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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 manual wheelchair for use inside of the home is covered if: 
 
Criteria A, B, C, D, and E are met; and 
Criterion F or G is met. 
 
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. 
 
You can find this rule in Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Manual Wheelchair Bases (L33788) - 
Effective January 1, 2020. 
 
The rules say that replacement refers to the provision of an identical or nearly identical item. Equipment which 
the beneficiary owns or is a capped rental item may be replaced in cases of loss or irreparable damage. Irreparable damage refers to a specific accident or to a natural disaster (e.g., fire, flood).  A physician's order 
and/or new Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN), when required, is needed to reaffirm the medical necessity 
of the item. Irreparable wear refers to deterioration sustained from day-to-day usage over time and a specific 
event cannot be identified.  Replacement of equipment due to irreparable wear takes into consideration the 
reasonable useful lifetime of the equipment. You can find this rule in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, 
Chapter 15, Section 100.2. 
 
The rules say that the reasonable useful lifetime of durable medical equipment is determined through program 
instructions. In the absence of program instructions, A/B MACs may determine the reasonable useful lifetime 
of equipment, but in no case can it be less than five years. You can find this rule in the Medicare Benefit Policy 
Manual, Chapter 15, Section 100.2. 
 
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.