Adaptive technologies contribute to improved outcomes by:

• Increasing independence and social engagement, including self-care
• Supporting physical, emotional and cognitive development
• Enhancing quality of life and boosting caregiver confidence
• Enabling safe participation and connection within the home and community.

Real-Life Example of How a Safety Bed Changed Liam’s Life

Like most parents, Brian and Agustina McCarthy want to ensure their son, Liam, is happy, healthy and safe. But because Liam, who’s 7 years old, lives with Level 3 autism, PICA and epilepsy, that can be a little more complicated for the McCarthy family. 

“There’s a level of focus that’s required when monitoring Liam that we never knew we had or could even be achieved,” Brian says. “He’s a wonderful, caring, loving, curious, determined and silly little man, but his body is compelled to consume non-food items and seek sensory input by climbing on anything and everything tall.” 

Liam, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was around 4 and epilepsy just last year, lives an active life. Brian describes his son as having “impeccable balance,” but because of Liam’s epilepsy diagnosis, climbing can be dangerous. 

His parents make sure he’s supervised during the day, but nighttime proved to be a little harder to manage. After a night when Liam climbed atop his bureau to fall into his bed, his parents knew they needed a safety bed in addition to video monitors. 

“After his epilepsy diagnosis, they told us he really shouldn’t be climbing anything higher than two feet,” Brian says. “It’s a huge danger if he wakes up in the middle of the night, doesn’t make a peep and climbs [on top of his bureau], and we don’t wake up. It’s a very serious safety issue.” 

Even before Liam was diagnosed with epilepsy, helping him to settle and safely sleep through the night had been difficult.

We’ve spent at least four years anxious about Liam quietly engaging in dangerous sensory seeking or self-injurious behavior while we’re sleeping,” Brian says. “We’ve put 28,000 miles on our car in nine months just to drive him around to get him to sleep.”

Brian, Agustina and Liam’s ATP, Peter Eastman, initiated the process of ordering a safety bed at their local NSM branch, then worked with Kim Giordano, NSM Funding Supervisor, and Justyna Wozny, an NSM Funding Specialist, to navigate the insurance approval process. Liam received his Cubby Bed in March of last year. 

“Kim and Justyna were so understanding of our need for things to be expedited,” Brian says. “At each step, they told us exactly what actions we needed to take to move the process further to completion. They were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and nurturing during what can be an absolutely crazy, intimidating, confusing and frustrating process.” 

For the McCarthy family, the experience was a primary example of NSM working to meet client needs — something NSM’s funding team prides itself on, according to Kim Giordano, NSM Funding Supervisor. 

“We strive to be subject matter experts and advocate fiercely for our clients to ensure they receive the necessary equipment,” Giordano says. “It was rewarding for Justyna and our team to be a part of an effort that allows this family to rest peacefully at night, knowing their son is secure.” 

Learn More about how NSM Can Support You

Due to autism, PICA, and epilepsy, Liam required a safe nighttime solution to prevent injury. A medically approved safety bed provided security, improved sleep, and peace of mind for his family. 

Find a location near you to start the conversation about your customized mobility and accessibility needs.

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• Jeremy Siegers, a power wheelchair user, faced challenges with daily transfers at home.
• NSM designed a custom ceiling lift and track system for safe, independent movement.
• Features include full-room mobility, smooth bathroom transitions and reduced caregiver strain.
• Result: increased independence and easier daily routines for both Jeremy and his caregivers.

How a Ceiling Lift System Transformed Daily Life for Chicago-Area Entrepreneur Jeremy Siegers

For Jeremy Siegers, creativity is part of what makes him tick.

As the owner of Sharp Mill Graphics, a multi-surface branding management company based in the Chicagoland area, he’s used to finding creative solutions for unique challenges. But when it came to navigating his home as a power wheelchair user, Siegers realized he needed a tailored home access solution.

That’s where National Seating & Mobility’s (NSM) Home Access team came in. Learn more about how home accessibility solutions can practically help complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) users like Siegers. 

