Wheelchair users are calling long wait times for wheelchair repairs an enduring “crisis of equity” as lawmakers ponder whether to take up bills designed to make wheelchairs more reliable for those who depend on them for their livelihoods and health.
Wheelchair users crowded into a State House hearing room Tuesday to speak about the loss of independence extended wheelchair repairs cause, alongside their concerns about structural deficiencies in the repair system.
“At one point, my wheelchair went unrepaired for over nine weeks. I was completely bed bound. That delay didn’t just inconvenience me, it led to me being hospitalized, placed on a ventilator, and fighting for my life,” said Destiny Maxam, a community organizer at the Disability Policy Consortium.
“I want to be clear. This happened because I couldn’t get the equipment I rely on every day,” Maxam said.
A bill (S 210) filed by Sen. John Cronin would extend wheelchair warranties to two years and require that an assessment of broken wheelchairs be done — and temporary replacements be provided — within certain periods of time, depending on whether assessments are made remotely or in-person.
Senators passed a comparable bill 2024, but it died without a vote in the House.
A new House bill (H 1278) would put an exact timeline on wheelchair repairs, requiring that they be made no later than ten business days after the date of request. The Rep. Jim O’Day bill would also eliminate prior authorization requirements for repairs under $1,000.
Both bills eliminate the prior authorization requirements for repairs under $1,000, require there be an inventory of wheelchair parts available and include varying enforcement provisions.
“This legislation isn’t just about mechanical fixes. It’s about restoring dignity, independence and basic rights. Because when our chairs don’t work, our lives don’t work,” Maxam said. “This is a crisis of equity. People who walk don’t have to wait nine weeks to use their legs again, and yet, wheelchair users are expected to live like this over and over again.”
Assistant Attorney General Ann Lynch said the issue is commonly cited in complaints filed with the office.
“Our office consistently receives complaints from consumers about wheelchair repair delays. In recent complaints, consumers have reported that they have been waiting two, four, five, six, and even nine months to have their wheelchairs repaired,” Lynch said.
Wayne Grau, executive director of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART), voiced some of the only opposition to the bill. NCART is a national nonprofit that advocates for individuals who rely on complex rehab equipment.
“We understand that consumers are experiencing a lack of timely access to wheelchair repair services,” Grau said. “In the last session, NCART was engaged with various stakeholders, including consumers, legislators and MassHealth to develop solutions to address the timeline of repairs.”
Grau said NCART is prepared to continue those conversations, and supports the elimination of prior authorization, which he said will speed up repairs by anywhere from seven to 21 days. Grau highlighted that complex rehabilitation equipment, which the bill refers to, is customized to specific needs, and centered his concern on the provision that would require a two-year warranty on wheelchairs.
“We are concerned that [with] just the wear and tear on items, which currently have a six-to-13 month warranty, [manufacturers] will not be able to expand their warranty limits to meet that two years,” Grau said.
Grau said manufacturers currently provide tiered warranties for certain components, and buy pieces like batteries and tires from other companies — parts he said have to be redesigned and expanded over time.
