WASHINGTON--The chairwoman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs is asking CMS to re-evaluate its final rule on power mobility devices (see HomeCare Monday, April 10).

In a letter to the agency on Friday, Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., said that the subcommittee is "greatly concerned" that CMS failed to "seriously evaluate the additional burden that the final rule imposes on suppliers of PMDs."

Under the rule, which eliminates the power mobility CMN, providers need only submit a physician's prescription for reimbursement of Medicare claims for power wheelchairs and scooters. They are, however, responsible for gathering patient records supplied by physicians that document medical necessity for the equipment.

"The reality that suppliers now must collect both the prescription and additional documentation on all of its claims is not the same requirement of a one-page CMN collection," Miller wrote. In addition, she said, CMS did not take into account the cost of maintaining the records.

Miller requested that CMS consider other collection methods that would decrease the administrative burdens for providers. She also included sample standardized forms, developed by suppliers, that she said include all of the information required by the final rule.

A press release from the Washington, D.C.-based Power Mobility Coalition said it has been working with Miller's subcommittee and others members of Congress to address concern with the lack of a clear documentation requirement in the final rule and previous interim final rule. "In fact, "PMC members provided the subcommittee with the sample forms that were used to demonstrate alternative collections," the release said.

"PMD stakeholders applaud the actions of the subcommittee and we hope that congressional concerns will spur both CMS and [Office of Management and Budget] to work together in developing a documentation requirement that will provide suppliers with greater clarity, ease administrative burdens, and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive proper PMDs," said PMC Counsel Stephen Azia.