Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

The rules say that plans must pay for a medical service or item if regular Medicare would pay for it in this case. You can find this rule at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 422.101.
The rules say that a manual wheelchair for use inside the home (E1037, E1038, E1039, E1161, K0001, K0002, K0003, K0004, K0005, K0006, K0007, K0008, K0009) is covered if: Criteria A, B, C, D, and E are met; and Criterion F or G is met. A. The beneficiary has a mobility limitation that significantly impairs his/her ability to participate in one or more mobility-related activities of daily living (MRADLs) such as toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming, and bathing in customary locations in the home. A mobility limitation is one that: 1. Prevents the beneficiary from accomplishing an MRADL entirely, or 2. Places the beneficiary at reasonably determined heightened risk of morbidity or mortality secondary to the attempts to perform an MRADL; or 3. Prevents the beneficiary from completing an MRADL within a reasonable time frame. B. The beneficiary's mobility limitation cannot be sufficiently resolved by the use of an appropriately fitted cane or walker. C. The beneficiary's home provides adequate access between rooms, maneuvering space, and surfaces for use of the manual wheelchair that is provided. D. Use of a manual wheelchair will significantly improve the beneficiary's ability to participate in MRADLs and the beneficiary will use it on a regular basis in the home. E. The beneficiary has not expressed an unwillingness to use the manual wheelchair that is provided in the home. F. The beneficiary has sufficient upper extremity function and other physical and mental capabilities needed to safely self-propel the manual wheelchair that is provided in the home during a typical day. Limitations of strength, endurance, range of motion, or coordination, presence of pain, or deformity or absence of one or both upper extremities are relevant to the assessment of upper extremity function. G. The beneficiary has a caregiver who is available, willing, and able to provide assistance with the wheelchair. An ultra-lightweight manual wheelchair (K0005) is covered for a beneficiary if criteria (1) or (2) is met and (3) and (4) are met: The beneficiary must be a full-time manual wheelchair user. The beneficiary must require individualized fitting and adjustments for one or more features such as, but not limited to, axle configuration, wheel camber, or seat and back angles, and which cannot be accommodated by a K0001 through K0004 manual wheelchair.
The beneficiary must have a specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical professional (LCMP), such as a PT or OT, or physician who has specific training and experience in rehabilitation wheelchair evaluations and that documents the medical necessity for the wheelchair and its special features (see Documentation Requirements section). The LCMP may have no financial relationship with the supplier. The wheelchair is provided by a Rehabilitative Technology Supplier (RTS) that employs a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) who specializes in wheelchairs and who has direct, in-person involvement in the wheelchair selection for the patient. You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Manual Wheelchair Bases (L33788). The rules state that equipment which the enrollee owns or is a capped rental item may be replaced in cases of loss or irreparable damage. Irreparable damage refers to a specific accident or to a natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood). A physician's order and/or new Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN), when required, is needed to reaffirm the medical necessity of the item. Irreparable wear refers to deterioration sustained from day-to-day usage over time and a specific event cannot be identified. Replacement of equipment due to irreparable wear takes into consideration the reasonable useful lifetime of the equipment. If the item of equipment has been in continuous use by the enrollee on either a rental or purchase basis for the equipment's useful lifetime, the enrollee may elect to obtain a new piece of equipment. Replacement may be reimbursed when a new physician order and/or new CMN, when required, is needed to reaffirm the medical necessity of the item. The reasonable useful lifetime of durable medical equipment is determined through program instructions. In the absence of program instructions, A/B MACS (B) may determine the reasonable useful lifetime (RUL) of equipment, but in no case can it be less than 5 years. Computation of the useful lifetime is based on when the equipment is delivered to the enrollee, not the age of the equipment. Replacement due to wear is not covered during the reasonable useful lifetime of the equipment. During the reasonable useful lifetime, Medicare does cover repair up to the cost of replacement (but not actual replacement) for medically necessary equipment owned by the enrollee. These rules can be found in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 15, Section 110.2 for Repairs, Maintenance, Replacement, and Delivery.
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.