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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 a determination of the medical necessity for certain components/additions to the prosthesis is based on the beneficiary's potential functional abilities. Potential functional ability is based on the reasonable expectations of the prosthetist, and treating practitioner, considering factors including, but not limited to: 1. The beneficiary's past history (including prior prosthetic use if applicable); and 2. The beneficiary's current condition including the status of the residual limb and the nature of other medical problems; and 3. The beneficiary's desire to ambulate. Clinical assessments of beneficiary rehabilitation potential must be based on the following classification levels: Level 3: Has the ability or potential for ambulation with variable cadence. Typical of the community ambulator who has the ability to traverse most environmental barriers and may have vocational, therapeutic, or exercise activity that demands prosthetic utilization beyond simple locomotion. The records must document the beneficiary's current functional capabilities and his/her expected functional potential, including an explanation for the difference, if that is the case. It is recognized, within the functional classification hierarchy, that bilateral amputees often cannot be strictly bound by functional level classifications. You can find this rule at Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33787: Lower Limb Prostheses (eff. 1/1/20).
The rules say that a protective outer surface covering systems (L5962, L5964, and L5966) are specialized covers intended to be worn over an existing prosthesis. They are used by a beneficiary who has special needs for protection against unusually harsh environmental situations where it is necessary to protect the lower limb prosthesis beyond the level of protection that is afforded by L5704, L5705, L5706, and L5707. They are not for cosmetic or convenience reasons, or for everyday usage in a typical environment. Protective outer surface coverings are different from the covering that is already reimbursed as part of L5704, L5705, L5706, and L5707. Codes L5968, L5982, L5984, L5985, L5986 and L5988 describe separate products which provide either a single motion or a combination of motions generally attributed to functional movement of the lower limb during ambulation.
The use of these codes can be used to fully describe additional features or functions not found in the prosthetic foot system (L5969, L5970, L5971, L5972, L5973, L5974, L5975, L5976, L5978, L5979 L5980, L5981 and L5987). You can find these rules at Local Coverage Article (LCA) A52496: Lower Limb Prostheses (eff. 8/1/20).
The rules say that the provider, supplier, or beneficiary, as appropriate, must furnish to the intermediary or carrier sufficient information to determine whether payment is due and the amount of payment. You can find this rule at 42 CFR 424.5. The rules say for Medicare to consider coverage and payment for any item or service, the information submitted by the supplier or provider must corroborate the documentation in the beneficiary's medical documentation and confirm that Medicare coverage criteria have been met. You can see this in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.3.2.1.
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.