A resolution designating April 22, 2026, as "National Assistive Technology Awareness Day".

United Spinal continues to advocate for H.R. 4206, the CONNECT for Health Act. United Spinal continues to advocate about the concerns we have about proposals for major restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services programs. We want to make sure that critical programs, services, and funding for the disability and aging communities, such as the Centers for Independent Living, Home and Community-Based Services and the National Institute for Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) are not negatively impacted. United Spinal continues to support timely wheelchair repairs legislation that is currently being drafted in the Senate. United Spinal continues to support S.247 and H.R.1703, Improving access to lightweight carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs, which will allow individuals with mobility challenges to choose the wheelchair that is best suited for their medical, functional, and lifestyle needs and preferences, without increasing costs to the Medicare program. United Spinal participated in and invited members of Congress and their staffs to participate in the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART), the International Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (iNRRTS), and U.S. Rehab sponsored Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) Product Expo in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2026. This event was designed to educate Members of Congress about CRT equipment and the individuals who rely on it every day to live safely and independently. We advocated on three issues with members of Congress and their staff about Complex Rehab Technology equipment and services, specifically: 1.Opening the Power Standing Coverage Determination process with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 2.Passage of H.R. 1703 / S. 247 - the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2005, 3.Passage H. R. 9364, eliminate Prior Authorization for Wheelchair Repairs for Medicare Advantage United Spinal, along with other members of the. Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy to express our serious concern regarding the significant delay in the release of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the National Paralysis Resource Center, which is currently operated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation under a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL). United Spinal submitted comments to the Access Boards development of standards for Universal Changing Stations, Docket Number: ATBCB-2026-0001, RIN Number: 3014-AA50. In our comments, we thanked Senator Maggie Hassan for her leadership in establishing the requirement for Universal Changing Stations in the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024. The comments included the following summary: The United Spinal Associations recommendation to use existing industry standards is consistent with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA) which encourages Agencies to use and participate in the development voluntary consensus standards. The Board is a valued member of the ICC A117.1 Standards development team and has considerable influence over the process and the ultimate requirements. It would be unfortunate if the Board were not to exploit this work by using it to advance its own mission. Collaboration of this type maximizes the Boards resources and encourages better understanding of the needs of all parties. As follow-up to our Virtual Advocacy Day held in March, United Spinal continued to advocate with members of Congress and or their staff on the following issues: Insert language into the FY27 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bills committee report providing $2.5 million to fund four additional SCI Model System Suggested programmatic language: The inclusion of ostomy, urological and tracheostomy supplies in the Medicare competitive bidding program may conflict with the Administrations goals to strengthen American manufacturing, secure our medical supply chains from foreign adversaries, and protect the health and well-being of our nations most vulnerable citizens. Competitive bidding threatens to transfer this market to foreign competitors who have no commitment to American workers, American communities or American patients. And or: Suggested appropriations report language: Competitive Bidding for Ostomy, Tracheostomy, and Urological Supplies - The Committee is concerned about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decision to include ostomy, tracheostomy, and urological prosthetic supplies in the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program (CBP). These prosthetic devices have never been included in the program. The Committee is concerned that subjecting these prosthetic devices to competitive bidding without sufficient analysis could disrupt patient access, compromise clinician decision-making, harm domestic manufacturing, and increase Medicare costs. Accordingly, the Committee directs CMS to delay the implementation of competitive bidding for ostomy, tracheostomy, and urological supplies until the Administrator submits a report to the Committees on Appropriations, providing: (1) an assessment of the prospective downstream costs to the Medicare Part A program for adverse health events due to patients seeing limited or no access to the supplies of their choice; and (2) an evaluation of the potential impact on the US domestic supply chain, including manufacturing and distribution capacity and service industries associated with patient management if no or a limited number of US businesses are selected for the CBP. The Committee directs CMS to collect citable data from patient, clinician and manufacturer stakeholders. The Committee directs CMS to maintain current payment methodologies for these prosthetic devices until the Committee is briefed by CMS on all findings. United Spinals annual advocacy event, Roll on Capitol Hill, was held on June 24th. Advocates met with members of Congress and of their staff seeking action on four issues: Support Rep. Ayanna Pressleys (D-MA) bill, H. R. 9364, the FAST Repairs for Wheelchairs Act, which would prohibit Medicare Advantage plans from requiring prior authorization for wheelchair repairs. Carbon fiber and titanium wheelchairs are lighter, stronger and more responsive than standard wheelchairs chairs. But because of a policy change, Medicare beneficiaries have to pay the full cost out of pocket. The Choices for Increased Mobility Act (H.R. 1703/S. 247) would explicitly require Medicare to create new codes to allow suppliers to bill consumers for just the cost of the upgrade to an ultralight manual wheelchair. This bill is sponsored in the House by Reps. John Joyce (R-PA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Kim Schrier (D-WA), and in the Senate by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Support forthcoming legislation that will exclude ostomy and urological supplies from Medicares durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program for a period of five years while requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to undertake a more comprehensive and clinically informed review of the impact that competitive bidding policies could have on beneficiary access, product choice, and patient outcomes. And other related provisions. urging Members of Congress to protect and strengthen home and community based services (HCBS), which already operates within a fragile system challenged by workforce shortages, long waiting lists, and inadequate funding. Millions of older adults and people with disabilities rely on HCBS to live independently in their homes and communities, and demand for these services will continue to grow as the population ages. Further cuts or restrictions would worsen existing barriers, increase the risk of institutionalization, and leave many without the support they need. Investing in and preserving HCBS is essential to ensure current and future generations can access quality care at home. United Spinal supported, S. Res. 685, sponsored by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) designating April 22, 2026, as National Assistive Technology Awareness Day.