The Challenge: Daily Transfers with a Hoyer Lift

Like many wheelchair users, Siegers relied on a manual Hoyer lift to transfer between his mobility scooter, bed and other areas of his home. However, as his limb-girdle muscular dystrophy progressed and Siegers transitioned to a power wheelchair, these transfers became increasingly difficult — not just for him, but also for his caregivers.

“I’m 6 foot, 2 inches tall and 200 pounds,” he said. “Having my mom, who is smaller than me, trying to maneuver me around — it got to be too much work for her or whoever was helping me transfer me.” 

Siegers knew he needed a home accessibility solution that would provide independence while also reducing the strain on his parents and other caregivers. 

Partnering With NSM for a Custom Track System

The ceiling lift and track system project began with a simple question. 

“After I moved to my power chair, I was trying to finagle transfers with the Hoyer lift,” Siegers recalled. “I asked my ATP what other people used for transfers and just knew that there had to be other solutions out there.” 

Siegers’ ATP connected Siegers with NSM’s Home Access team, who came to Siegers’ home and walked through his daily routine with him. Together, he and the NSM Home Access team worked to create a custom solution that fits Siegers’ unique needs. 

The result was a custom ceiling track system, a motorized track and lift installed in Siegers’ home that helps him safely transfer between a wheelchair, bed, shower or toilet with minimal caregiver assistance. 

Siegers describes the system as “similar to an engine hoist in an auto body shop.” Key features include:

• X-Y axis movement: The track system allows Siegers to move forward, backward, left or right, unrestricted by a single track
• Custom bathroom carousel: Siegers can rotate completely to access the shower chair and other areas of the bathroom
• Seamless transitions: A gate system allows Siegers’ smooth movement between rooms

The NSM team carefully planned the installation, first evaluating Siegers’ home to ensure it could structurally support the weight of the track system. Then, the team laid out the track, mounted it to ceiling rafters and fine-tuned transitions room-to-room to ensure it worked correctly and fit Siegers’ needs. 

The Impact: Independence and Reduced Caregiver Strain

While Siegers still requires minor assistance to attach to the lift, the system significantly reduces caregiver burden. Now, all his caregivers need to do is help him hook onto the lift — a small task compared to manually lifting him multiple times a day.

“My parents are getting older, and I have a caretaker as well, but the burden [of manually lifting me] got to be too much,” he said. “This system is part of our daily routine and a huge help. I use it every single day, and I don’t know what I’d do without it.

“It’s definitely an investment,” he continued, “but it’s an investment that’s worth it for all parties involved.”

Discover Custom Home Solutions

If you or a loved one is seeking greater independence at home, NSM offers custom home accessibility solutions designed around your life. From ceiling lifts to home modifications, the NSM Home Access team creates solutions that fit your unique mobility needs.

Click here to learn more About Home Access Solutions!

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Custom mobility solutions change lives by: 

• Increasing independence and social interaction,
• Supporting physical, emotional and cognitive development,
• Improving caregiver confidence and quality of life, and 
• Enabling safe participation and connection within the home and community.

Real-Life Examples of Restoring Independence Through Custom Seating

National Seating & Mobility (NSM) ATP Chris McNulty has been working in the home medical equipment industry since the 1990s and currently serves clients in the Troy, Michigan, area. He recently worked with a pediatric client, Kendric, who was recovering from an extended illness that had left him bedridden. 

The extended time in bed affected Kendric’s posture, so much so that his existing seating system no longer fit him. McNulty, working in cooperation with Kendric’s doctors and therapists, set out to find a solution. 

“Because of the length of time that he spent in bed, he had contractures and had developed some atrophy,” McNulty recalls. “The challenge became, ‘How can we accommodate his new posture and still use his existing chair?’”

It took a little creativity to figure out how to mount Kendric’s new seating system to his existing chair, but McNulty and the care team eventually found a solution. McNulty went to the family’s home to make the delivery and do the final fitting. 

