The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") announced recently that it plans to take a series of steps regarding Medicare coverage and payment policies that apply to power wheelchairs and power scooters based upon recent successes in reducing Medicare abuse in these areas. CMS is implementing a three-pronged approach that focuses on coverage, payment, and quality of suppliers of power wheelchairs. The new three-pronged approach is as follows: (1) CMS plans to develop additional guidance on the current coverage of power wheelchairs; (2) CMS is working with a national coding panel to develop a new set of codes that better describe the wheelchairs currently on the market; and (3) CMS is developing a plan to ensure that there are strong quality controls for suppliers who provide power mobility services. CMS launched "Operation Wheeler Dealer" last year, which focused on fraud and abuse with respect to power wheelchairs, particularly in Harris County. Under Operation Wheeler Dealer, the Justice Department and the CMS Office of Inspector General recovered about $84,000,000 in fraudulent claims for power mobility products.

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