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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 a non-expandable controller has the following features: 
 May have the ability to control up to 2 power seating actuators through the drive control (for example, 
seat elevator and single actuator power elevating legrests). (Note: Control of the power seating actuators 
though the Control Input Device would require the use of an additional component, E2310 or E2311.) 
 Can accommodate only an integral joystick or a standard proportional remote joystick 
 May allow for the incorporation of an attendant control 
 
An expandable controller is capable of accommodating one or more of the following additional functions: 
 Other types of proportional input devices (e.g., mini-proportional or compact joysticks, touchpads, chin 
control, head control, etc.) 
 Non-proportional input devices (e.g., sip and puff, head array, etc.) 
 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 (i.e., for alternate control devices)  Other electronic devices (e.g., control of an augmentative speech device or computer through the chair's 
drive control) 
 An attendant control 
 
Codes E2310 and E2311 describe the electronic components that allow the beneficiary to control two or more 
of the following motors from a single interface (e.g., proportional joystick, touchpad, or non-proportional 
interface): power wheelchair drive, power tilt, power recline, power shear reduction, power leg elevation, 
power seat elevation, power standing. It includes a function selection switch which allows the beneficiary to 
select the motor that is being controlled and an indicator feature to visually show which function has been 
selected. When the wheelchair drive function has been selected, the indicator feature may also show the 
direction that has been selected (forward, reverse, left, right). This indicator feature may be in a separate 
display box or may be integrated into the wheelchair interface. Payment for the code includes an allowance for 
fixed mounting hardware for the control box and for the display box (if present). 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Article (LCA): Wheelchair Options/Accessories 
(A52504). 
 
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.