Three Out of Five Medicare Claims for Power Wheelchairs Wrong

posted on Jan 21 by Stacy in the Disability News category

In a recent oversight report done by the Department of Health and Human resources and released in December of 2009, it was concluded that the federal government and Medicare beneficiaries are footing the bill for $112 million in improper Medicare payments made to suppliers of power wheelchairs.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) used a random sample of 375 claims for standard and complex rehabilitation power wheelchairs. Three out of five claims did not meet Medicare documentation requirements, and two out of five power wheelchair claims had multiple errors. The documentation error rate for standard power chair claims is 58%, and 93% for complex rehabilitation power chairs.

“The OIG report actually confirms what wheelchair providers and physicians have said for the past three years–the Medicare documentation requirements for power wheelchairs are inconsistent, far too complex, and must be improved so both physicians and wheelchair providers can serve patients and successfully meet Medicare regulations,” said Tyler J. Wilson, OIG president.

Have you had trouble filing claims for your power wheelchair?