Supporters urge removing prior authorization for repair of wheelchairs and other complex rehab equipment

Senate Bill 549 would prohibit the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and coordinated care organizations (CCOs) from requiring prior authorization for repairs to certain complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) when the device is needed for mobility, to prevent hospitalization, is used for a medical purpose, and when repairs are performed by a qualified technician.

Supporters told the Senate Committee on Health Care that long prior‑authorization waits leave wheelchair users stranded, unable to attend work, school or medical appointments. Charlie Fisher, state director at OSPIRG, called SB 549 “a small step” following Oregon’s Right to Repair law and said survey results showed 93% of respondents needed service in the prior year and 68% waited four or more weeks; some waited more than 24 weeks.

Emily Grama of The Arc Oregon and multiple individual witnesses described cases where people were homebound for months while awaiting approvals and parts. Casey Moore, who testified he is quadriplegic after a 2023 spinal-cord injury, said he had waited months for repairs and that when a chair is unusable “my life gets put on hold.” Kelsey Hargrove’s video testimony said she was homebound for six months while waiting for a battery replacement.

Providers and suppliers also described delays and operational constraints. Alexis (Lexi) Bettinger, representing Bellevue Health Care, said providers often see timelines that “significantly delay repairs” and commonly exceed 30 days. Wayne Grau of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology (NCART) estimated Oregon prior-authorization timelines average 14 to 21 days and noted that 98.2% of prior-authorization requests are ultimately approved; he and other suppliers said many repairs could be completed immediately if prior authorization were not required.

Some payers and industry representatives raised concerns. Henry O’Keefe, vice president of health care policy for the Pac West Lobby Group, said prior authorization is used to verify medical necessity, search for third‑party liability, and to flag fraud, waste and abuse. Josh Balak of AllCare Health said his plan does not place prior authorization on many wheelchair repairs and argued that removing prior authorization statewide should wait until clarity is provided on other bills that may change the prioritized list and related rules.

The hearing produced no committee vote; committee members asked questions about loaner chairs, federal funding constraints, and how removal of prior authorization would affect payment for noncovered repairs. Committee staff and witnesses said they would follow up with more precise answers about federal requirements and how different payers handle loaner equipment.

The hearing record includes multiple requests for the committee to move the bill forward so that limits on prior authorization shorten repair times and reduce secondary health harms for people who rely on assistive technology.