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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 medically necessary services are those that are reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or 
treatment of an illness or injury. Medically necessary services include services to improve the functioning of a 
malformed body member. You can find this rule in the Social Security Act, Section 1862(a)(1)(A). 
 
The rules say that services that are not medically necessary are not covered. The rules also say that 
experimental and investigational devices are not covered. You can find this rule at 42 CFR Sections 411.15 and 
411.15(o). 
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: 
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. 
A lightweight wheelchair (K0003) is covered when a beneficiary meets both criteria (1) and (2): 
1. Cannot self-propel in a standard wheelchair in the home; and 
2. The beneficiary can and does self-propel in a lightweight wheelchair. 
You can find this rule in Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Manual Wheelchair Bases L33788. 
 
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.