“When I went out to their home, his parents got him out of bed, sat him up in the chair, and the first thing they did was turn on the TV,” McNulty says. “Kendric was able to sit up and watch his favorite show for the first time in months.” 

Kendric’s parents were ecstatic to see their son enjoying something he loved — and ecstatic to see him smile for the first time in months. 

“It was the first time they had noticed him smiling in a long time, and it was a joyful moment,” McNulty says. “We all shared a big smile.” 

Now fully recovered, Kendric and his family are also able to enjoy their community together, thanks to his new seating system. 

“When he started to feel better, Kendric really couldn’t get out because his old seating system didn’t fit him correctly anymore,” McNulty says. “This is a quiet reminder that what we do as clinicians, as ATPs, as physical therapists and occupational therapists — we really are a voice for our patients who may not have a voice because of medical fragility or maybe don’t know how to advocate for themselves. 

“So we have a responsibility to do what we can,” he continues, “so they can get the equipment they need and deserve to live fulfilling lives.”

Learn More about NSM’s CRT Process

After an extended illness caused significant postural changes, Kendric needed a custom seating solution to regain comfort and function. A collaborative CRT approach restored his ability to sit upright, engage with his environment, and return to community life. Learn more about the NSM process.

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Custom mobility solutions change lives by: 

• Increasing independence and social interaction,
• Supporting physical, emotional and cognitive development,
• Improving caregiver confidence and quality of life, and 
• Enabling safe participation and connection within the home and community.

Real-Life Examples of CRT Equipment in Action

At 4 years old, Cyrus — known to his family and friends as Zippy — was born with arthrogyposis multiplex congenita (AMC), a condition characterized by stiff joints, contractures and tight muscles that severely limit mobility. Zippy started therapy eight hours after birth, his mom, Cindy Mood, recalls, and he was just shy of his first birthday when the Moods began considering a wheelchair to increase Zippy’s mobility. 

“We had a stroller, but it wasn’t allowing Zippy as much visibility,” Mood said. “He was a little less than 1 year old when we got his first manual wheelchair through National Seating & Mobility (NSM). That was a real game-changer, and he was so proud to be sitting up in his chair, and it gave him more freedom.” 

As Zippy grew, his parents and care team wanted to provide as many opportunities as possible for him to enjoy independent mobility, just like his peers. When he was about 2 years old, they began considering a power chair. At first, the Moods and the care team looked into head controls because of Zippy’s limited limb mobility, but the solution ultimately turned out to be a joystick paired with arm supports. 

These tools allow Zippy to zip around with the exuberance of his 4-year-old peers and enjoy the physical, emotional and cognitive benefits of independent mobility.

“Probably the biggest thing is that Zippy and his sister are able to play together,” Cindy says. “Having this equipment and the NSM team, including our Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Ryan Martin, gives Zippy greater confidence, and he benefits physically, mentally, emotionally and socially from being able to interact on his own. As caregivers, it takes a little of the weight off our shoulders.” 

Learn More about NSM’s Mobility Solutions

Zippy’s custom pediatric wheelchair and assistive technology gave him independent mobility, improved muscle development, and the confidence to interact with peers—demonstrating how early access to CRT equipment can transform childhood development.  Learn more about what NSM has to offer.

The post How Pediatric Mobility Solutions Changed Zippy’s Life appeared first on NSM — National Seating & Mobility.

The good news is that with a little preparation and forethought — including knowing how often your insurance carrier allows you to get new equipment — you can help make the process a little smoother. Here are five key things to know as you start the journey toward new equipment. 

Know Your Team—and Their Roles

When the new equipment process seems overwhelming, it’s important to remember that you’re not in this alone. Your care team includes your physician or physiatrist, occupational or physical therapists and your Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). Each member of the team plays an important role in evaluating your mobility needs, providing needed documentation and documenting medical necessity, among other things. Many insurance carriers allow for new complex wheelchairs around every five years and may consider replacement around five years for other types of CRT equipment, so it’s important understand what your health plan covers. Work with your CRT supplier or therapist to schedule a seating evaluation as that time nears. Learn more about what to expect at your evaluation.

