June 5, 2006. Last Friday, CMS released the new Power Mobility Device (PMD) codes. The new codes consist of six groupings for powered wheelchairs and two for power-operated vehicles (POVs), with a total of 64 codes. The categories of codes are described by performance variables, patient weight capacity, and powered seating system capabilities. Pricing and policy is to be published later this summer, as implementation is scheduled for October 1, 2006. An updated Product Classification List is also expected to be released in the coming weeks. The list will have products classified under the new codes using the testing data from the previous coding criteria (February 2005).
The funding department at Permobil is continuing to monitor CMS’s progress regarding policy, practices, and procedures concerning powered mobility. Further, Permobil will be in position to answer any coding questions related to our product placement and the latest codes.