AUTHOR=Gannotti Mary E. , O’Neil Margaret E. , Fragala-Pinkham Maria , Gorton George E. , Whitney Daniel G. 

TITLE=Policy brief: adaptive cycling equipment for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities as durable medical equipment

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2023.1160948

DOI=10.3389/fresc.2023.1160948

ISSN=2673-6861

ABSTRACT=<p>- Durable medical equipment (DME) policies require that the equipment be medically necessary; however, adaptive cycling equipment (bicycles and tricycles) are usually not deemed medically necessary.</p><p>- Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) are at high risk for secondary conditions, both physical and mental, that can be mitigated by increasing physical activity.</p><p>- Significant financial costs are associated with the management of secondary conditions.</p><p>- Adaptive cycling can provide improved physical health of individuals with NDD potentially reducing costs of comorbidities.</p><p>- Expanding DME policies to include adaptive cycling equipment for qualifying individuals with NDD can increase access to equipment.</p><p>- Regulations to ensure eligibility, proper fitting, prescription, and training can optimize health and wellbeing.</p><p>- Programs for recycling or repurposing of equipment are warranted to optimize resources.</p>