| In the last 15 years, the motorized wheelchair (also | | | | outside the home, Medicare will not pay for an power |
| known as the power wheelchair) has made it possible | | | | wheelchair. The person must have at least one daily |
| for hundreds of thousands of Americans to regain | | | | living activity need inside the home to be considered |
| their mobility and live their lives independently. The vast | | | | for an power wheelchair. |
| majority of these power wheelchair owners received | | | | If a person needs mobility assistance inside the home |
| their equipment through Medicare's power mobility | | | | to perform daily living activities, the next thing Medicare |
| benefit. What is the power mobility benefit and how | | | | is going to examine is if a person can get by safely |
| does a person qualify for an power wheelchair? The | | | | with a cane, walker or manual wheelchair. Since these |
| next few paragraphs will give you some insight into | | | | are less expensive items, Medicare wants to try them |
| Medicare's guidelines. | | | | first. Many people may be able to get around with a |
| Medicare spends around $1.5 Billion annually on power | | | | cane or walker for part of the day, but then weaken |
| wheelchairs and power operated vehicles (mobility | | | | or get tired as the day goes on. Others may not be |
| scooters). Medicare considers a beneficiary's ability to | | | | able to safely walk the home with a cane or walker |
| safely participate in one or more Mobility Related | | | | due to frequent falls. Many people will not be able to |
| Activities of Daily Living (MRADLs). These activities of | | | | propel themselves in a manual wheelchair due to lack |
| daily living include dressing, grooming, toileting, bathing | | | | of strength or other upper body conditions. |
| and eating in customary locations within the home | | | | Once a person has determined that he or she needs |
| (which can include assisted living centers). In order to | | | | additional mobility assistance inside the home and other |
| qualify for an power wheelchair, a person must need | | | | mobility aids (cane, walker, wheelchair, etc.) have been |
| assistance with one or more of these daily living | | | | ruled out, it is time to consult a physician or medical |
| activities. | | | | equipment company to initiate the power wheelchair |
| This means if a person only needs help going to the | | | | evaluation and approval process. |
| grocery store, the shopping mall or someplace else | | | | |