How do payors view supervised wheelchair mobility in young clients? Will they pay for a power wheelchair?
Answer
This depends on the payor. Some have a certain criteria or age cut-off and will not pay for power wheelchairs for young children. I think it is really important to document the rationale behind the equipment recommendation and how the caregivers will provide supervision (as they would do for any type of mobility at this age even in typical children). As we discussed, kids, who have no mobility or limited mobility could benefit from a powered wheelchair to access their environment. This builds foundational skills for better learning in the future. It has also been shown by the research that children who have early mobility are more likely to attempt other forms of mobility.
Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Michelle Lange is an occupational therapist with over 35 years of experience and has been in private practice, Access to Independence, for over 15 years. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the co-editor of Seating and Wheeled Mobility: a clinical resource guide. She is the former NRRTS Continuing Education Curriculum Coordinator and Clinical Editor of NRRTS Directions magazine. Michelle is a RESNA Fellow and member of the Clinician Task Force. Michelle is a RESNA-certified ATP and SMS.
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