CG-DME-23 Lifting Devices for Use in the Home

Clinical UM Guideline

Subject: Lifting Devices for Use in the Home
Guideline #: CG-DME-23	Publish Date: 10/01/2024
Status: Revised	Last Review Date: 08/08/2024

Description

This document addresses lifting devices for use in the home to assist caregivers in transferring an individual from one location to another (such as a bed to a chair) when the individual is unable to assist with the transfer. This document addresses hydraulic or mechanical lifts and multi-positional transfer systems.

Note: Please see the following related documents for additional information:

Clinical Indications

Medically Necessary:

A hydraulic or mechanical lift is considered medically necessary for an individual when all of the following criteria are met:
1. When it is used for the transfer of the individual between a bed and a chair, wheelchair, commode, or shower/bath chair; and
2. When transfers cannot be performed independently and require the assistance of more than one person; and
3. When the individual would be bed confined without the use of a lift; and
4. When the individual’s condition is such that periodic movement is necessary to improve their condition or to stop or delay deterioration of their condition.
A canvas or nylon sling or seat for a hydraulic or mechanical lift is considered medically necessary as an accessory when ordered as a replacement for the original equipment item and the criteria listed above are met.
A multi-positional transfer system is considered medically necessary in lieu of any of the following mobility assistive equipment, including but not limited to canes, crutches, walkers, rollabout chairs, transfer chairs, manual wheelchairs, power-operated vehicles, or power wheelchairs, when both of the following criteria are met:
1. The criteria for a hydraulic or mechanical lift are met; and
2. The individual requires supine positioning for transfers.

Not Medically Necessary:

A hydraulic or mechanical lift or multi-positional transfer system is considered not medically necessary when the criteria listed above are not met.
An electric lift mechanism is considered not medically necessary.

Coding

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this document are included below for informational purposes. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

When services may be Medically Necessary or Reconstructive when criteria are met:

HCPCS
E0621	Sling or seat, patient lift, canvas or nylon
E0625	Patient lift, bathroom or toilet, not otherwise classified
E0630	Patient lift; hydraulic or mechanical, includes any seat, sling strap(s) or pad(s)
E0636	Multipositional patient support system, with integrated lift, patient accessible controls
E0637	Combination sit to stand frame/table system, any size including pediatric, with seat lift feature, with or without wheels [when used as a lift or transfer system]
E0639	Patient lift, moveable from room to room with disassembly and reassembly, includes all components/accessories
E0640	Patient lift, fixed system, includes all components/accessories
E1035	Multi-positional patient transfer system, with integrated seat, operated by care giver, patient weight capacity up to and including 300 lbs
E1036	Multi-positional patient transfer system, extra-wide, with integrated seat, operated by care giver, patient weight capacity greater than 300 lbs

ICD-10 Diagnosis
	All diagnoses

When services are Not Medically Necessary:
For the procedure codes listed above when criteria are not met or for situations designated in the Clinical Indications section as not medically necessary.

When services are also Not Medically Necessary:
For the following procedure codes; or when the code describes a procedure designated in the Clinical Indications section as not medically necessary.

HCPCS
E0635	Patient lift; electric, with seat or sling

ICD-10 Diagnosis
	All diagnoses

Discussion/General Information

A lift device is used within the home or place of residence to assist the caregiver(s) in transferring an individual between a bed and a chair, wheelchair, commode, or shower/bath chair and back when the individual is unable to assist with the transfer. A multi-positional transfer system is used to assist the caregiver(s) in transferring an individual who requires the use of a lift along with supine positioning for transfer. Multi-positional transfer systems (for example, AryCare Home1000 Patient Lifts, AryLift, Inc., Shallotte, NC; Barton™ Medical Convertible^® H-250 Chair Solutions I-400, I-700 & I-1000, Barton Positioning and Transfer System (PTS™), Barton™ Medical Corporation, Austin TX) are intended to facilitate an independent and safe transfer for the caregiver and individuals that have medical conditions that precludes the use of a standard transfer device (that is, a hydraulic or mechanical lift).

The medical necessity of a lift for use in the home setting is based on an evaluation of the individual’s needs and capabilities in relation to the following components of the definition of medical necessity:

Provides therapeutic benefits or enables the individual to perform certain tasks that he or she is unable to undertake otherwise due to certain medical conditions or illnesses; and
Can withstand repeated use; and
Is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose; and
Generally is not useful to a person in the absence of an illness or injury.

Clinical documentation should include the details of the individual’s condition and clearly support the need for the lift device.

An electric lift mechanism is considered not medically necessary as an alternative lift mechanism, as a hydraulic or mechanical lift or multi-positional transfer system is at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic results for the treatment of an individual’s illness, injury, or disease.

