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Who We Are
The Clinician Task Force is comprised of 28 members, primarily seating and wheelchair practitioners, whose work involves providing wheelchair seating and mobility services to individuals with disabilities. This task force was formed by clinicians concerned about the current CMS coverage policies for wheeled mobility devices. All of our members care deeply about individuals with disabilities who require wheeled mobility devices and support the replacement of the current Medicare wheeled mobility device policy with one that is professionally sound and clinically based.
Rita Hostak and Cara Bachenheimer, governmental affairs specialists who work for Sunrise Medical and Invacare Corporation were the catalysts for the creation of the Clinican Task Force. They also continue to provide technical assistance and support based on their considerable knowledge and experience with the regulatory process.
Most members of the task force have over 10 years of experience practicing in assistive technology, primarily in wheelchair and seating evaluation and recommendation. More detailed information regarding practice location may be found in the list below, but in summary:
- 7 of our members are University based clinicians and/or researchers,
- 7 are rehabilitation/hospital based clinicians,
- 6 work for manufacturers or suppliers,
- 5 are clinicians in private practice with no financial ties to industry and
- 3 practice in other settings (VA hospital, Easter Seals UCP, and Tech Act funded clinic).
Two of our members are rehabilitation engineers and one is a physician. Nine are occupational therapists and 15 are physical therapists. We have 17 RESNA certified Assistive Technology Practitioners (ATP) and 2 certified Assistive Technology Suppliers (ATS). Two of our members hold dual certification (both ATP and ATS). All members of this group are also members of other professional organizations, including RESNA, NRRTS, AAPMR, APTA, and AOTA.
How are we funded?
Funding for the Clinician Task Force is provided through voluntary donations to a fund administered by the Crawford Research Institute at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Funding is provided for expenses incurred by the co-coordinators, including funding for partial salary, administrative expenses and travel. Our telephone conference calls are hosted by Sunrise Medical or Invacare Corporation. Cara Bachenheimer and Rita Hostak participate in our conference calls and our leadership calls and provide us with technical assistance as needed. All other clinicians participating in the work of this task force are volunteering their time and efforts. Additional support and guidance for our work has been provided by United Spinal Association and the ITEM coalition. The CTF assures that at all times the majority of participants have no financial ties to industry.
How Are Our Decisions Made?
The purpose of the CTF is to provide information about wheeled mobility device assessment and decision making to policy - makers that is consistent with contemporary clinical practices and professional standards. The CTF reaches its recommendations by consensus of all participating members.
Independence from Device Manufacturers and Suppliers
As previously stated, the CTF relied on Rita Hostak and Cara Bachenheimer of Sunrise Medical and the Invacare Corporation to get started, and it continues to rely on them for ongoing fund-raising for its activities.
However, the CTF exists and operates independent of all mobility device manufacturers and suppliers. Its members were recruited independently, based on each members's expertise and reputation in the field of seating, positioning and wheeled mobility assessment and service delivery. Once formed, its decisions are made independently, based on the professional judgment and expertise of its members.
The CTF engages in ongoing communication with Rita Hostak and Cara Bachenheimer who also are involved in discussions with key CMS, DMERC, and congressional staff regarding Medicare wheeled mobility device policy. Neither Rita nor Cara are members of the CTF, and they are not involved in decision making regarding CTF recommendations.
Our Goals
- Develop a clinical guidance document for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help improve their guidelines for coverage of wheelchairs and POVs.
- Research and analyze existing clinical data and studies; assess support/nonsupport for request to change to Medicare national coverage policy.
- Work with consortium of organizations – APTA, AOTA, RESNA, AAPMR, ITEM – to ensure consistent message
Our Members
Coordinator |
Laura Cohen PhD, PT, ATP
Principal
Rehabilitation & Technology Consultants, LLC
Decatur, Georgia
Laura@rehabtechconsultants.com
RESNA Member, APTA Member, Friend of NRRTS, NCART Board
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Steering Committee
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Michael Babinec, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP
Manager Power Wheelchair Electronics, Seating & Positioning
The Invacare Corp.
