CHOICES FOR INCREASED MOBILITY ACT OF 2026

On 2026-07-20, Representative John Joyce (R-PA-13) delivered a floor speech titled "CHOICES FOR INCREASED MOBILITY ACT OF 2026" in the House.

CHOICES FOR INCREASED MOBILITY ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4636-H4637] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CHOICES FOR INCREASED MOBILITY ACT OF 2026 Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1703) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify payment rules for manual wheelchairs under part B of the Medicare program, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1703 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. SPECIAL RULES RELATED TO TREATMENT OF CERTAIN MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. Section 1834(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(24) Special rules related to treatment of certain manual wheelchairs.-- ``(A) Requirement to establish separate hcpcs codes for certain manual wheelchairs.--With respect to ultralightweight manual wheelchairs payable under this subsection [[Page H4637]] furnished on or after January 1, 2028, the Secretary shall establish two or more HCPCS codes, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, for the base of such a wheelchair depending on the construction material used in such base (with 1 or more such codes for such a base with titanium or carbon fiber construction material and 1 or more such codes for such a base without such materials). ``(B) Payment and beneficiary protections.-- ``(i) Payment.--On or after January 1, 2028, in the case where an individual purchases or rents from a supplier an ultralightweight manual wheelchair that has titanium or carbon fiber construction material used in the base of such wheelchair, payment to the supplier shall be made in the frequency and amount as would otherwise be made under this subsection (as described in paragraph (1)(A)) for such wheelchair. ``(ii) Beneficiary charges.--The supplier may charge the individual the difference between the supplier's actual charge for such wheelchair and the payment amount described in clause (i) for such wheelchair. ``(iii) Beneficiary protections.--In order to inform an individual of the individual's potential financial liability under clause (ii), the Secretary may require a supplier to issue a notice to the individual (in a form and manner determined by the Secretary) prior to the purchase or rental of such ultralightweight manual wheelchair by such individual.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky. General Leave Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and include extraneous material on H.R. 1703. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky? There was no objection. Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), my good friend, the sponsor of this legislation, a valuable member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and head of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act. This important piece of legislation clarifies the payment rules for manual wheelchairs under Medicare part B. The bill allows Medicare patients the choice to decide whether a titanium or a carbon-fiber wheelchair is right for them, giving patients the option to pay out of pocket for wheelchair upgrades if that is their choice. To restore this choice for Medicare patients, this bill creates two new wheelchair codes and enables upgrades within existing codes. Importantly, this will remove barriers to patients, allowing the patient to access the upgraded benefit at no additional cost to CMS. We must remove obstacles that prevent patients from taking full advantage of their Medicare benefits and give them the freedom to choose the equipment that is right for the patient, a decision that has profound impacts on their individual lives. This bipartisan legislation will remove the barrier that has impeded access to lightweight wheelchair options for individuals with mobility impairments since 2016. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to see this important bill come to the House floor today, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act. Mr. Speaker, this bill will clarify Medicare payment rules for ultra lightweight manual wheelchairs and allow Medicare beneficiaries to upgrade to wheelchairs with titanium or carbon fiber materials at their own cost. The bill would give beneficiaries the choice to select a wide range of wheelchairs. Under the bill, seniors would have the choice to acquire a wheelchair with titanium or carbon fiber materials through the Medicare program with additional out-of-pocket costs. I am glad that the bill would require suppliers to notify beneficiaries of the additional financial liability. Mr. Speaker, while I support this bill, I am concerned that the bill only helps higher income seniors who can afford to pay out of pocket for these additional upgrades beyond what is covered under the Medicare program. The universality of the Medicare program and the fact that all beneficiaries have access to the same benefits is an important principle in my opinion. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1703, led by my good friend who previously spoke, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce). Medicare beneficiaries should not be limited in their ability to access the right wheelchair to help them move freely in their daily lives. Ultimately, the payment clarifications in this legislation are intended to improve access to wheelchair upgrades among Medicare beneficiaries who choose to do so. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This is a bipartisan bill. It is something we all support, and I thank my colleagues for supporting it. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1703, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR1703, HR1703