Mobility Scooter and Medicare 

Mobility Scooter and Medicare

1.      Face to face visit with physician – document need for mobility scooter to complete ADLs within the home. Must precept in person with an attending, they must sign the DME orders and document presence in the visit

·         For patients in facilities such as Assisted Living or SNF, the whole facility is considered their home (not just their room) and if the scooter allows them to access the dining hall and maintain independence that is part of ADLs

·         Use ICD10 codes that explain the need for the scooter

·         Explain why they do not have strength to push themselves in a manual wheelchair

·         Do NOT include benefits of transportation or mobility outside of the home, this is not a covered need

2.      Place order for Occupational Therapy to do a mobility evaluation

3.      Occupational therapy will send back a report and prescription/item list to the physician office. Both sections need to be signed by the therapist, and both need to be signed by the attending physician who saw them at the face to face visit

4.      Place a DME order in Epic for a mobility scooter, signed by the attending physician

5.      Fax the office visit note (with attending attestation), OT mobility evaluation report and prescription/item list signed, and DME order signed to the preferred DME company

·         Advanced Mobility & Medical Depot is one in North Fort Myers that takes Medicare

·         Phone 239-997-3000

·         Fax 239-997-1276

6.      The DME company will submit materials to medicare for authorization (takes up to 7 days) and will arrange a home visit to measure door openings and hallways to submit to Medicare (they must prove the device will fit in the home)