Plan Ahead for Prior Authorization

It’s no secret that prior authorization takes time. When it comes to new equipment, you often need to submit several documents and a variety of information to your insurance carrier for approval before your CRT supplier can order your new equipment. These often include: 

• A prescription for CRT equipment,
• A seating evaluation,
• An equipment estimate, and 
• A Letter of Medical Necessity.

Take the time to become familiar with your insurance carrier’s requirements for prior authorization for new equipment. Your CRT provider will take the lead on collecting the needed documentation, but you can play an active role and help streamline the process by understanding what is required and who to reach out to if something is missing, such as a prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity. Learn more about prior authorization. 

Understand the Timeline

The new equipment process takes time and patience. Since several steps must be completed and CRT orders can be very complex, it often takes months for new equipment to be approved, ordered, assembled and delivered. Timelines may differ depending on your insurance carrier and other factors, but your CRT supplier and team should be able to provide you with a more detailed timeline for your order. Learn more about the general timeline at NSM. 

Know Your Funding Options—and Advocate for Yourself Along the Way.

Insurance coverage can vary widely, and not every piece of equipment or accessory may be covered. Have a plan for how to cover out-of-pocket costs or research additional funding options such as secondary insurance, grants or other options. If your insurance carrier denies your prior authorization, work with your care team to prove medical necessity — which often means submitting additional documentation and waiting for approval. If you believe a component is medically necessary for your independence and quality of life, advocate for yourself and work with your care team to make your case appropriately.

Stay in Touch with Your ATP

Your CRT provider plays a valuable role in keeping your equipment up to date and working optimally. If you notice a problem, report it to your CRT supplier as soon as possible. Keep track of maintenance that has been performed on your equipment and strive to perform small tasks regularly—like cleaning your chair and caring for the casters—to extend the life of your equipment. If you notice any issues with your equipment, it’s important to check them out before they become bigger problems.

Navigating the new equipment process doesn’t have to be stressful! Seek to understand the process and educate yourself about your insurance carrier’s provisions and requirements for ordering new CRT equipment. The new equipment process takes a little time, but by paying attention to the details and staying engaged with the process, you can help ensure it moves along as smoothly as possible.

Want to know more about the new equipment process?

Learn more.

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For caregivers and those who rely on home medical supplies, juggling your supply needs and shipments can easily become a full-time job. National Seating & Mobility (NSM) is already a trusted partner for Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) users, but we can also take the stress and hassle out of managing your medical supply needs — so you can focus on what’s most important to you: living your life. 

In addition to mobility solutions and home accessibility products, NSM also offers a wide range of home medical supplies — including incontinence, urological and enteral. We’re committed to creating a customized experience that works for you and takes away some of the hassle of managing medical supply needs for you or your loved ones.

Medical Supplies and NSM

At NSM, we want to help our clients live life on their own terms. We’re dedicated to helping our clients maintain their independence and self-reliance, and our comprehensive selection of home medical supplies is one of the many ways we do that. 

Whether you’re looking for enteral, urological or incontinence supplies, our dedicated customer care team is specifically trained to guide you through the process and design a tailored medical supplies plan that fits your needs and streamlines your life by making sure you never run out. 

At NSM, we work with all major manufacturers to meet your medical supplies needs, including: 

• Enteral: Medical supplies such as feeding tubes or bags, pumps or formula that deliver nutrition to clients who can’t swallow safely.
• Urological: Medical supplies that help clients with urological needs such as catheters, tubing and more. 
• Incontinence: Products designed to support individuals with incontinence needs. 

