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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 fixed height hospital bed (E0250, E0251, E0290, E0291, and E0328) is covered if one or 
more of the following criteria (1-4) are met: 
1. The beneficiary has a medical condition which requires positioning of the body in ways not feasible 
with an ordinary bed. Elevation of the head/upper body less than 30 degrees does not usually require the 
use of a hospital bed, or 
2. The beneficiary requires positioning of the body in ways not feasible with an ordinary bed in order to 
alleviate pain, or 
3. The beneficiary requires the head of the bed to be elevated more than 30 degrees most of the time due 
to congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, or problems with aspiration, or 
4. The beneficiary requires traction equipment, which can only be attached to a hospital bed. 
 
A heavy duty extra wide hospital bed (E0301, E0303) is covered if the beneficiary meets one of the criteria for 
a fixed height hospital bed and the beneficiary's weight is more than 350 pounds but does not exceed 600 
pounds. You can find this rule at Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33820: Hospital Beds and 
Accessories (eff. 1/1/20). 
 
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 beneficiarys mobility limitation cannot be sufficiently resolved by the use of an appropriately 
fitted cane or walker. 
C. The beneficiarys 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 beneficiarys 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. 
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR SPECIFIC MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS (E1037, E1038, E1039, E1161, 
K0002, K0003, K0004, K0005, K0006, K0007, K0008) 
 
In addition to the general manual wheelchair criteria above, the specific criteria below must be met for each 
manual wheelchair. If the specific criteria are not met, the manual wheelchair will be denied as not reasonable 
and necessary. 
 
A heavy duty wheelchair (K0006) is covered if the beneficiary weighs more than 250 pounds or the beneficiary 
has severe spasticity. You can find this rule at Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33788: Manual 
Wheelchair Bases (eff. 1/1/20). 
 
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.