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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Reminder: Share Your Experiences with Medicare’s In Home Rule with NCIL

Have You Had Problems with Medicare’s ‘In Home Rule’?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) ‘In Home Rule’ restricts Medicare coverage of mobility assistive equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, and other mobility devices) to only those needed for assistance with Mobility-Related Activities of Daily Living (MRADLs) in the home. MRADLs include things like feeding, grooming, bathing, etc. Medicare does not consider someone’s needs outside of the home when determining which assistive device to cover.

NCIL has been asked to provide examples of people who have experienced barriers because of the In Home Rule. If you have had difficulty getting the appropriate wheelchair or assistive device, been denied a needed device altogether, or if you are not able to use your wheelchair or other assistive device in the settings you need because of this rule, we want to hear from you! Please contact [email protected] and share how the In Home Rule has impacted your life.

Comments

  1. Charles W Artis says

    It baffles my mind that Medicare doesn’t understand when a person is eligible for 24/7/365 care that they have to travel if only for doctor visits. But more important for recreation and socialization.
    Just because a person is homebound,doesn’t mean they’re bedbound,
    I enjoy going to Central Park and the museums along museum mile in New York City.
    I require actvities of Daily Living getting in and out of bed,dressing, cooking 3 meals a day.
    But also to enjoy going outside to the places I mentioned, I need a motorized chair to enhance my feeling of independence and enjoyment of life.

  2. I have to take my power wheelchair with me to doctors appts. One time a piece on chair broke I found it wasnt covered under warranty moment I took it outside my home. It took four months to get new controller had to use duct tape and hair ties to keep controller attached to chair.