BALTIMORE--CMS revised its power mobility device fee schedule yet again last week, raising reimbursements for most codes.

The agency said its revision, announced late Tuesday, would correct "technical errors made in the calculation of base fee schedule amounts" to make sure the payment rates are accurate. The fees were originally issued Oct. 2, then revised Nov. 11 before the fee schedule took effect Nov. 15.

The biggest increase was to code K0840, which rose by $1,147. All other PMD codes also were increased with a few exceptions: K0830 and K0831 dropped by $511.80; K0841 and K0842 were reduced $232.90; and K0859 decreased by $552.50.

But the extensively prescribed Group 2 K0823 was bumped by only $75.20, and K0825 by only $277.60.

Industry stakeholders said they welcome the increases, but that they still aren't high enough.

Regarding the K0823, The Scooter Store, New Braunfels, Texas, issued a statement Thursday that said "while the $75 increase in reimbursement ... is appreciated, we firmly stand behind the supporting data that the industry presented to CMS four weeks ago that substantiated an increase of $428."

Last week, the company announced that it was laying off 200 employees, citing Medicare's PMD reimbursement cuts (see HomeCare Monday, Dec.4).

Seth Johnson, chairman of the American Association for Homecare's Rehab Council and vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility, Exeter, Pa., said he is waiting to see how CMS put its fees together. "We really need to see the details of those calculations to determine how they arrived at these payment amounts and whether they are accurate," he said, adding that the agency is expected to release that information sometime this week.

CMS said the new fees are effective for claims with dates of service on or after Nov. 15, and that providers can resubmit previously paid claims for adjustment. AAHomecare said it should also be noted that the fee amounts do not include batteries, which are separately billable.

To view the revised PMD prices, click here.