Manual Wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs may be considered medically necessary if the patient meets the basic criteria for a wheelchair.
Rollabout chairs and transport chairs may be considered medically necessary when used in place of a wheelchair for those who qualify for a wheelchair.
A manual wheelchair is considered not medically necessary:
- If the patient is able to safely walk with a cane or a walker a distance that would allow access to all necessary rooms in their home and allow them to perform their activities of daily living
- If the manual wheelchair is only for use outside the home
Electric, Power or Motorized Wheelchairs
Power wheelchairs may be considered medically necessary if the patient meets the basic criteria for a wheelchair and is unable to operate a manual wheelchair.
Documentation must include:
- The medical necessity for the power wheelchair.
- Information that the patient lacks the upper extremity strength to propel the wheels of a manual wheelchair or that the patient’s medical condition does not allow the patient to self-propel a manual wheelchair.
- Information that the patient is capable of safe operation of the controls of a power wheelchair.
