New Wheelchair Cushion, Accessory Codes Added to Medicare Fee Schedule

BALTIMORE–A new power chair accessory code and four new cushion
codes have been added to the Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule.

In its quarterly fee schedule update, CMS said the following new
HCPCS codes and payments would take effect for claims with dates of
service on or after July 1, 2006:

K0733–power wheelchair accessory, 12 to 24 amp hour sealed lead
acid battery, each (e.g. gel cell, absorded glassmat);
K0734–skin protection wheelchair seat cushion, adjustable, width
less than 22 inches, any depth;
K0735–skin protection wheelchair seat cushion, adjustable, width
22 inches or greater, any depth;
K0736–skin protection and positioning wheelchair seat cushion,
adjustable, width less than 22 inches, any depth; and
K0737–skin protection and positioning wheelchair seat cushion,
adjustable, width 22 inches or greater, any depth.

In late 2004, the adjustable cushion codes were separated from
the non-adjustable codes and temporarily assigned to the
miscellaneous wheelchair code, resulting in a “processing
nightmare,” according to Dave McCausland, senior vice president of
planning and government affairs for Belleville, Ill.-based The Roho
Group.

“It’s definitely a step in right direction,” he said of the new
codes. “It should make claims processing for [suppliers] providing
adjustable cushions much easier.”

To view additional payment and coding changes included in the
update, click
here.