Medicare Access to Complex Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Act of 2006

H.R. 4994, the Medicare Access to Complex Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Act of 2006, sought to change how Medicare pays for specialized medical equipment. The bill proposed exempting "complex rehabilitation products"—such as customized power wheelchairs and specialized seating systems—from Medicare’s competitive bidding process.

For citizens who rely on highly individualized medical technology, this bill was designed to ensure they could continue to receive equipment tailored to their specific physical needs rather than being restricted to lower-cost, standardized models. By removing these items from the competitive acquisition program, the bill aimed to protect patient access to specialized suppliers and prevent delays in obtaining life-sustaining assistive technology.