(a) Commencing July 1, 2006, any provider of custom rehabilitation equipment and custom rehabilitation technology services to a Medi-Cal beneficiary shall have on staff, either as an employee or independent contractor, or have a contractual relationship with, a qualified rehabilitation professional who was directly involved in determining the specific custom rehabilitation equipment needs of the patient and was directly involved with, or closely supervised, the final fitting and delivery of the custom rehabilitation equipment.

(b) Commencing January 1, 2006, a medical provider shall conduct a physical examination of an individual before prescribing a motorized wheelchair or scooter for a Medi-Cal beneficiary. The medical provider shall complete a certificate of medical necessity, developed by the department, that documents the medical condition that necessitates the motorized wheelchair or scooter, and verifies that the patient is capable of using the wheelchair or scooter safely.

(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Custom rehabilitation equipment” means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities with respect to mobility and reduce anatomical degradation and complications of individuals with disabilities. Custom rehabilitation equipment includes, but is not limited to, nonstandard manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and seating systems, power scooters that are specially configured, ordered, and measured based on patient height, weight, and disability, specialized wheelchair electronics and cushions, custom bath equipment, standers, gait trainers, and specialized strollers.

(2) “Custom rehabilitation technology services” means the application of enabling technology systems designed and assembled to meet the needs of a specific person experiencing any permanent or long-term loss or abnormality of physical or anatomical structure or function with respect to mobility. These services include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of the needs of a patient with a disability, including an assessment of the patient for the purpose of ensuring that the proposed equipment is appropriate, the documentation of medical necessity, the selection, fit, customization, maintenance, assembly, repair, replacement, pick up and delivery, and testing of equipment and parts, and the training of an assistant caregiver and of a patient who will use the equipment or individuals who will assist the client in using the equipment.

(3) “Qualified rehabilitation professional” means an individual to whom any one of the following applies:

(A) The individual is a physical therapist licensed pursuant to the Business and Professions Code, occupational therapist licensed pursuant to the Business and Professions Code, or other qualified health care professional approved by the department.

(B) The individual is a registered member in good standing of the National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS), or other credentialing organization recognized by the department.

(C) The individual has successfully passed one of the following credentialing examinations administered by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA):

(i) The Assistive Technology Supplier examination.

(ii) The Assistive Technology Practitioner examination.

(iii) The Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist examination.

(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 523, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.)