On Oct. 31, the four DME MAC medical directors sent letters to physicians in their respective jurisdictions asking them to document visits and exams for power mobility devices.

On Oct. 31, the four DME MAC medical directors sent letters to
physicians in their respective jurisdictions asking them to
document visits and exams for power mobility devices.

"You should record the visit and examination in your usual
medical record-keeping format," the letter states. "Many suppliers
provide forms for you to complete. Suppliers often try to create
the impression that these documents are a sufficient record of the
in-person visit and medical evaluation. Based upon our auditing
experience, most of them are not. This is usually because these
documents do not record a complete medical examination and thus do
not provide enough detailed information to adequately describe the
medical necessity for the power mobility device in the patient's
home."

The medical directors noted that some individual suppliers,
equipment manufacturers and medical groups have devised their own
forms to help with the requirement.

"While there is no specific prohibition against the use of a
form to facilitate record-keeping, any instrument you choose must
be a complete and comprehensive record of your in-person visit and
the examination that was performed," their letter said.