Elyria, Ohio
mbabinec@invacare.com
RESNA Member, AOTA Member, Friend of NRRTS
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Elizabeth Cole, MSPT
Director of Clinical Rehab Services
US Rehab
Longmont, CO
Elizabeth.Cole@usrehab.com
RESNA Member, Friend of NRRTS
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Barbara Levy-Crume, PT, ATP
Manager Seating and Mobility Clinic
CarePartners Health Services
Asheville, NC
BLevy@CarePartners.org
APTA Member & Liason, RESNA member, Friend of NRRTS
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Allison Fracchia PT, ATP
Clinical Coordinator Assistive Technology Clinic
Methodist Rehabilitation Center
Jackson, MS
allisonfracchia@comcast.net
RESNA member, APTA member
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Jill Monger PT, MS, ATP
Adjunct Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, MUSC Seating Clinic Director,
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
carterjm@musc.edu
APTA Member, RESNA Member
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Julie Piriano PT, ATP
Director of Rehab Industry Affairs
Aurora, IL
jpiriano@pridemobility.com
RESNA Member, Friend of NRRTS, NCART Board
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Lauren E. Rosen, PT, MPT, ATP
Motion Analysis Center Program Coordinator
St. Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa
Tampa, Florida 33607
PTLauren@aol.com
RESNA Member, APTA Member, Friend of NRRTS |
Task Force Members |
Gayle Benson PT ATP
Clinical Coordinator for Outpatient PT
Spain Rehab
Birmingham, AL 35249
gbenson@uabmc.edu
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Adrienne F Bergen PT, ATP
Consultant
Delray Beach, FL
adriennebergen@aol.com
RESNA Member, Friend of NRRTS
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Theresa F. Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP
Rehabilitation Team Leader
Spinal Cord Injury System of Care &
Outpatient Neurorehabilitation
The Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus, OH
Theresa.Berner@osumc.edu
RESNA Member, AOTA Member
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Mary Alice Cafiero MS, OTR, ATP
Consultant, My OT
Richardson, TX
myot@mac.com
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Cathy Carver, PT, ATP
UAB/Spain Rehab Center
Birmingham, AL
ccarver@uabmc.edu
RESNA Member, APTA Member
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Chris Chovan, MOT, OTR/L, ATP
President
Rehab Mobility Specialists, Inc
Belle Vernon, PA. 15012
cchovan@verizon.net
AOTA Member
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Susan Christie, PT, ATP
Supervisor, Assistive Technology Center
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital
Malvern, PA
christies@MLHS.org
RESNA Member
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Barbara Crane, PhD, PT, ATP
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy
University of Hartford
Hartford, CT
barb.crane@cox.net
RESNA Member, APTA Member
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Gerry Dickerson, ATS, CRTS
Director of Rehabilitation Technology
MedStar Surgical
College Point, NY
gdcrts@aol.com
RESNA Member, NRRTS Member, NCART Member, NYMEP Member
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Carmen P. DiGiovine, PhD ATP RET
President
6 Degrees of Freedom, LLC
Wheaton, IL 60187
carmen@6degreesoffreedom.com
RESNA Member, IEEE-EMBS Member, BMES Member, NAPT Member
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Linda Elsaesser PT, ATP
President
Elsaesser Consulting, Inc.
