Medicare makes revisions to LCD

WASHINGTON - A revised local coverage determination (LCD) released March 1 reiterates Medicare's requirement that before a doctor prescribes power wheelchairs he must rule out any less costly alternatives. The revised LCD for power chairs and accessories also states that CMS will pay for attendant controls retroactively to Jan. 1, 2006. Lastly, the revised LCD states that for beneficiaries to qualify for a fully reclining back, they must meet two criteria: They must be self catheterizing and at risk of developing pressure sores. That change went into effect May 1, 2006.