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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 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 
100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Section 280.3(B). 
 
The rules say that a power wheelchair is covered if: 
 
   a. All of the basic coverage criteria (A-C) are met; and 
    b. The beneficiary does not meet coverage criterion D, E, or F for a POV; and 
    c. Either criterion J or K is met; and 
    d. Criteria L, M, N, and O are met; and 
   e. Any coverage criteria pertaining to the specific wheelchair type (see below) are met. 
 
    J. The beneficiary has the mental and physical capabilities to safely operate the power wheelchair that is 
provided; or 
 
  K. If the beneficiary is unable to safely operate the power wheelchair, the beneficiary has a caregiver who is 
unable to adequately propel an optimally configured manual wheelchair, but is available, willing, and able to 
safely operate the power wheelchair that is provided; and 
 
   L. The beneficiary's weight is less than or equal to the weight capacity of the power wheelchair that is 
provided and greater than or equal to 95% of the weight capacity of the next lower weight class PWC - i.e., a 
Heavy Duty PWC is covered for a beneficiary weighing 285 - 450 pounds; a Very Heavy Duty PWC is 
covered for a beneficiary weighing 428 - 600 pounds; an Extra Heavy Duty PWC is covered for a beneficiary 
weighing 570 pounds or more. 
 
    M. The beneficiary's home provides adequate access between rooms, maneuvering space, and surfaces for 
the operation of the power wheelchair that is provided. 
 
    N. Use of a power wheelchair will significantly improve the beneficiary's ability to participate in MRADLs 
and the beneficiary will use it in the home. For beneficiaries with severe cognitive and/or physical 
impairments, participation in MRADLs may require the assistance of a caregiver. 
 
    O. The beneficiary has not expressed an unwillingness to use a power wheelchair in the home. 
 
If a PWC will be used inside the home and if coverage criteria (a)-(e) are not met, it will be denied as not 
reasonable and necessary. 
 
If a PWC will only be used outside the home, see related Policy Article for information concerning 
noncoverage. 
 
You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Power Mobility Devices 
(L33789). 
 
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.