Policy brief: adaptive cycling equipment for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities as durable medical equipment

- Durable medical equipment (DME) policies require that the equipment be medically necessary; however, adaptive cycling equipment (bicycles and tricycles) are usually not deemed medically necessary.- Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) are at high risk for secondary conditions, bo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mary E. Gannotti, Margaret E. O’Neil, Maria Fragala-Pinkham, George E. Gorton, Daniel G. Whitney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2023.1160948/full
Description
Summary:- Durable medical equipment (DME) policies require that the equipment be medically necessary; however, adaptive cycling equipment (bicycles and tricycles) are usually not deemed medically necessary.- Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) are at high risk for secondary conditions, both physical and mental, that can be mitigated by increasing physical activity.- Significant financial costs are associated with the management of secondary conditions.- Adaptive cycling can provide improved physical health of individuals with NDD potentially reducing costs of comorbidities.- Expanding DME policies to include adaptive cycling equipment for qualifying individuals with NDD can increase access to equipment.- Regulations to ensure eligibility, proper fitting, prescription, and training can optimize health and wellbeing.- Programs for recycling or repurposing of equipment are warranted to optimize resources.
ISSN:2673-6861