What is Complex Rehab Technology and How Does it Impact the Healthcare Industry?

At Rehab Medical, we believe mobility is more than movement, it’s freedom, independence, and quality of life. For individuals facing complex medical conditions that limit mobility, standard equipment isn’t enough. That’s where Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) comes in. CRT includes highly specialized equipment tailored to meet each person’s unique needs, and it takes a collaborative healthcare team to get it right. In this article, we’ll walk through what CRT is, why it matters, and how it’s making a lasting impact on the healthcare system.

What is Complex Rehab Technology?

Complex Rehab Technology is considered a medically necessary and individually configured device designed for people with considerably limited mobility functions. Due to the complexity and critical nature of CRT, getting qualified for the equipment requires an in-depth evaluation by a team of specialists.

This team typically consists of a prescribing physician, a physical therapist (PT), an occupational therapist (OT), and a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). This team must be involved as they all play a pivotal role in assessing, documenting, and supporting the need for this specialized equipment.

Given that patients who use CRT typically rely on the device around the clock, CRT becomes more than a simple mobility solution but an integral part of the patient’s ability to sit safely, complete daily activities, and maintain as much independence as possible.

Financial, Clinical, and Systemic Benefits of Complex Rehab Technology

CRT is more than a personal lifeline for patient care—it represents a strategic investment in the broader healthcare system with far-reaching economic benefits. When properly prescribed and configured with precision, CRT can drive measurable improvements across clinical, financial, and systemic structures.

“One of the biggest challenges in our industry is that policymakers often look to cut costs without fully understanding the downstream impact,” said Rehab Medical President Kevin Gearheart. “Complex Rehab Technology reduces overall healthcare expenses by preventing falls, minimizing pressure injuries, and helping patients remain safely in their homes, rather than in a long-term care facility. It’s not just critical for patients—it’s essential for reducing the long-term burden on the entire healthcare system.”

This perspective highlights a critical point that by overlooking CRT in efforts to cut costs, policymakers risk underestimating its long-term value.

Clinical Impact

Clinically, CRT directly addresses a wide range of risks associated with immobility.

Patients with complex mobility needs, who do NOT use CRT solutions, are more prone to:

• Seeing hospitalized-related injuries due to frequent falls

• Developing pressure injuries if unable to redistribute body pressure

• Disrupting the spinal alignment and respiratory functions

Complex patients who use a CRT solution can live a better life because it:

• Empowers them to perform essential activities of daily living with ease

• Helps reduce their risk of needing institutionalized care downstream

• Provides their caregivers with safer and more effective support options

Financial Return

In the long-term aspect of patient care, CRT helps prevent common mobility challenges from developing into chronic complications that may require high-cost intervention methods. CRT easily cuts down on patient care costs because it can:

• Reduce the need for emergency room visits

• Provide alternative solutions for prolonged wound management

• Allow for homecare treatment options

• Help cut back on the need for surgeries

These cost savings easily translate to reduced burdens on insurance providers, health systems, and public healthcare programs.

Systemic Benefits

At a broader level, Complex Rehab Technology supports a more person-centered and proactive healthcare approach. It helps patients transition more smoothly from hospital to home, reduces the strain on caregivers, and makes it easier for patients to remain safely in their own homes longer. CRT also brings together a full team of professionals—ATPs, physicians, therapists, and case managers—who work together with one goal in mind: improving patient care, mobility independence, and overall quality of life.

Qualifying Patients for Complex Rehab Technology Through Insurance

With a plethora of health benefits, there’s no doubt that CRT has made and will continue to make a huge impact on the healthcare industry. Patients are provided with opportunities to live comfortable and more independent lives on their own terms. While CRT offers substantial health advantages, it is also associated with higher upfront costs. Patients who lack the means to pay for a CRT solution using personal finances can rely on their insurance to help offset costs if the equipment is considered medically necessary for daily living.

What’s Required for Insurance?

Qualifying your patient for a CRT solution through their insurance can be an extensive and robust process to follow. Insurance typically requires the patient to schedule and complete an in-person evaluation with their primary care physician and if possible, a PT. This helps you and your patient better understand the extent of their mobility limitations.

Prior to sending the referral for insurance review, it’s important to include key information that will help the insurance provider determine CRT’s medical necessity. This should include the patient’s ability to complete daily activities such as toileting, dressing, feeding, grooming, and bathing safely without assistance. If the patient’s mobility is declining due to a congenital condition, progressive disease, spinal cord injury, age-related complication, or neurological disorder, this will need to be indicated as these conditions are considered primary reasons for the use of CRT.

Completing a Clinical Evaluation

Clinical evaluations are typically led by a team consisting of an ATP, PT, and OT, and are completed either at a seating clinic or in the patient’s home, whichever setting best supports the patient’s optimal outcome. However, seating clinics are preferred because the patient can collaborate with their clinical team, in real-time, to determine which equipment options will best suit their unique needs.

It’s important to note that an ATP must be present throughout the evaluation. ATPs are necessary because they have undergone rigorous training and certification through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) to ensure that recommended equipment is both medically necessary and functionally appropriate. Additionally, involving an ATP in the process helps to bridge the gap between clinical prescription and practical solutions meant to enhance clinical outcomes.

During the evaluation, the team will ask a few key questions to help establish clear goals for the equipment. Here are a few of them to note:

1. What type of mobility device is the patient seeking?

2. What equipment is the patient currently using, if any?

3. What is the patient’s current level of function for daily living activities?

4. What are the primary daily activities the patient needs to perform?

5. What is the patient’s baseline mobility without assistive equipment?

The Process: From Referral to Renewed Mobility

The way to obtain a CRT solution is comprehensive, ensuring that the equipment fully addresses the patient’s current and evolving needs. Given that many patients will rely on their equipment for life, attention to detail during the evaluation and documentation phases is critical. Here’s an overview of how the Rehab Medical team collaborates with clinical partners to guide patients toward greater mobility and independence:

1. Intake Verification: Upon receipt of a referral, a Rehab Medical mobility specialist will verify the patient’s eligibility, including serviceable location and insurance acceptance.

2. Insurance and Documentation Review: After eligibility is confirmed, an insurance specialist will review the patient's referral notes, demographics, and insurance coverage.

   1. It’s important to communicate to your patients that once our team has verified insurance coverage, they MUST NOT change insurance providers at any point during the process. Changing insurance can cause delays in receiving equipment and billing issues.

3. Request for Additional Documentation: If necessary, the team coordinates with the prescribing physician to arrange a secondary clinical evaluation to ensure all critical information has been documented.

4. Completing the Evaluation: The CRT evaluation process is inherently collaborative and may take up to 90 days to complete, depending on the responsiveness of the prescribing physician and documentation timelines.

5. Ongoing Follow-Up: The Rehab Medical team will provide personalized support, advocate on behalf of the patient, and maintain proactive follow-up to minimize delays. This ensures patients receive equipment quickly and efficiently.

Bringing it Together: CRT’s Lasting Value

At the end of the day, Complex Rehab Technology is about helping people live fuller, safer, and more independent lives. For clinicians, it’s a powerful tool that improves patient outcomes, reduces long-term healthcare costs, and streamlines the delivery of care. As frontline providers, clinicians play a critical role in identifying and advocating for patients who qualify for CRT. By proactively addressing mobility-related risks, CRT not only enhances quality of life but also delivers meaningful cost savings to the healthcare system.

Want to learn more about CRT and its impact on healthcare costs and clinical outcomes? Connect with one of our specialists today—we’re here to help.