S. 247 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 24, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAdds billing codes for lightweight wheelchairs
Medicare currently doesn't have specific billing codes for certain lightweight manual wheelchairs made with advanced materials like titanium or carbon fiber. This bill would require Medicare to create at least two new billing codes for these wheelchairs—one for bases made with those special materials and one for bases without them. Suppliers would get the standard Medicare payment, but could charge patients the difference if the actual wheelchair costs more.
How it affects you
If you use Medicare and want an ultralightweight manual wheelchair with advanced materials, this change would make it easier for suppliers to bill for these specialized chairs. You might end up paying the difference between what Medicare covers and what the wheelchair actually costs, though suppliers would need to tell you about that cost upfront.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 24, 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 SessionS. 247
A BILL
Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) · Introduced Jan 24, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 24, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”