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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 person's 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 all of the following basic criteria (A-C) must be met for a power mobility device (K0823) or
a push-rim activated power assist device (E0986) to be covered. Additional coverage criteria for specific
devices are listed below.
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:
Prevents the beneficiary from accomplishing an MRADL entirely, or
Places the beneficiary at reasonably determined heightened risk of morbidity or mortality secondary to the
attempts to perform an MRADL; or
Prevents the beneficiary from completing an MRADL within a reasonable time frame.
The beneficiary's mobility limitation cannot be sufficiently and safely resolved by the use of an
appropriately fitted cane or walker.
The beneficiary does not have sufficient upper extremity function to self-propel an optimally-configured
manual wheelchair in the home to perform MRADLs 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.
An optimally-configured manual wheelchair is one with an appropriate wheelbase, device weight, seating
options, and other appropriate nonpowered accessories.
A POV is covered if all of the basic coverage criteria (A-C) have been met and if criteria D-I are also met.
The beneficiary is able to:
Safely transfer to and from a POV, and
Operate the tiller steering system, and
Maintain postural stability and position while operating the POV in the home.
The beneficiary's mental capabilities (e.g., cognition, judgment) and physical capabilities (e.g., vision) are
sufficient for safe mobility using a POV in the home.
The beneficiary's home provides adequate access between rooms, maneuvering space, and surfaces for the
operation of the POV that is provided.
The beneficiary's weight is less than or equal to the weight capacity of the POV that is provided and greater
than or equal to 95% of the weight capacity of the next lower weight class POV - i.e., a Heavy Duty POV is
covered for a beneficiary weighing 285 - 450 pounds; a Very Heavy Duty POV is covered for a beneficiary
weighing 428 - 600 pounds.
Use of a POV will significantly improve the beneficiary's ability to participate in MRADLs and the
beneficiary will use it in the home.
The beneficiary has not expressed an unwillingness to use a POV in the home.
If a POV will be used inside the home and coverage criteria A-I are not met, it will be denied as not reasonable
and necessary.
Group 2 POVs (K0806, K0807, K0808) have added capabilities that are not needed for use in the home.
Therefore, if a Group 2 POV is provided it will be denied as not reasonable and necessary.
If a POV will only be used outside the home, see related Policy Article for information concerning
noncoverage.
POWER WHEELCHAIRS (K0823):
A power wheelchair is covered if:
All of the basic coverage criteria (A-C) are met; and
The beneficiary does not meet coverage criterion D, E, or F for a POV; and
Either criterion J or K is met; and
Criteria L, M, N, and O are met; and
Any coverage criteria pertaining to the specific wheelchair type (see below) are met.
The beneficiary has the mental and physical capabilities to safely operate the power wheelchair that is
provided; or
If the beneficiary is unable to safely operate the power wheelchair, the beneficiary has a caregiver who is
unable to adequately propel an optimally configured manual wheelchair, but is available, willing, and able to
safely operate the power wheelchair that is provided; and
The beneficiary's weight is less than or equal to the weight capacity of the power wheelchair that is provided
and greater than or equal to 95% of the weight capacity of the next lower weight class PWC - i.e., a Heavy
Duty PWC is covered for a beneficiary weighing 285 - 450 pounds; a Very Heavy Duty PWC is covered for a
beneficiary weighing 428 - 600 pounds; an Extra Heavy Duty PWC is covered for a beneficiary weighing 570
pounds or more.
The beneficiary's home provides adequate access between rooms, maneuvering space, and surfaces for the
operation of the power wheelchair that is provided.
Use of a power wheelchair will significantly improve the beneficiary's ability to participate in MRADLs and
the beneficiary will use it in the home. For beneficiaries with severe cognitive and/or physical impairments,
participation in MRADLs may require the assistance of a caregiver.
The beneficiary has not expressed an unwillingness to use a power wheelchair in the home.
If a PWC will be used inside the home and if coverage criteria (a)-(e) are not met, it will be denied as not
reasonable and necessary. If a PWC will only be used outside the home, see related Policy Article for
information concerning noncoverage. You can find this information in Medicare's Local Coverage
Determination (LCD): Power Mobility Devices (L33789).
If you want to read these Medicare rules, you can go to this website www.medicareappeal.com.