National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Tracking Sheet

Mobility Assistive Equipment

CAG-00274N

Issue

CMS has received numerous comments and undergone several evaluations of its policies and practices in the reimbursement of wheelchairs. Due to the complexity of the issues, CMS formed a federal agency workgroup to propose changes to its current guidelines for wheelchair provision. This workgroup, the Interagency Wheelchair Work Group (IWWG), made several recommendations [PDF, 63KB] for interpretation of its statutory, regulatory and clinical guidelines. We believe that those recommendations are best reviewed with the benefits of public participation that is available through the national coverage determination (NCD) process.

Benefit Category

Durable Medical Equipment

Requestor Information

Requestor Name Requestor Letter
Internally generated N/A
N/A

Important Dates

Formal Request Accepted and Review Initiated
12/15/2004
Expected NCA Completion Date
05/05/2005
Public Comment Period
12/15/2004 - 01/14/2005
Proposed Decision Memo Due Date
Proposed Decision Memo Released
02/03/2005
Proposed Decision Memo Public Comment Period
02/03/2005 - 03/07/2005
Decision Memo Released
05/05/2005
Comments for this NCA
View Public Comments

Contacts

Lead Analysts
Karen Rinker
Lead Medical Officers
Shamiram Feinglass, MD, MPH

Medicare Benefit Category Determination Date

Actions Taken

December 15, 2004

CMS initiates NCA on the issue of mobility assistance equipment. We invite public comment on the attached IWWG report  [PDF, 63KB] as well as other recommendations for clarifying the clinical guidelines for use of these devices.

The initial 30-day public comment period begins with this posting date, and ends after 30 calendar days. CMS considers all public comments, and is particularly interested in clinical studies and other scientific information relevant to the technology under consideration as well as comments on the appropriate benefit categories to which the technology should be assigned.

February 3, 2005

CMS posts the proposed decision memorandum  and invites public comment on our proposed decision. CMS is also requesting public comments as to what constitutes adequate documentation that the provision of a specific item of mobility assistive equipment to a specific beneficiary is reasonable and necessary.

The public comment period begins on this day with the posting of the proposed decision memo and ends after 30 calendar days.

Instructions for submitting comments can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage/8h.asp

May 5, 2005