door Participation Instructions: There are 2 ways to participate, by phone or \"in-person\". 1. To participate by phone: Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID 8912921: Persons participating by phone do not need to RSVP. Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here [link=\"http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html\"] http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html[/link]. A Relay Communications Assistant will help. 2. To participate in-person: If you intend to participate in person, RSVP is required: Please send a reply to this email by close of business Friday, September 9th to SpecialODF@cms.hhs.gov. Please include the words “Power Mobility Devices” in the subject line of your message, and send us the following information: Your full name Your organization or representation Your contact information (phone and email) Special needs information Location information: Photo identification is required at security points. Please arrive with enough time to both park and pass through security checkpoints. (This may take about 30 minutes.) ADDRESS: Hubert H. Humphrey Building Room 705A 200 Independence Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Map & Directions: [link=\"http://www.hhs.gov/about/hhhmap.html\"] http://www.hhs.gov/about/hhhmap.html[/link] (Federal Center SW metro station) ENCORE: 1-800-642-1687 “Encore” is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conf. ID # 8912921. The recording begins later the same day, and expires after 4 business days. For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (Listserv registration) and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at: www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor.