H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act, Passes U.S. House of Representatives

Today, H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote, advancing the legislation to the Senate.

The bill is budget neutral and widely supported by the DMEPOS industry and patient advocacy organizations, including the ITEM Coalition. The legislation would allow Medicare beneficiaries to access manual wheelchairs constructed with carbon fiber and titanium materials.

Introduced by Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), H.R. 1703 passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in May. Since then, the legislation has gained additional support with two new co-sponsors and continued momentum on Capitol Hill.

"This is an important milestone and brings this legislation one step closer to becoming law," explained Tom Ryan, president and CEO of AAHomecare. "For more than six years, AAHomecare, VGM, NCART, CRT stakeholders, and patient advocacy partners have worked tirelessly to advance this legislation. We're grateful to everyone across the industry who has shared their stories, contacted lawmakers, and continued to advocate for better access to mobility technology. That persistent advocacy has made today's progress possible, and we encourage members to keep the pressure on during the August recess so the Senate can act quickly when Congress returns in September."

"Today's House passage reflects years of collaboration and commitment from mobility manufacturers, suppliers, and consumer groups," added Jay Witter, sr. vice president of public policy at AAHomecare. "This bill has hundreds of finger prints on it from those who worked on the legislation over the years. We are especially grateful to our members and advocacy partners who answered every call to action and to our lobbyists for their continued conversations to elevate this legislation on Capitol Hill. We look forward to continuing this effort as the bill advances in the Senate."