Power Operated Vehicles (POVs): These vehicles have been appropriately used in the home setting for vocational rehabilitation and to improve the ability of chronically disabled persons to cope with normal domestic, vocational, and social activities. They may be covered if a wheelchair is medically necessary and the patient is unable to operate a wheelchair manually. Slightly different criteria must be met for Medicare coverage of these “scooter” devices. They are:

1) The patient’s condition is such that without the use of a wheelchair, the patient would not be able to move around their residence;
2) The patient is unable to operate a manual wheelchair;
3) The patient is capable of safely operating the controls of the POV;
4) The patient can transfer safely in and out of the POV; and
5) The POV is ordered by one of the following specialists: Physical Medicine; Orthopedic Surgery; Neurology; or Rheumatology.