Learn more about Medical Supplies and NSM

How It Works

We’re committed to making sure you have the supplies you need when you need them — and we understand the importance of never running out. Here’s how it works:

1. Connect with the NSM Medical Supplies team. Call (844) 292-8887 or email the Medical Supplies Care Team at SuppliesReferral@nsm-seating.com. They’ll walk you through the process step by step.
   
2. Trust us with the paperwork. Our experienced team understands the process of working with insurance carriers to gather the necessary insurance documentation to set up a recurring order. NSM works with most major insurance plans, and our knowledgeable Medical Supplies Care Team members will handle the documentation process from start to finish. Clients work with the same team member throughout the journey, making the process even easier. 

3. Your products are delivered to your door. After your order is set up in the system, it will arrive at your door on a regular schedule, so you always have the supplies you depend on. Your next shipment will arrive a few days before your last order runs out, so you never have to go without vital medical supplies.
   
4. We’ll create an ongoing, customized plan that ensures you have the products you need when you need them. As your paperwork expires, our Medical Supplies Care Team will work with you and your healthcare providers to update your documentation to ensure the shipments you depend on keep coming.

Learn How NSM Can Ease the Stress of Getting Your Needed Medical Supplies

Access to your medical supplies can sometimes mean the difference between life and death — and we understand that at NSM. We strive to take the stress and worry of juggling your medical supplies needs off your shoulders. Whether you need enteral, incontinence or urology supplies, we’re here to make your life a little easier. Learn More

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When it comes to your Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) equipment needs, National Seating & Mobility (NSM)  is your trusted partner. But did you know that NSM also provides home accessibility products and services that help you find independence in and around your home? 

From ramps and stairlifts to elevators, lift chairs, bathroom modifications and more, NSM can help ensure your home meets your mobility needs and allows you greater independence. 

Home Accessibility & NSM

NSM’s home accessibility products and services help you easily access and enjoy every space in — and sometimes, outside of — your home. In addition to working with you to create customized mobility solutions, NSM experts can also help make your home, car and yard more accessible. 

NSM provides a variety of home accessibility products at branches in 16 states, with more locations being added, including: 

• Stair lifts
• Wheelchair ramps
• Vehicle lifts
• In-home lifts
• Lift chairs
• Door openers
• Bathroom modifications
• Platform lifts
• Residential elevators

Learn more about our Home Access branches 

How It Works

As your partner in remaining independent in your home, NSM is committed to helping you through the entire process of finding home accessibility solutions that fit your home and your life. Whether you need a stair lift, a ramp or bathroom modifications, NSM’s certified professionals will walk with you through every step of the ordering, authorization and installation process. 

So, how does it work? 

1. Connect with the NSM Home Access team. With 24 locations across the United States, our Home Access team can connect you with certified home access professionals. Call 855-540-4410 to set up your evaluation so we can learn more about your specific needs.
   
2. Participate in an evaluation. A Home Access team member will come to your home to evaluate what products will work best for you, your mobility goals and your life. You’ll receive a quote for the work within 48 hours of the evaluation. For most clients, insurance does not cover home accessibility products or home modifications, so the majority do pay out-of-pocket.
   
3. Get ready for installation. With NSM, you’ll work with a dedicated Home Access team from evaluation to installation — with no sub-contractors. The team will work with you to set a date and time to install your home accessibility products and help you understand how to use them before leaving. The team will also work with you to schedule routine maintenance to ensure your home remains accessible and easy for you to navigate. 

Your Trusted Provider

NSM may already be your trusted CRT provider, but we also offer home access solutions you can depend on. For more than 30 years, we’ve completed more than 250,000 installs, testament to our commitment to helping ensure your home, car and daily life is accessible.

What sets us apart? 

• We stick with you. Our Home Access team members are experienced and know the industry and our products inside out. With an average tenure of nearly 20 years, our team understands the process and the products — and seeks to serve with excellence and compassion.
  
• One team from start to finish. At NSM, we don’t use subcontractors to complete our home access projects and installations, making the process less confusing and more streamlined for our clients.
  
