ITEM Coalition Presses CMS on Standing Wheelchair Coverage
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United States – October 17, 2026 -- The ITEM Coalition, a bloc of 103 national organizations, has named Medicare coverage of standing systems in Group 3 power wheelchairs its top priority heading into 2027, after waiting six years for CMS to open a National Coverage Analysis.
Medicare's coverage gap leaves beneficiaries paying out of pocket
Medicare does not cover standing systems for Group 3 power wheelchairs, according to ITEM Coalition co-coordinator Michael Barnett. Beneficiaries with significant mobility impairments either bear substantial out-of-pocket costs or go without the technology. The coalition has a National Coverage Determination reconsideration request pending and says CMS is "well past time" to act.