This document defines general principles used to determine the medical necessity of durable medical equipment (DME) and includes a general definition of DME, which is based on standard contract definitions of DME and the definition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Note: As these criteria may not be the criteria used in the definition of DME within the covered individual’s plan document, these criteria are not to be used for benefit determinations for a covered individual. Please see the definition of “durable medical equipment” in the covered individual’s plan document for the purpose of making benefit determinations.

• Please check appropriate state mandates for laws that will supersede this document when applicable, such as those governing prosthetics.
• Any corporate medical policy or clinical UM guideline addressing the specific type of DME requested takes precedence over this guideline.
• Verify benefits and benefit exclusions. This document shall not be construed to require coverage for any device when the benefit plan excludes coverage of the device.
• This document shall not be construed to require coverage for any device when the FDA has determined its use to be contraindicated.

Clinical Indications

Definition:

Durable medical equipment is any equipment that meets all the following requirements:

1. Provides therapeutic benefits or enables the individual to perform certain tasks that the individual is unable to undertake otherwise due to certain medical conditions or illnesses; and
2. Can withstand repeated use; and
3. Is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose; and
4. Generally is not useful to a person in the absence of an illness or injury; and
5. Is appropriate for use in the home but may be transported to other locations to allow the individual to complete instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), which are more complex tasks required for independent living.

DME must meet the following definitions of “durable” and “medical equipment”:

1. Durable. --An item is considered durable if it can withstand repeated use, that is, the type of item which could normally be rented. Medical supplies of an expendable nature such as incontinence pads, lambswool pads, catheters, ace bandages, elastic stockings, surgical face masks, irrigating kits, sheets and bags are not considered "durable" within the meaning of the definition. There are other items, which, although durable in nature, may fall into other benefit categories such as braces, prosthetic devices, artificial arms, legs, and eyes.
2. Medical Equipment. --Medical equipment is equipment which is primarily and customarily used for medical purposes and is not generally useful in the absence of illness or injury. In most instances, no documentation will be needed to determine whether a specific item of equipment is medical in nature. However, some cases will require documentation to determine whether the item constitutes medical equipment. This documentation would include the advice of local medical organizations (hospitals, medical schools, medical societies) and specialists in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. If the equipment is new on the market, it may be necessary, prior to seeking professional advice, to obtain information from the supplier or manufacturer explaining the design, purpose, effectiveness and method of using the equipment in the home as well as the results of any tests or clinical studies that have been conducted.

Medically Necessary:

Durable medical equipment is considered medically necessary when all of the following criteria are met:

1. The requested item meets the definition of DME above; and
2. The requested item has not otherwise been identified as not medically necessary or investigational and not medically necessary by a specific document; and
3. There is adequate documentation in the medical records or in the claim submission of all of the following:
   1. The documentation substantiates that the physician exercised prudent clinical judgment to order or provide this equipment for an individual for the purpose of preventing, evaluating, diagnosing or treating an illness, injury, disease or its symptoms, and in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice. Generally accepted standards of medical practice means standards that are based on credible scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, physician specialty society recommendations and the views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas and any other relevant factors; and
   2. There is a clinical assessment and associated rationale for the requested DME in the home setting, as evaluated by a physician, licensed physical therapist, occupational therapist, or nurse; and
   3. There is documentation substantiating that the DME is clinically appropriate, in terms of type, quantity, frequency, extent, site and duration and is considered effective for the individual’s illness, injury or disease; and
   4. The documentation supports that the requested DME will restore or facilitate participation in the individual’s usual IADL’s and life roles; and
   5. The requested DME is not primarily for the convenience of the individual, physician, caregiver, or other health care provider; and
   6. The DME is not more costly than an alternative service, sequence of services, device or equipment, at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic or diagnostic results as to the diagnosis or treatment of that covered individual’s illness, injury or disease.

The information should include the individual’s diagnosis and other pertinent functional information including, but not limited to, duration of the individual’s condition, clinical course (static, progressively worsening, or improving), prognosis, nature and extent of functional limitations, other therapeutic interventions and results, past experience with related items, etc.

Not Medically Necessary:

Items not meeting the above criteria are considered not medically necessary including, but not limited to any of the following situations:

1. The item is intended to be used for athletic, exercise, or recreational activities as opposed to assisting the individual in the activities of daily living (either ADLs or IADLs); or
2. The item is intended for environmental control or a home modification (for example, electronic door openers, air cleaners, ramps, elevators, stair glides, wheelchair attachments or accessories for stair-climbing, etc.); or
3. The item includes an additional feature or accessory, or is a non-standard or deluxe item that is primarily for the comfort and convenience of the individual (for example, customized options on wheelchairs, hand controls to drive, electric vehicle lifts for wheelchairs, etc.); or
4. The item is specifically designed for outdoor use (for example, specially designed manual wheelchairs for beach access, specially designed power mobility devices for rough terrain, manual wheelchairs for sports, etc.); or
5. The item represents a duplicative piece of equipment that is intended to be used as a backup device, for multiple residences, or for traveling, etc. (for example, back-up manual wheelchair when a power wheelchair is the individual’s primary means of mobility, a second wheeled mobility device specifically for work or school use, car seats); or
6. The item represents a product upgrade to a current piece of equipment that is either fully functional or replacement of a device when the item can be cost-effectively repaired.

Note: To the extent a particular type of DME is considered not medically necessary or investigational and not medically necessary, it may be addressed in a specific Medical Policy or Clinical UM Guideline.