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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 persons 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 Group 3 power wheelchair (PWC) with multiple power options (such as code K0861) is 
covered if: 
     A. All of the coverage criteria for a PWC are met; and 
     B. The beneficiarys mobility limitation is due to a neurological condition, myopathy, or congenital 
deformity; and 
     C. The beneficiary has had a specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical 
professional, such as a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT), or practitioner who has specific 
training and experience in rehabilitation wheelchair evaluations and that documents the medical necessity for 
the wheelchair and its special features (see Documentation Requirements section). The PT, OT, or practitioner 
may have no financial relationship with the supplier; and 
     D. The wheelchair is provided by a supplier that employs a Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive 
Technology Society of North America (RESNA) certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) who 
specializes in wheelchairs and who has direct, in-person involvement in the wheelchair selection for the 
beneficiary. 
     E. Criterion 1 or 2 is met; and 
          1. The beneficiary meets coverage criteria for a power tilt and recline seating system (see Wheelchair 
Options and Accessories policy) and the system is being used on the wheelchair. 
          2. The beneficiary uses a ventilator which is mounted on the wheelchair. 
 
If the PWC base is not covered, then related accessories will be denied. You can find this information in the 
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Power Mobility Devices (L33789). 
 
The rules say that a power seating system  tilt only, recline only, or combination tilt and recline  with or 
without power elevating legrests will be covered if criteria 1, 2, and 3 are met and if criterion 4, 5, or 6 is met: 
 
    1. The beneficiary meets all the coverage criteria for a power wheelchair described in the Power Mobility 
Devices LCD; and 
    2. A specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical professional, such as a physical 
therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT) or practitioner who has specific training and experience in 
rehabilitation wheelchair evaluations of the beneficiarys seating and positioning needs. The PT, OT, or 
practitioner may have no financial relationship with the supplier; and 
    3. The wheelchair is provided by a supplier that employs a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology 
Professional (ATP) who specializes in wheelchairs and who has direct, in-person involvement in the 
wheelchair selection for the beneficiary. 
    4. The beneficiary is at high risk for development of a pressure ulcer and is unable to perform a functional 
weight shift; or     5. The beneficiary utilizes intermittent catheterization for bladder management and is unable to 
independently transfer from the wheelchair to bed; or 
    6. The power seating system is needed to manage increased tone or spasticity. 
 
If these criteria are not met, the power seating component(s) will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Wheelchair Options/Accessories 
(L33792). 
 
The rules say that an expandable controller is capable of accommodating one or more of the following 
additional functions: 
 
- Other types of proportional input devices (such as, mini-proportional or compact joysticks, touchpads, chin 
control, head control, and so on) 
- Non-proportional input devices (such as, sip and puff, head array, and so on) 
- 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 (for example, for alternate control devices) 
- Other electronic devices (such as, control of an augmentative speech device or computer through the chair's 
drive control) 
- An attendant control 
 
You can find this rule in Local Coverage Article: Power Mobility Devices - Policy Article (A52498) - Effective 
January 1, 2020. 
 
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.