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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 all providers are required to furnish necessary information to the health plan when requested. 
You can find this information in the Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 4 Benefits and Beneficiary 
Protections, 20.3 (MAO Responsibility), 110.1 (Access and Availability Rule), Medicare Benefit Policy 
Manual, Chapter 15 - Covered Medical and Other Health Services 20.0-40.4 Physician Services and 
Physician/Practitioner. 
 
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. 
 
A transport chair (E1037, E1038 or E1039) is covered as an alternative to a standard manual wheelchair 
(K0001) and if basic coverage criteria A-E and G above are met. 
 
Payment is made for only one wheelchair at a time. Backup chairs are denied as not reasonable and necessary. 
One month's rental for a standard manual wheelchair (K0001) is covered if a beneficiary-owned wheelchair is 
being repaired. 
 
You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Manual Wheelchair Bases 
(L33788). 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.