A power wheelchair is a motorized chair that is powered by one or more rechargeable batteries.
Power wheelchairs come with front, center, and rear drive bases recommended for different uses. These drive bases are described here
Recommended for:
- Power wheelchairs are primarily recommended for individuals who are not able to manually propelling themselves in a manual chair.
- Power wheelchairs are appropriate for individuals with low endurance who are only able to propel a wheelchair independently for a very short amount of time
NOTE: Medicare will accept requests for a manual wheelchair over a power wheelchair much more frequently. Medicare only accepts need for a power wheelchair or scooter if the individual cannot propel a manual wheelchair in the home. “Medicare won’t cover a power wheelchair or scooter that is only needed and used outside of the home” (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2008)
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For more information about Medicare’s coverage of power wheelchairs or scooters, view the publication “Protecting Medicare’s Power Wheelchair and Scooter Benefit.” Visit http://www.medicare.gov and select “Find a Medicare Publication.” |
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