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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 can be covered only for enrollees who have a mobility 
limitation that is due to: 
 
1. A neurological condition; 
 
2. Myopathy; or 
 
3. Congenital skeletal deformity. 
 
You can find this rule in Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Power Mobility Devices L33789 (eff 1/1/17). 
 
The rules say that the power seat elevation feature (E2300) and power standing feature (E2301) are non-
covered because they are not primarily medical in nature. If a wheelchair has an electrical connection device 
described by code E2310 or E2311 and if the sole function of the connection is for a power seat elevation or 
power standing feature, it will be denied as non-covered. You can find this rule in Local Coverage Article: 
Wheelchair Options/Accessories - Policy Article (A52504) - Effective January 1, 2020. 
 
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 (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 
 
You can find this rule in Local Coverage Article: Power Mobility Devices - Policy Article (A52498) - Effective 
January 1, 2020. 
 
The rules say that code E2311 describes an electronic component that allows the patient to control two or more 
of the following motors from a single interface; e.g. proportional joystick, touchpad or nonproportional 
interface: 
 
-Power tilt 
-Power recline, with or without shear reduction 
-Combination power tilt and recline, with or without shear reduction 
-Power leg elevation with or without articulation, power center mount elevating foot platform with or without 
articulating properties 
 
You can find this rule in Local Coverage Article: Power Mobility Devices - Policy Article (A52498) - Effective 
January 1, 2020. 
 
The rules say that a harness (E2313) describes all the wires, fuse boxes, fuses, circuits, switches, etc. that are 
required for the operation of an expandable controller (E2377). It also includes all the necessary fasteners, 
connectors, and mounting hardware. You can find this rule in Local Coverage Article: Power Mobility Devices 
- Policy Article (A52498) - Effective January 1, 2020. 
 
The rules say that a skin protection seat cushion (E2603) is covered for a beneficiary who meets both of the 
following criteria: 
 
1. The beneficiary has a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair with a sling/solid seat/back and the 
beneficiary meets Medicare coverage criteria for it; and 
2. The beneficiary has either of the following (a or b): 
 
a. Current pressure ulcer or past history of a pressure ulcer on the area of contact with the seating surface 
b. Absent or impaired sensation in the area of contact with the seating surface or inability to carry out a 
functional weight shift 
 
You can find this rule in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) - Wheelchair Seating (L33312) - 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.