Summary — HB 7106: "An Act Concerning Wheelchair Repair Requirements"
Status and procedural history
- Bill number: HB 7106
- Title: An Act Concerning Wheelchair Repair Requirements
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Current status (as of provided record): File No. 948; Favorable Report and placed on Senate calendar (Senate Calendar No. 526) on 2025-05-22. House passed with Amendment Schedule A on 2025-05-20. Earlier actions include referral to the Joint Committee on Human Services, public hearing (03/06/2025), and reporting out of the LCO. LCO file activity: Filed with LCO 03/19/2025; LCO file numbers referenced include 518 and 948.
Purpose / intent
- The bill is intended to establish or clarify legal requirements for the maintenance and repair of wheelchairs (likely including powered and manual mobility devices) to improve timely access to repairs and to coordinate coverage and responsibilities among insurers, Medicaid, state agencies, providers and users. The subject tags (Medicaid, health insurance, Social Services Department, Healthcare Advocate, state employees, electronic government information) indicate the measure addresses coverage, provider obligations, consumer protections, reporting, and public access to information.
Key provisions (inferred from title and subject tags)
Because the full text is not included in the materials provided, the items below describe the types of provisions the bill appears designed to create or modify. The exact language and any required timeframes, dollar thresholds, or penalties should be confirmed by reviewing the bill text or LCO file.
Repair and maintenance standards
- Define obligations for timely repair and maintenance of wheelchairs, including emergency repair prioritization and distinguishing routine maintenance from replacement.
- Potentially set maximum repair turnaround times or service-level expectations for repairs under Medicaid or insurance coverage.
Coverage and payment
- Clarify or require that Medicaid and private health insurers cover necessary wheelchair repairs, parts and labor (subject to medical necessity or coverage rules), and specify cost-sharing rules or caps for beneficiaries.
- Address billing and reimbursement procedures for repair providers.
Provider qualifications and network requirements
- Require repair vendors to meet training, certification, or licensing standards; possibly require insurers/Medicaid to maintain lists or networks of qualified repair providers.
- May include requirements to maintain inventory of common replacement parts or to provide temporary replacement equipment when repairs will be lengthy.
Administrative and consumer protections
- Mandate notice and appeal rights for consumers when repairs are denied or delayed.
- Assign responsibilities to the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and/or the Department of Social Services for oversight, consumer assistance, or complaint resolution.
Reporting and electronic information
- Require public reporting of repair access/performance metrics to state agencies and/or publication of provider information online (hence the “electronic government information” subject tag).
- Require periodic reports to the legislature or inclusion of repair data in Medicaid reporting.
Application to state employees and programs
- Address how state employee health plans or state procurement for assistive devices incorporate the repair requirements.
Who would be affected
- Wheelchair users (Medicaid beneficiaries and privately insured individuals) — improved access to repairs and consumer protections.
- Repair and durable medical equipment (DME) providers — new operational, documentation, or credentialing requirements.
- Medicaid program and private insurers — potential new coverage and reimbursement obligations and administrative processes.
- State agencies (Department of Social Services, Office of the Healthcare Advocate) — oversight, reporting, and consumer assistance responsibilities.
- Employers or state programs that supply wheelchairs to employees may need to adjust contracts and maintenance procedures.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Positive impacts: reduced downtime for users, better health and community participation outcomes, clearer dispute resolution and public information.
- Administrative/cost impacts: insurers and Medicaid may face higher short-term costs for increased repairs/replacements or faster turnaround; DME vendors may face compliance costs.
- Implementation details (precise timelines, reimbursement rates, enforcement mechanisms) are critical to understanding fiscal impact and operational feasibility.
Next steps / where to find the bill text
- For the exact statutory changes, timelines, monetary thresholds and enforcement provisions, consult the bill text/LCO files (File No. 948 / LCO file numbers referenced, and earlier File No. 518). Contact the Joint Committee on Human Services, the Office of Legislative Research, or the Office of Fiscal Analysis for bill text, fiscal notes, and committee reports.