• We live out our values. We’re committed to our HEARTS core values (honor, excellence, accountability, respect, teamwork and service) at NSM and seek to live them out in every job. We want to your trusted home access partner and seek to live out those values with every interaction. We don’t just say we’re the best; we seek to live it out. 

The NSM Advantage

Whether you’re adapting your space for safety, comfort or long-term mobility, our team is dedicated to providing personalized solutions and reliable care you can count on. Whatever your home accessibility needs, NSM is your trusted partner. 

Here’s why: 

• NSM works closely with industry-leading suppliers so that you have access to the best options and latest technologies. 
• NSM offers solutions that fit your needs and your life. At NSM, we have home accessibility options, including handling short- or long-term needs with your choice of purchasing or renting equipment. 
• NSM makes the process easier, with a dedicated home access team, price-matching and financing options to help you find the solution you need as quickly as possible. 

Learn How NSM Can Help You Stay Independent at Home

From ramps to elevators, explore the solutions that make your home more accessible — and your life easier. With more than 30 years of experience and a commitment to our clients, NSM is your trusted home access provider. Learn More!

The post From Evaluation to Installation: How NSM Simplifies Home Accessibility appeared first on NSM — National Seating & Mobility.

Most commercial insurance carriers don’t cover loaner equipment for CRT users? 

It’s common to expect a loaner or rental car coverage when your vehicle is being repaired, but most commercial insurance carriers don’t cover loaner equipment or the associated temporary replacement fee for CRT users while their chair is being repaired. Medicare, on the other hand, does cover a temporary replacement during a repair, but only for one month. Because of other factors that extend the CRT repair timeline, such as prior authorization requirements, repairs can sometimes take up to two months to be completed. 

Educate Yourself: Temporary replacement coverage can differ depending on your insurance carrier. Seek to understand your health plan benefits, including any provisions regarding temporary replacement when your primary chair is being repaired.

How Would Temporary Replacement Coverage Help CRT Users?

CRT equipment is highly customized and specifically tailored to each user’s needs—so a lengthy repair isn’t just an inconvenience. CRT equipment ensures users can live their lives with optimum mobility and independence, and repairs often leave users without the equipment they need to do so. Loss of mobility and independence often lead to lost wages, missed appointments and time with friends and family in addition to potentially dangerous medical complications. Temporary replacement coverage would help CRT users by: 

• Since many CRT users don’t have reliable backup chairs, temporary replacement coverage would ensure CRT users have the ability and equipment needed to keep moving through their daily lives, even though the replacement chair may not be customized to meet all of their customized needs.  
• Temporary replacement coverage would help reduce health risks associated with loss of mobility. 
• Temporary replacement coverage may enable CRT suppliers to maintain a wider range of loaner options, though replacement chairs are not a direct replacement and cannot be customized to fit every CRT user’s specific needs. 

Did You Know You Can Make a Difference?

As a CRT user, your experience can help legislators and health insurance carriers understand the value of coverage for wheelchair replacement. You can help by: 

Research What’s Happening in Your State: Follow advocacy organizations like NCART, iNRRTS, AAHomecare and other advocates to stay up-to-date about ongoing efforts and learn what is happening in your state. 

Share Your Story: Lawmakers may not fully understand the positive impact temporary wheelchair replacement coverage could have on your daily life. By sharing your story and real examples of how having access to a loaner chair would affect your life, work and health, you can help them understand the benefits temporary replacement coverage would provide. Find your elected officials. 

Did you know that temporary replacement coverage is only one of several issues currently creating barriers for CRT users? Learn more.

The post Did You Know: Temporary Wheelchair Replacement Coverage appeared first on NSM — National Seating & Mobility.

For Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) users, a wheelchair breakdown isn’t just an inconvenience. It means that daily life is on hold indefinitely. While most mobility equipment is designed to last five years, the wearable key components will require maintenance and replacement to keep your chair running its best and avoid catastrophic failures — which can mean missing work or school, being bed-bound or facing potential health risks. 

