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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 Medicare will cover a Power Mobility Device (PMD) (i.e., power wheelchair or scooter) for a person who meets the following criteria: 1. The person must have a personal mobility deficit; 2. The deficit must impair their participation in mobility related activities of daily living (MRADLs) such as toileting, feeding, grooming and bathing in customary locations within the home; 3. The person's condition must not be able to be ameliorated by a walker, cane or manual wheelchair; and 4. The person must be capable of safely operating the PMD. You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Power Mobility Devices (L33789). POWER TILT AND/OR RECLINE SEATING SYSTEMS (E1002-E1012): A power seating system - tilt only, recline only, or combination tilt and recline - with or without power elevating leg rests will be covered if criteria 1, 2, and 3 are met and if criterion 4, 5, or 6 is met: 1. The beneficiary meets all the coverage criteria for a power wheelchair described in the Power Mobility Devices LCD; and 2. A specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical professional, such as a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT) or physician who has specific training and experience in rehabilitation wheelchair evaluations of the beneficiary's seating and positioning needs. The PT, OT, or physician may have no financial relationship with the supplier; and 3. The wheelchair is provided by a supplier 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 beneficiary. 4. The beneficiary is at high risk for development of a pressure ulcer and is unable to perform a functional weight shift; or 5. The beneficiary utilizes intermittent catheterization for bladder management and is unable to independently transfer from the wheelchair to bed; or 6. The power seating system is needed to manage increased tone or spasticity. You can find this rule in Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Wheelchair Options/Accessories (L33792). An expandable controller is capable of accommodating one or more of the following additional functions: -Other types of proportional input devices (e.g., mini-proportional or compact joysticks, touchpads, chin control, head control, etc.) -Non-proportional input devices (e.g., sip and puff, head array, etc.) -Operate 3 or more powered seating actuators through the drive control. A power tilt seating system and a power recline seating system includes a switch control which is independent of the power wheelchair drive control interface. A power leg elevation feature includes a switch control which may or may not be integrated with the power tilt and/or recline controls. You can find this information in Local Coverage Article: Wheelchair Options/Accessories-Policy Article (A52504). If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.
The Plan contract says that the Plan covers items and services in accordance with Medicare rules.