Funding Equipment

As every clinician knows, when applying for funding for a complex rehab technology (CRT) device, detailed and thorough documentation of medical necessity is critical. As the Rifton TRAM combines a patient transfer system, a sit-to-stand device and a gait trainer in one compact unit, this places it in a unique position for funding. To help you clear the hurdles associated with DME funding, we’ve...

As most of you undoubtedly know, for children with disabilities exercise such as cycling with a special needs tricycle can be therapeutic as well as fun. Cycling may provide a variety of health benefits unavailable through other medical interventions. For example, children with severe mobility limitations may have few, if any, other options for strengthening their cardiovascular system. In fact, cycling...

A bike is the quintessence of childhood happiness. But for a child with disabilities, we think it’s a medical necessity. Beyond the joy and exhilaration of free-wheeling movement, the opportunity for reciprocal lower extremity exercise is crucial to the well-being of someone with fragile health. While the therapy community is unanimous on this point, sadly medical insurance companies underestimate...

As clinicians well know, writing an effective letter of medical necessity (LOMN) for a piece of adaptive equipment can be challenging and time-consuming. In response to questions about letters of medical necessity for Rifton products, we put together a resource page with tips, tools and sample letters to help facilitate the process. We are happy to make these LOMN resources available here.

All of us have struggled one time or another while trying to compose an effective letter of medical necessity for a piece of adaptive equipment. We have all tried to figure out better strategies with our colleagues at work, at continuing education conferences and through social media sites. Below are a few considerations I’ve found helpful. Make it Unique First, make sure the letter is individualized...

Finding funding for adaptive equipment that you know will vastly enrich and enhance your child or client’s life can be a challenge at times. We have tried to do something about this. This resource page has been compiled to direct you to a few funding options. Links to three online guides provide information to families and clinicians to increase knowledge about adaptive equipment and assistive...

Around this time of year we experience an up-tick in the requests that come in for funding aid. Perhaps it’s because people hope that the season’s spirit of generosity will prompt readier giving. I’m sure it’s also partly due to the heightened awareness of the huge gaps in many families’ finances to provide expensive, good quality complex rehab devices that could so enrich and...

Recently Rifton had a conversation with a complex rehab provider (who wishes to remain anonymous) serving clients in a mid-western state. Because he and his staff have been buying so many Rifton TRAMs for their customers, we wanted to find out who these people were and what needs the TRAM was filling for them. Following are excerpts from our conversation: Rifton:  What have you found is unique about...

As clinicians you know without a doubt that children with disabilities who are given the opportunity to stand and bear weight experience positive health benefits.  Peer-reviewed literature supports active weight-bearing and dynamic loading for improved bone mineral content and an upright position improves cardiopulmonary functioning, bowel and bladder health and joint range of motion. Unfortunately...

Imagine that as a therapist, you determine a client needs a gait trainer. Say it’s a child with cerebral palsy, who is young and not yet a walker, but shows the potential to become one. You know that a gait trainer – particularly one like the Rifton Pacer to which you can add and remove supportive prompts as the child’s skills develop – will be crucial in helping this child learn to...