Manufacturers Say PMD Product Classification List is Inaccurate

Baltimore

Stakeholders said a new power mobility product classification list released by the SADMERC is riddled with errors, but they are hopeful that corrections will be made before prices are calculated.

The product classification list, which contains each HCPCS code assignment for power wheelchairs and scooters, classifies products according to performance data and device feature information supplied by the industry’s power mobility manufacturers.

A good number of the products submitted by Invacare Corp. were misclassified, according to Cara Bachenheimer, vice president, government relations, for the Elyria, Ohio-based manufacturer. “We were disappointed to see a number of our products are miscoded. But we’re optimistic that the SADMERC is going to look at data and correct mistakes,” she said, adding that the SADMERC indicated it would release a revised list.

CMS also published a document containing information it has gathered to establish fee amounts for the new HCPCS codes. This document includes both the median wholesale and suggested retail prices reported by manufacturers for products under each code. CMS said it also obtained retail prices from “several reputable Internet sites that specialize in furnishing power wheelchairs.”

But because the pricing source list is based on the product classification list, mobility stakeholders noted, this document also is incorrect and needs to be reissued.