Saylorsburg, PA 18353
elsaesserconsulting@gmail.com
RESNA Member, APTA Member
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Leah Ferrazi PT
Physical Therapist Consultant
Tempe, AZ
Catlady35@cox.net
APTA Member, Friend of NRRTS
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Jan Furumasu PT ATP
Physical Therapy Instructor
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Downey CA
jfurumasu@dhs.lacounty.gov
RESNA Member, APTA Member
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Tricia Henley PT, ATP
Clinical Applications Manager
The Roho Group
Belleville, IL
TriciaH@therohogroup.com
RESNA Member, APTA Member
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Diane Johnson OTR/L, ATP
Seating Clinic
Banner Good Samaritan Rehab Institute
Phoenix, AZ
Diane.johnson2@bannerhealth.com
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Tamara Kittelson-Aldred, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Access Therapy Services, LLC
Missoula, MT 59801
tamaralka@gmail.com
RESNA member, AOTA member
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Kay Koch OTR/L, ATP
Mobility Designs
Director of Marketing, Education and Training
Atlanta, GA
kay@mobilitydesigns.com
RESNA Member, AOTA Member
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David Kreutz, PT, ATP
Physical Therapist
Shepherd Center
Atlanta, GA
David_Kreutz@shepherd.org
RESNA Member
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Dan Lipka, M. Ed., OTL, ATS, CRTS
Past President, NRRTS
Assistive Technology Inc
Akron, OH
Dan.lipka@tobiiati.com
RESNA Member, AOTA Member
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Eva K. Ma OTR, ATP
Consultant, Eva K. Ma, OTR, ATP, PC
La Crescent, MN
EvaMa1616@yahoo.com
RESNA member, AOTA member, Friend of NRRTS
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Simon Margolis ATS, ATP
Executive Director
National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppiers (NRRTS)
Plymouth, MN
smargolis@nrrts.org
RESNA Fellow, NRRTS Honorary Fellow
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Chris Maurer, MPT, ATP
Physical Therapist, Seating Clinic, Clinical Researcher
Shepherd Center
Atlanta, GA
Chris_Maurer@shepherd.org
APTA Member
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Joni McGhee, OTR
Clinical Coordinator, Therapy Services
TIRR Memorial Hermann
Houston, TX
Joni.McGhee@memorialhermann.org
AOTA Member
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Jean L. Minkel, PT, ATP
Consultant
Minkel Consulting
New Windsor, NY
jminkel@aol.com
RESNA Member, APTA Member |
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Mary M O'Connell, PT, ATP
O'Connell Physical Therapy
3627 S. 7th St. W
Missoula, MT
themarys2@msn.com
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Jessica Pedersen MBA, OTR/L, ATP
Administrative Director Specialized Therapy Services
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL
jpedersen@ric.org
AOTA Member, RESNA Member
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Cindi Petito OTR/L, ATP
Owner, Seating Solutions, Inc.
Orange Park, FL
Cindi.petito@comcast.net
AOTA Member
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Tina Roesler, MSPT ABDA
TiLITE
Director of Sales and Education
Kennewick, WA
troesler@tilite.com
RESNA Member, APTA Member, Friend of NRRTS
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Mark R. Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP
Instructor Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
schmelermr@pitt.edu
AOTA Member, RESNA Member, Friend of NRRTS
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Mary Shea, MA, OTR/L, ATP
Clinical Manager, Wheelchair Clinic
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
West Orange, NJ
mshea@kessler-rehab.com
RESNA Member, AOTA Member, NYSOTA Member
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Jill Sparacio, OTR/L, ATP, ABDA
Sparacio Consulting Services and Misericordia Homes
Downers Grove, IL
Otspar@aol.com
AOTA Member
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Jodie Stogner, PT, ATP
Physical Therapist, Owner
Southeastern Assistive Technology Solutions, LLC
Jackson, MS
RESNA member, APTA member, MAMES
seat_solutions@bellsouth.net
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Pam Stockman, OTR/L
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, WA
stockman@u.washington.edu
AOTA Member
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Theresa L. Gregorio-Torres, MA, OTR
Seating & Mobility Specialist
Stambush Healthcare Services, The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research (TIRR) and University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Missouri City, TX
vttg@entouch.net
AOTA member and AOTA member for Consortium of Spinal Cord Medicine
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KEY
AOTA- American Occupational Therapy Association
APTA- American Physical Therapy Association
BMES- Biomedical Engineering Society
IEEE-EMBS- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
NAPT- National Association for Pupil Transportation
NCART- National Coalition of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology
NRRTS- National Registry of Rehabilitation and Technology Suppliers
NYMEP- New York Medical Equipment Providers
MAMES- Mississippi Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers
RESNA- Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Society of North America |