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Call To Action - Access to Power Seat Elevation on Standard PWCs Threatened

Published in VGM Government Relations on April 02, 2026

As reported by NCART: 

Do you use, recommend or provide power seat elevation for individuals with any of the diagnoses below? If so, and you answer YES to any of the questions below, it is important for Medicare to hear your story in writing by midnight on Saturday, April 4 at PMDRecon@noridian.com.  

Medicare may cover a power seat elevation system, based on a clinical evaluation, for individuals with chronic medical conditions such as, but not limited to: 

  • Amputations 
  • Cancer 
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
  • Congestive Heart Failure 
  • Coronary Artery Disease 
  • Degenerative Disk Disease 
  • Diabetes Mellitus 
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome 
  • Fibromyalgia  
  • Hypertension
  • Lymphedema
  • Myositis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • (Poly)neuropathy
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Spinal Stenosis 

on a Medicare-covered power wheelchair when it is deemed medically necessary to assist with transfers in and out of the chair and reach higher surfaces in the home and participate in daily activities and complete daily tasks.  

The Issue:  

On February 19, Medicare issued a proposed change that would completely eliminate access to this empowering technology for beneficiaries with chronic medical conditions (such as those above) if this change is implemented.  

The Questions: 

  1. Do you (does your client) currently have a power wheelchair (PWC) with a seat elevation system? 
  2. Do you (does your client) have difficulty, or need assistance to transfer from a power wheelchair to a surface (bed, toilet, shower chair, car/van seat, etc.) that is higher than the power wheelchair seat? 
  3. Do you (does your client) have difficulty, or need assistance to reach high enough to access one or more of the following areas in the home? (If yes, check all that apply) 
    1. Dresser drawers: clothes rod; washer and/or dryer.  
    2. Medicine cabinet; bathroom sink/faucet; mirror; shower head/faucet. 
    3. Freezer/refrigerator; oven/stove (including light/exhaust fan switches); coffee pot; microwave; cupboard/shelves; counter; sink/faucet; disposal switch, etc. 
    4. Light switches; fire alarm; wall phone; speaker; door eye hole/viewer; doorbell; elevator buttons. 
    5. Other 

If yes, tell YOUR story, communicate YOUR concern, and offer the recommended solution to address the problem!  

What CAN you do with a power seat elevation system that you CAN NOT or WOULD NOT be able to do without it?  

The ASK/Recommended Solution:  

We are asking Medicare to continue allowing access to power seat elevation systems used by Medicare beneficiaries with chronic medical conditions who have a medical need for a power wheelchair and need access to the vertical environment to transfer, reach, and perform or participate in activities of daily living by establishing dedicated coverage criteria and prior authorization for this enabling technology.  

Have YOUR Voice Heard:  

Submit written comments by 11:59 p.m. on April 4, 2026, via email to PMDRecon@noridian.com 

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