The following types of lifts and accessories are considered self-help or convenience items and do not meet the definition of durable medical equipment:

van or car lifts (used to lift wheelchair into a truck or van);
wheelchair lifts or ramps (for example, Wheel-O-Vator lift, National Wheel-O-Vator Co., Inc., Roanoke, IL [ThyssenKrupp Access, Grandview, MO]) (provides vertical lift access to stairways or platform ramps for cars/ trunks);
ceiling lifts, platform lifts, porch lifts, stair lifts, stairway elevators, and other lifts (electric/motorized or non-motorized), addressing accessibility limitations of a home;
home modifications associated with installation of a lift or access within a home.

References

Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). National Coverage Determination for Durable Medical Equipment Reference List. NCD #280.1. Effective May 16, 2023. Available at: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/overview-and-quick-search.aspx. Accessed on May 22, 2024.

Index

AryCare Patient Lifts
Barton Convertible H-250 Chair
Hoyer Lift
Lift-Aid Chamber Lift
Multi-positional Transfer System
Trans-Aid Lift

The use of specific product names is illustrative only. It is not intended to be a recommendation of one product over another, and is not intended to represent a complete listing of all products available.

History

Status	Date	Action
Revised	08/08/2024	Medical Policy & Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) review. Revised language in Clinical Indications. Revised Description and References sections.
Reviewed	08/10/2023	MPTAC review. Updated References section.
Reviewed	08/11/2022	MPTAC review. Updated References section.
Reviewed	08/12/2021	MPTAC review. Updated References section.
Reviewed	08/13/2020	MPTAC review. Updated Discussion and References sections. Reformatted Coding section.
Reviewed	08/22/2019	MPTAC review. Updated References section.
Reviewed	09/13/2018	MPTAC review. Updated References section.
Reviewed	11/02/2017	MPTAC review. The document header wording updated from “Current Effective Date” to “Publish Date.” Updated Discussion, References, and Index sections.
Reviewed	11/03/2016	MPTAC review. Updated formatting in Clinical Indications section. Updated References section.
Reviewed	11/05/2015	MPTAC review. Updated Discussion and References sections. Removed ICD-9 codes from Coding section.
Revised	11/13/2014	MPTAC review. Clarifications to the medically necessary and not medically necessary statements. Updated Description, Discussion, and References sections.
Reviewed	11/14/2013	MPTAC review. Minor format changes to Discussion and Coding sections. Updated Reference section.
Reviewed	11/08/2012	MPTAC review. Updated Discussion, Coding, and References.
Reviewed	11/17/2011	MPTAC review. Updated Discussion and References.
Reviewed	11/18/2010	MPTAC review. Revised title: Lifting Devices for Use in the Home. Updated references.
Reviewed	11/19/2009	MPTAC review. Clarified Clinical Indication for lifts, adding “mechanical” to hydraulic lift statements. Removed Place of Service and Case Management sections, addressing in the Discussion section. Further updates to Discussion and References sections. Updated Coding section to include 01/01/2010 HCPCS changes.
Revised	11/20/2008	MPTAC review. Addition of a medically necessary criteria and not medically necessary indications for a multi-positional transfer system. Description, Case Management, Discussion, References, Coding and Index updated.
Reviewed	11/29/2007	MPTAC review. Clinical Indications, not medically necessary statement clarified. References and Index updated. Updated Coding section with 01/01/2008 HCPCS changes.
Reviewed	12/07/2006	MPTAC review. References updated.
New	12/01/2005	MPTAC initial document development.

Pre-Merger Organizations	Last Review Date	Document Number	Title
Anthem, Inc.			No Document
Anthem CO/NV	10/29/2004	DME.210	Patient Lifts
Anthem CT	10/01/2004	DME Coverage Criteria Document, Section E	Patient Lifts and Accessories
WellPoint Health Networks, Inc.			No Document

Federal and State law, as well as contract language including definitions and specific coverage provisions/exclusions, and Medical Policy take precedence over Clinical UM Guidelines and must be considered first in determining eligibility for coverage. The member's contract benefits in effect on the date that services are rendered must be used. Clinical UM Guidelines, which address medical efficacy, should be considered before utilizing medical opinion in adjudication. Medical technology is constantly evolving, and we reserve the right to review and update Clinical UM Guidelines periodically. Clinical UM guidelines are used when the plan performs utilization review for the subject. Due to variances in utilization patterns, each plan may choose whether or not to adopt a particular Clinical UM Guideline. To determine if review is required for this Clinical UM Guideline, please contact the customer service number on the back of the member's card.

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