MedicaidCoverageMedium impact
Right of Nursing Facility Residents to Motorized Wheelchairs
Illinois Medicaid - HFS·IL · PM&R (Physical Medicine & Rehab), Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy +1 more·Provider Notice
Effective date
Mar 28, 2007
We identified it
Jun 21, 2026
Summary
Nursing facility residents who are Medicaid-eligible must be evaluated for motorized wheelchairs when medically necessary. The Department pays for custom motorized wheelchairs while nursing facilities pay for non-custom ones, with required evaluations at admission and annually.
Action Required
Immediately: For providers serving nursing facility residents, establish workflow to coordinate motorized wheelchair evaluations and assessments. Billing team must understand payment responsibility - bill Department for custom motorized wheelchairs with proper prior authorization, while nursing facilities pay for non-custom wheelchairs. Update documentation requirements to support medical necessity determinations.