Substitute House Bill No. 7106 seeks to improve the process and requirements for wheelchair repairs in Connecticut, particularly for Medicaid recipients. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill eliminates the need for a new prescription or prior authorization for medically necessary repairs of customized wheelchairs if the original prescription is less than five years old. It mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to cover repairs or replacements for Medicaid recipients' customized wheelchairs and introduces definitions for key terms such as "authorized wheelchair dealer" and "timely repair." The bill also establishes a framework for timely repair requests and responses, requiring authorized dealers to maintain accessible communication and respond within specified timeframes.

Additionally, the bill modifies reporting requirements for authorized wheelchair dealers, shifting from annual to quarterly reports on repair timelines and processes. It mandates the Office of the Healthcare Advocate to record complaints about timely repair issues and conduct a public awareness campaign regarding consumer rights. Notably, the bill removes provisions for Medicaid coverage of transportation and preventative maintenance, and it terminates the Complex Rehabilitation Technology and Wheelchair Repair Advisory Council on February 1, 2026. The timeline for timely repairs is adjusted to allow for delays due to parts delivery or prior authorization requests, while ensuring that consumer rights under existing laws remain intact.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 42-337, 42-338
HS Joint Favorable Substitute: 42-337, 42-338
File No. 518: 42-337, 42-338
File No. 948: 42-337, 42-338