Review of Medicare Payments for Power Mobility Device Repairs

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary power mobility devices (PMDs), such as power wheelchairs, and PMD repairs that are reasonable and necessary to make the equipment serviceable. For calendar year 2018, Medicare Part B paid approximately $46.7 million for PMD repairs, including replacement parts needed to repair PMDs. Durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers must maintain documentation from the physician or treating practitioner indicating that the PMD being repaired continued to be medically necessary and that the repairs were reasonable and necessary. DME suppliers must also maintain detailed records describing the need for and nature of all repairs, which includes a justification for the replaced parts and the labor time. In addition, if the expense for repairs exceeds the estimated expense of purchasing or renting another PMD for the remaining period of medical need, no payment can be made for the amount of the excess. We will audit Medicare payments for PMD repairs to determine whether suppliers complied with Medicare requirements.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	Review of Medicare Payments for Power Mobility Device Repairs	Office of Audit Services	W-00-19-35828; W-00-22-35828; A-09-20-03016; A-09-22-03003	2024