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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 patients medical records must establish medical necessity for a hospital bed due to one of the following 
reasons: 
 
1. The patients condition requires positioning of the body; e.g., to alleviate pain, promote good body 
alignment, prevent contractures, avoid respiratory infections, in ways not feasible in an ordinary bed; or  
 
2. The patients condition requires special attachments that cannot be fixed and used on an ordinary bed.  
You can find this rule in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Internet Only Manual, Publication 
100-03, National Coverage Determinations Manual, Section 280.7(A). 
 
In order to qualify for a semi-electric hospital bed, the patients condition must require frequent change in body 
position and/or there may be an immediate need for a change in body position (i.e., no delay can be tolerated) 
and the patient can operate the controls and cause the adjustments. Exceptions may be made to this last 
requirement in cases of spinal cord injury and brain damaged patients. 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 280.7(D). 
 
 
  The rules say that a group 2 support surface is covered if the beneficiary meets at least one of the following 
three Criteria (1, 2 or 3): 
1. The beneficiary has multiple stage 2 pressure ulcers located on the trunk or pelvis (refer to the ICD-10 
code list section in the LCD-related Policy Article for applicable diagnoses) which have failed to 
improve over the past month, during which time the beneficiary has been on a comprehensive ulcer 
treatment program including each of the following:  
a. Use of an appropriate group 1 support surface, and 
b. Regular assessment by a nurse, practitioner, or other licensed healthcare practitioner, and 
c. Appropriate turning and positioning, and 
d. Appropriate wound care, and 
e. Appropriate management of moisture/incontinence, and 
f. Nutritional assessment and intervention consistent with the overall plan of care 
2. The beneficiary has large or multiple stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcer(s) on the trunk or pelvis (refer to the 
ICD-10 code list section in the LCD-related Policy Article for applicable diagnoses), 
3. The beneficiary had a myocutaneous flap or skin graft for a pressure ulcer on the trunk or pelvis within 
the past 60 days (refer to the ICD-10 code list section in the LCD-related Policy Article for applicable 
diagnoses), and has been on a group 2 or 3 support surface immediately prior to discharge from a 
hospital or nursing facility within the past 30 days 
If the beneficiary is on a group 2 surface, there should be a care plan established by the treating practitioner or 
home care nurse which includes the above elements. The support surface provided for the beneficiary should be 
one in which the beneficiary does not "bottom out" (see Appendices section). 
When a group 2 surface is covered following a myocutaneous flap or skin graft, coverage generally is limited 
to 60 days from the date of surgery. 
When the stated coverage criteria for a group 2 mattress or bed are not met, a claim will be denied as not 
reasonable and necessary. 
A support surface which does not meet the characteristics specified in the Coding Guidelines section of the 
Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces  Group 2 Policy Article will be denied as not reasonable and necessary. 
(See Policy Article sections concerning billing of E1399.) 
Continued use of a group 2 support surface is covered until the ulcer is healed, or if healing does not continue, 
there is documentation in the medical record to show that: (1) other aspects of the care plan are being modified 
to promote healing, or (2) the use of the group 2 support surface is reasonable and necessary for wound 
management. 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Pressure Reducing Support 
Surfaces - Group 2 (L33642). 
 
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 if the power wheelchair (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). 
 
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.