For CRT users, it’s not a question of if they’re going to experience a chair failure, but rather when. Research has shown that 64% of wheelchair users experience a failure in a given six-month period. Recent research has also shed light on the scope and impact of these failures—and what the data reveals is cause for attention.

Common Parts that Don’t Go the Distance

Mobility equipment is highly customized, often comprised of thousands of components. Just like a car or home appliance, the wear and tear caused by daily use takes its toll, sometimes leading to chair failure. 

For manual wheelchairs, research has shown that some of the parts that fail most frequently include: 

• Casters,
• Tires,
• Bearings,
• Armrests, and
• Footrests. 

Power chair users face failures in all the same areas with a few additional vulnerabilities, including: 

• Electronics,
• Batteries, and
• Motors/actuators. 

Recent research has shown that on average, these parts last about two years—less than half the expected five-year lifetime of the chair. This isn’t a quality issue, but due to the wear and tear of an active life. You’d never expect your car’s tires or brakes to last the entire lifetime of the vehicle, and CRT equipment that is used day in and day out to ensure independence and mobility is no different. 

Those with More Complex Mobility Needs Face a Higher Risk of Chair Failure

More complex mobility needs result in highly customized, complex mobility equipment—which means an increased number of parts and components that could potentially fail. 

CRT equipment is highly customized, meaning a CRT user with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) needs a wheelchair that’s tailored to meet his or her individual needs, which may differ widely from those of other wheelchair users with different diagnoses. Customizations can range from custom seating systems that help with posture and pressure relief to advanced positioning like recline or tilt, alternate drive controls and more—but each addition adds to the complexity of the equipment and increases the number of components that could potentially fail. 

Research proves that point. In a 2021 study, researchers analyzed more than 6,000 caster failures across five wheelchair models, including manual and power chairs. The results? 

• Users of tilt-in-space manual chairs experienced high-risk failures twice as often as users of ultralightweight manual chairs. 
• Users of Group 3 and 4 power wheelchairs, often prescribed for CRT users with the most complex mobility needs, faced 15–26% more high-risk failures than Group 2 users. 

There Are Real Consequences to CRT Breakdowns

A 2018 study published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that when a breakdown had immediate consequences—such as being stranded, injured, or missing work or appointments—CRT users: 

• Reported higher pain levels and poorer perceived health,
• Were about 2 times more likely to be rehospitalized, and 
• Face a higher likelihood of developing pressure sores within 12 months. 

In addition to medical complications, breakdowns can also affect income, mental health and participation in work, family and community life. 

Why Preventive Maintenance Matters

It’s impossible to engineer mobility equipment with parts that will never fail—but research has shown that if preventive maintenance were a covered benefit, we could help more CRT users avoid catastrophic failure, injury, medical complications and many other adverse consequences. 

Currently, most insurance carriers don’t cover preventive maintenance for CRT equipment, so CRT users must wait for a part to fail before they can get it repaired. Studies have shown that regular maintenance can reduce accidents, lower long-term repair costs and improve outcomes.

Mobility equipment technology continues to evolve—but insurance provisions for preventive maintenance on that equipment has not. Learn more about why preventive maintenance should be a covered benefit and how you can advocate for change. Let’s get moving together to make a difference.

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Ready for a new wheelchair or need a repair to your mobility equipment? Navigating prior authorization requirements with your health insurance carrier can be one of the most confusing parts of the process.

At National Seating & Mobility (NSM), we understand the challenges and we want to help make the process a little less frustrating. In this article, we’ll help you understand prior authorization, the documentation requirements that are part of the new equipment or repair process and share helpful tips to make the process as smooth as possible. 

What Is Prior Authorization?

Prior authorization is basically asking your health insurance carrier or plan to agree to pay for new equipment or a repair to your existing equipment BEFORE anything is ordered. Be aware that some insurance carriers may not require prior authorization in some cases, so it’s important to learn what your health insurance carrier requires. 

