The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently made a national coverage decision for Medicare benefits to now include seat elevation equipment for eligible beneficiaries. This is great news. This equipment is essential for power wheelchair users who use them to perform activities of daily living, such as transferring to and from their wheelchair, preparing food, and dressing, and is something disability and aging advocates have fought for for years. Beneficiaries will need to pay any applicable cost-sharing.
As announced by the Administration for Community Living, CMS’ decision follows a formal request from the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition and other supporting organizations. Their request was supported by public input from numerous individuals and aging and disability organizations and the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency that advises on disability policy. Research funded by ACL’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) helped provide the evidence base to inform the decision.
For more information and details, see CMS’ Decision Summary and Memo.
