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Wheelchair bill now law; companies must notify consumers as oversight shifts to OHA
Summary
Council members said the wheelchair bill passed into law and requires NewMotion and NSM to notify consumers of rights (including a 10‑day in‑home repair right) and to submit monthly data; oversight of the council will transfer from Human Services to the Office of the Health Care Advocate on July 1.
Maureen said the council’s wheelchair bill "did pass as part of public act 26 72," and described two immediate effects: manufacturers/providers NewMotion and NSM must give consumers written notice of their rights under the law, and the companies must supply monthly data reporting that is now required by statute.
The change also shifts the council’s administrative home from the Human Services committee to the Office of the Health Care Advocate (OHA). Becky, speaking for OHA, said the office is "really, really excited to have you all" under its oversight and is working on the processes needed for the July 1 transfer.
Why it matters: Members said the notice requirement will ensure consumers learn about a 10‑day right to an in‑home repair and about the OHA complaint line referenced in the law. Maureen noted that the statutory change formalizes monthly data collection the council has been doing since August 2004, making the reporting an ongoing legal requirement rather than an informal practice.
The transcript did not provide the full text of the enacted statute beyond the cited phrase "Public Act 26 72," and it did not spell out enforcement mechanisms or timelines for the new reporting beyond identifying a monthly cadence. The council plans to discuss implementation details, vendor responsibilities and how OHA will handle complaints at the next scheduled meeting.
Becky said OHA staff will first meet internally and then meet with Maureen and John to "discuss how that transition will be best going forward" and to develop a consistent schedule for agendas, minutes and data submissions.
Next steps: The group set a tentative next meeting for June 17 to continue planning the transition and implementation of the new statutory requirements.