The prior authorization process involves several steps and types of documentation, including: 

• A prescription for CRT equipment,
• A seating evaluation to determine the best CRT equipment for your needs,
• An equipment estimate that details the cost of the equipment you need, and 
• A Letter of Medical Necessity is a document that explains why specific medical equipment is essential for your health and well-being. 

Once you submit the required documentation to your health insurance carrier, they will review it and either approve or deny the request based on their specific guidelines for coverage. 

Detailing the Prior Authorization Process for New CRT Equipment

Requirement 1: Prescription for CRT Equipment

What It Is: A prescription from your physician stating that you need to be evaluated for a mobility device. You must have a prescription in order to set up a seating evaluation or request a repair. Most health plans require an in-person appointment with your physician that is focused on your mobility needs.

Who’s Responsible: Your doctor

Requirement 2: Seating Evaluation

What It Is: An assessment performed by a physical or occupational therapist or physiatrist and an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) to evaluate your physical and functional needs to help determine the best mobility solutions for your needs and lifestyle. 

Who’s Responsible: Your therapists (physical or occupational) or physiatrist and ATP

Requirement 3: Equipment Quote

What It Is: After your seating evaluation, your CRT equipment supplier will create a detailed list of the recommended equipment and their associated costs.

Who’s Responsible: Your CRT supplier

Requirement 4: Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN)

What It Is: A formal letter or document that justifies your need for the prescribed mobility equipment, explaining how it addresses your specific condition, diagnosis and functional limitations. This is completed after your seating evaluation.

Who’s Responsible: Your physical or occupational therapist or physiatrist

Once the required information has been collected, it will be submitted to your insurance carrier for funding review and approval. Documents usually cannot be submitted independently, so know what your insurance provider requires and keep track of any missing documentation so you can follow up with the appropriate person. 

What About Repairs?

When it comes to repairs, many insurance carriers or health plans also require prior authorization before ordering parts to fix the problem. Other documentation requirements that health insurance carriers commonly require for repairs include: 

• An updated prescription or Statement of Continued Medical Necessity, 
• A repair assessment conducted by your wheelchair supplier, 
• A repair estimate, and 
• Proof of Original Purchase. 

How You Can Help

Prior authorization is a team effort! In most cases, your CRT supplier will collect and submit the required documentation to your insurance carrier, but your CRT supplier needs your help to ensure the process runs smoothly. Seek to understand your health insurance carrier’s prior authorization requirements and find ways to support the process. Here are a few ideas of how you can help. 

• Keep copies of all documentation for your own records. 
• Understand your insurance carrier’s prior authorization requirements for new equipment and repairs so you can anticipate documentation needs. 
• Know who to reach out to if a requirement is missing. Stay in contact with your funding specialist so you can quickly follow up on any missing items. 
• Be proactive. Request that your doctor, health care provider or therapists send information to your wheelchair provider as quickly as possible. As the insured person, follow up with your health insurance carrier once prior authorization has been submitted and ask that the decision be expedited. 
• Be prepared. Communicate with your wheelchair provider quickly if there are any updates or changes to your coverage. If you change insurance carriers during the process, understand that all of your information will have to be gathered and resubmitted to your new health insurance carrier, slowing down the process of getting new equipment or a repair. 

Have more questions about NSM’s service and repair process?

Find the answers in our helpful FAQ.

Take Action

Legislation aimed at removing or limiting prior authorization requirements for certain repairs is currently under consideration in several states. If passed, these reforms could significantly shorten the timeline for completing necessary repairs—often cutting delays from one to four weeks, depending on the insurance provider and their policies—ensuring CRT users maintain their independence and quality of life.

• Follow advocacy organizations like NCART, iNRRTS, AAHomecare and other advocates to stay up-to-date about ongoing efforts and learn what is happening in your state.
• Contact your state, local and federal lawmakers to share your story. This resource can help. 

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