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Decision: unknown

 
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 the home (such as code K0005) 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. 
An ultra lightweight manual wheelchair (K0005) is covered for a beneficiary if criteria (1) or (2) is met and (3) 
and (4) are met: 
1. The beneficiary must be a full-time manual wheelchair user. 
2. The beneficiary must require individualized fitting and adjustments for one or more features such as, 
but not limited to, axle configuration, wheel camber, or seat and back angles, and which cannot be 
accommodated by a K0001 through K0004 manual wheelchair. 
3. The beneficiary must have a specialty evaluation that was performed by a licensed/certified medical 
professional (LCMP), such as a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT), or physician 
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 LCMP may have no financial relationship with the supplier. 
4. The wheelchair is provided by a Rehabilitative Technology Supplier (RTS) 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 patient. 
If the manual wheelchair base is not covered, then related accessories will be denied as not reasonable and 
necessary. 
 
You can find this information in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Manual Wheelchair Bases 
(L33788). 
 
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 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 (RUL) of the equipment. In the absence of program instructions, Medicare contractors may determine 
the reasonable useful lifetime of equipment, but in no case can it be less than 5 years. Replacement due to wear 
is not covered during the reasonable useful lifetime of the equipment. During the reasonable useful lifetime, 
Medicare does cover repair up to the cost of replacement (but not actual replacement) for medically necessary 
equipment owned by the beneficiary. You can find this information in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Service, Internet-Only Manual, Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 
110.2. 
 
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). 
 
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.