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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 pay for durable medical equipment that is mainly used to serve a medical purpose. Items such as hospital beds, respirators, wheelchairs and crutches are examples of equipment that are clearly used for medical purposes. Medicare will not pay for:

1. Equipment that is primarily and customarily used for nonmedical purposes. Examples include air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers and electric air cleaners;
2. Equipment used for a patient's comfort or for the convenience of a person caring for the patient. Examples include elevators, stairway elevators, physical fitness equipment and self-help devices such as grab bars. You can find these rules in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 110.1.

The rules say that Medicare will pay for durable medical equipment (DME) that is reasonable and necessary for treatment of an illness or injury, or to improve the functioning of a malformed body part. Medicare considers equipment to be reasonable and necessary if the equipment does not serve the same purpose as other equipment already available to an enrollee. You can find these rules in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 110.1(C).

The rules state that a power seat elevation feature (E2300) and power standing feature (E2301) are non-covered because they are not primarily medical in nature.

The rules state that 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. (Note: Control of the power seating actuators though the Control Input Device would require the use of an additional component, E2310 or E2311.)

An expandable controller may also be able to operate one or more of the following:

- A separate display (i.e., for alternate control devices)
- Other electronic devices (e.g., control of an augmentative speech device or computer through the chair's drive control)
- An attendant control

The rules state that a harness (E2313) describes all of the wires, fuse boxes, fuses, circuits, switches, etc. that are required for the operation of an expandable controller.

The rules state that if a wheelchair has an electrical connection device described by code E2310 or E2311 and if the sole function of the connection is for a power seat elevation or power standing feature, it will be denied as non-covered.

You can find these rules in the Local Coverage Article for 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.