UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION for UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

United Spinal participated in meetings with leadership of the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division, to discuss issues affecting the disability community. United Spinal submitted comments to the U.S. Access Board on artificial intelligence related to accessibility and the disability community - ATBCB-2024-0005-0001. As members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Education Task Force as well as the CCD Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, United Spinal signed onto a policy statement: Access to Assistive Technology, Auxiliary Aids, Services, and Accommodations When Policy Intends to Limit or Ban Use of Assistive Technology in PreK-16 Schools. Engaged Congress regarding the need to confirm David M. Capozzi, United Spinal Board of Directors to the AMTRAK Board of Directors which was accomplished prior to the end of 2024. Engaged with the Department of Labor and the Department of Transportation regarding the need for appropriate transit protections and regulations for passengers with disabilities.

Contacted: Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

District of Columbia DOC

United Spinal Association participated in a quarterly meeting of the Disability Community Advisory Group with DC Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency.

Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV COM

United Spinal supports H.R. 6929 / S. 3565, the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. The bill would provide $7 billion to fund the ACP through FY24. Engaged with the Federal Communications Commission to urge the strengthening of virtual access for the disability community.

Contacted: SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Bills named: H.R. 6929 (118th), S. 3565 (118th)

Veterans VET

United Spinal supports H.R 9478, the Veterans Supporting Prosthetics Opportunities and Recreational Therapy (SPORT) Act.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 9478 (118th)

Health Issues HCR

United Spinal met with staff for the Senate Aging Committee to discuss next steps to increase funding for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. United Spinal seeks legislative or report language directing the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to collaboratively conduct a pilot program measuring the potential beneficial health and functional short- and long-term outcomes and health cost savings achieved from extended lengths of stay in initial traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation settings by employing needed technologies and enhancing consumer training. United Spinal Association supports "Connect For Health Act" which protects and extends Medicare reimbursement for telehealth. United Spinal supports legislation to improve wheelchair service repair and reform. United Spinal supports Medicare coverage for transanal irrigation for bowel management for individuals with neurogenic bowel. United Spinal supports Choices for Increased Mobility Act, H.R. 5371/S.5154 that will allow Medicare beneficiaries to obtain access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchair frames. Congress must act to reinstate beneficiaries ability to upgrade to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs, at their own cost, if they so wish. Spoke with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) on the continuation of recognizing September's Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month along with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI, now that Sen. Rubio has been nominated as Secretary of State. As a member of the Disability & Rehabilitation Research Coalition, United Spinal signed onto comments in response to the Request for Information (RFI): Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Developments (NICHD) Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 (NOT-HD-24-028). Following the September implantable brain computer interface collaborative workshop at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United Spinal participated in workshop meetings with FDA staff and other stakeholders through the Fall. United Spinal Association endorsed a Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation/Habilitation Benefits Coalition letter to the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) at CMS about possible solutions to therapy caps.

Contacted: Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH)

Bills named: S. 5154 (118th), H.R. 5371 (118th)

Transportation TRA

United Spinal participated in a quarterly call with Amtrak along with other representatives from disability organizations. United Spinal signed onto a coalition letter to President Biden in support of finalizing consumer protections in air travel for wheelchair users United Spinal met with DOT leadership celebrating passage of final rule: Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs. United Spinal urged many provisions to be included in final rule. Met with Department of Transportation official regarding opportunities to create transportation options for people with disabilities. Met with White House official to urge action on the U.S. Department of Transportations (Department) rulemaking titled, Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs (DOT-OST-2022-0144) and the Centersfor Medicare and Medicaid services national coverage determination on power wheelchair standing systems. United Spinal participated in a Department of Transportation update about Transportation Secretary Buttigiegs announcement of a $50 million fine against American Airlines for violating the rights of passengers with disabilities under the ACAA. As a member of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation Task Force, United Spinal, along with numerous other disability organizations, commented on the Department of Transportations Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Family Seating in Air Transportation (DOT-OST-2024-0091). The NPRM explains that the department-initiated rulemaking is based on the nature, severity, and increased number of family seating complaints. While we understand the departments actions to ensure safety for children, in any rulemaking, the department must also guarantee passengers with disabilities maintain their rights to boarding and seating accommodations under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). United Spinal Association supported and participated in the U.S. Department of Transportations Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) on-going efforts to launch a new database, Aviation Complaint, Enforcement, and Reporting System (ACERS). Senate Through United Spinals social media, recognized Senator Tammy Duckworths work in 2018 to change federal reporting requiring wheelchair and scooter mishandling to be more transparent. Urged the Senator to support US Department of Transportation to finalize the rule on ensuring the safety and dignity of wheelchair users in air travel. Media outreach recognizing contributions of Senator Tammy Duckworth on the Senators work to make the nations rail stations more accessible.United Spinal is pleased to have supported the All Stations Accessibility Programs Act. Engaged with the U.S. Access Board regarding United Spinal's advances on automated wheelchair securement as part of our SecureRide Coalition activities, including being awarded a DOT Small Business Innovation Research grant to two of the Coalition's partners.

Contacted: Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation

Aviation/Airlines/Airports AVI

United Spinal Association supports H.R. 1267/ S. 545, the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (ACAAA), H.R. 1499 / S. 753, the Good Jobs for Good Airports (GJGA) Act. United Spinal supports and participates in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) on-going efforts to launch a new database, Aviation Complaint, Enforcement, and Reporting System (ACERS). United Spinal submitted comments to the Department of Transportations proposed rule, Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs (DOT-OST-2022-0144), along with other stakeholders. United Spinal, along with numerous other organizations, sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting that the U.S. Department of Transportation close the deadline outlined in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled, Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs, DOT-OST 2022-0144 sooner rather than later. The comment period for the NPRM was extended just 30 days and closed on June 12, 2024. United Spinal co-led and participated in virtual events with a coalition of disability organizations and the Service Employees International Union, inviting members of Congress and their staffs to learn about the importance of urging the US Department of Transportation to finalize its rule to ensure the safety and dignity of wheelchair users in air travel.

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 1499 (118th), S. 753 (118th), S. 545 (118th), H.R. 1267 (118th)

Insurance INS

United Spinal supports: H.R. 5408 / S. 2767, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, introduced by Representative Brian Higgins (D- NY-26) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Social Security Administration (SSA)

Bills named: H.R. 5408 (118th), S. 2767 (118th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

Met with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of insurance coverage of bowel management supplies. Engaged with CMS contractors on the need for coverage of certain ostomy supplies. United Spinal supported a letter to members of the U. S. House of Representatives sent to The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator! Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to follow-up from their June 2023 letter to again express their gratitude for the recent decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover seat elevation systems in Group 3 power wheelchairs under Medicare. The Members also expressed continued concern that CMS has not yet initiated a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) for standing systems in these wheelchairs. United Spinal endorsed a CPR/HAB Coalition comment letter in response to the HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2026 Proposed Rule. United Spinal endorsed a CPR comment letter "Proposed Data Collection on Proprietary Guidelines and Medicare Advantage Plan Audit Protocol". United Spinal supports the S. 5070, the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Programs Act and signed onto a Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities coalition letter in support.

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 5070 (118th)

Railroads RRR

United Spinal Association participated in a meeting with Amtraks Board of Directors and senior leadership along with other representatives from disability organizations. United Spinal Association met with the U.S. Access Board to discuss United Spinals SecureRide Coalition, access to U.S postal facilities and the need for increased accessible parking spaces.

Contacted: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation