H.R. 1703 · Where this bill is now
Passed both chambers
House: Passed Jul 20, 2026, by voice vote; Senate: Passed Sep 30, 2026, by voice vote
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMedicare wheelchair coding gets more specific
Ever wondered how Medicare knows what to pay for different wheelchairs? This bill requires Medicare to create at least two separate billing codes for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs—one for bases made with high-tech materials like titanium or carbon fiber, and one for bases without them. Suppliers get the same Medicare payment as before, but they can now charge patients extra if the actual wheelchair costs more than what Medicare pays.
How it affects you
If you use Medicare and need an ultralightweight manual wheelchair, this affects how much you might pay out of pocket. Suppliers could ask you to cover the difference between Medicare's payment and the actual cost of your wheelchair, so you'd want to know upfront what your financial responsibility could be. This mainly changes how the billing system works rather than the wheelchairs themselves.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 27, 2025)
Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish specific billing codes under Medicare for certain materials used in ultralightweight manual wheelchairs.
Specifically, the CMS must establish at least two billing codes for the base of the wheelchair, with at least one code for a base with titanium or carbon fiber construction material and at least one code for a base without these materials. Suppliers receive the same payment under Medicare for these wheelchairs as would otherwise apply, but may bill beneficiaries for any difference between the payment and the actual charge for the wheelchair. The CMS may require suppliers to inform beneficiaries of their potential financial liability in these cases.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1703
AN ACT
Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026
Sponsor: Rep. John Joyce (R-PA-13) · Introduced Feb 27, 2025 · Health · 5 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 30, 2026: “Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5299)”
Numbers that changed
Dollar amounts, dates and percentages, taken word for word from the text- Sec. 2 · Date · Introduced → Committee versionSpecial rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs under the Medicare programJanuary 1, 2026→January 1, 2028…payable under this subsection furnished on or after January 1, 2028, the Secretary shall establish two or more…
- Sec. 2 · Date · Introduced → Committee versionSpecial rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs under the Medicare programJanuary 1, 2026→January 1, 2028…and beneficiary protections (i) Payment On or after January 1, 2028, in the case where an individual purchases…
| Section | Where | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sec. 2Date | Special rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs under the Medicare program…payable under this subsection furnished on or after January 1, 2028, the Secretary shall establish two or more…Introduced → Committee version | January 1, 2026 | January 1, 2028 |
| Sec. 2Date | Special rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs under the Medicare program…and beneficiary protections (i) Payment On or after January 1, 2028, in the case where an individual purchases…Introduced → Committee version | January 1, 2026 | January 1, 2028 |
Listed only when one value replaced another and the surrounding words stayed the same. Open a section to read the full wording.