# Plain Language Summary: Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025

## What This Bill Does

This bill modifies how Medicare pays for manual wheelchairs, specifically ultralightweight wheelchairs made with advanced materials like titanium or carbon fiber. Currently, Medicare treats all manual wheelchairs the same way for payment purposes. This bill requires Medicare to create separate billing codes (called HCPCS codes) starting January 1, 2026, that distinguish between wheelchairs made with high-tech materials and those made with standard materials. This allows Medicare to potentially pay different amounts based on the construction materials used.

## Who Is Affected

The primary beneficiaries are Medicare recipients who use or need ultralightweight manual wheelchairs. Wheelchair suppliers and manufacturers would also be affected, as they would need to use the new billing codes and provide cost information to patients. The bill is sponsored by both a Republican (Mrs. Blackburn) and a Democrat (Ms. Duckworth), suggesting bipartisan support for improving wheelchair access.

## Key Provisions

- **New billing codes**: Medicare must establish separate codes for wheelchair bases made with titanium/carbon fiber versus standard materials
- **Patient cost responsibility**: If a patient chooses a high-tech wheelchair, they can be charged the difference between what Medicare pays and what the wheelchair actually costs
- **Transparency requirement**: Suppliers must inform patients in advance about their potential out-of-pocket costs before purchasing or renting the wheelchair

Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025

Blackburn, Marsha

Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; 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.