Government
Power wheelchair controversy
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 3, 2005
The federal government has insufficient safeguards to prevent improper Medicare reimbursements for power wheelchairs, according to a new report.
Government Accountability Office analysts said a large portion of the more than 450% increase in Medicare wheelchair payments since 1999 is due to inadequate protection against misleading marketing practices and fraudulent activity. Medicare paid nearly $1 billion for the devices in 2003, the study notes.
Within hours of the report's release, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that the agency would open a new national coverage determination to clarify who should be receiving federal subsidies for power wheelchairs.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/01/03/gvbf0103.htm.
