What the law means and what we still need to do
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More Than Walking was an instrumental contributor to the CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition's effort to pass the first wheelchair repair law in the United States.  From July 1st, 2024, PA 24-58 (formerly SB 308) will require wheelchair dealers to complete repairs within 10 business days, not counting days for shipping or insurance processes, and eliminate the need for insurance to prior-authorize repairs (Medicaid on July 1, private marketplace insurance on January 1st). These changes should bring the average repair wait times from two months to two weeks. This is ground-breaking, but the only enforcement mechanism of this law is public pressure and the threat of additional penalties put in new legislation if timelines are not kept. Wheelchair users are pushing up against powerful and international private equity interests, and our only hope is legislation that protects our rights to timely and accessible healthcare. See extensive media coverage of this issue at News 8,  CT Insider, CT Mirror, and CT News Junkie.

Together, we can replicate and improve upon Connecticut's success, and so, we invite you to:

1. Learn more about the growing role private equity is having in healthcare worldwide and the threat it poses to people with disabilities

2. Volunteer to help advocate for timely wheelchair repair laws in your state

3. Donate or fundraise to hep us jump-start this advocacy campaign.


Background

More Than Walking is a member of the CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition, an effort by wheelchair consumers, health professionals, and disability rights advocates to push for reforms that will improve the timeliness of and access to wheelchair repairs in Connecticut and beyond. You can follow our progress at www.facebook.com/wheelchairreform

A CT legislative task force was created in the summer of 2023 to recommend new laws and regulations for tackling absurd delays in getting wheelchair repairs in consumers' homes, the common wait time being at least 2 months. The root cause of these delays has been identified as insufficient staffing by the only major wheelchair repair providers in the state and country, Numotion and National Seating & Mobility (NSM). Wheelchair user advocates on the task force pushed for and passed legislation that requires in-home repairs to be completed within 10 business days, among other changes such as elimination of insurance prior authorization or new prescriptions for 5 year periods.

Listen to the Where We Live NPR interview that coalition members Jonathan Sigworth and Farrah Garland gave back in June 2023. Check it out here:  https://www.ctpublic.org/.../wheelchair-repairs-can-take... 

Perhaps the greatest driving force behind extensive delays in wheelchair repairs in the USA is the emergence of Private Equity in the Durable Medical Equipment industry. See this November 2023 national report by Eileen O'Grady at PEStakeholder.org. 

Since the beginning of 2023, More Than Walking Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Sigworth as helped lead advocacy efforts on the issue of wheelchair repair timeliness and currently serves on the CT Wheelchair Repair Task Force, which will make recommendations for 2024 legislation. You can watch the full task force meetings on YouTube and learn more about its members and process here.  

Questions? Contact Jonathan at [email protected]