The Center for Medicare Advocacy released an advisory recently about obtaining Medicare coverage for Mobility Assistive Equipment (MAE), in order to alleviate the fact that coverage criteria, particularly patient assessment standards, continue to be misunderstood by providers and beneficiaries. Furthermore, over the last several years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has modified its rules for covering Mobility Assistive Equipment under Medicare Part B. These changes were sparked in part by an increase in fraud cases related to power wheelchairs and scooters, items referred to by CMS as Power Mobility Devices (PMDs).

A PMD is defined as a class of wheelchairs that includes a power wheelchair or a power operated vehicle, like a scooter. The distinction between the two devices is whether the PMD is operated by a joystick or electronic device (motorized wheelchair) or a tiller (scooter). These items are a component of the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) category of Medicare benefits.

To see the advisory, go to the link below.