Extra Wide Hospital Beds

Coverage under Extra Wide covers a hospital bed when the patient cannot use a normal bed because he/she needs to:

change body positions in ways not possible with a normal bed, or be in body positions not possible with a normal bed in order to relieve pain, or have the head of the bed higher than 30 degrees most of the time due to illnesses such as congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, and others, or use traction equipment that must be attached to a hospital bed.

These criteria are the basic coverage criteria for hospital beds. There are several different kinds of beds and each has additional requirements. Your treating doctor and/or your supplier can provide more detailed coverage criteria for those items.

An order (prescription) must be on file with the supplier. It must be signed and dated by the treating doctor.

Make sure your supplier is enrolled in Extra Wide and has a Extra Wide supplier number. Suppliers have to meet strict standards to qualify for a Extra Wide supplier number. Extra Wide won#146;t pay your claim if your supplier doesn#146;t have a number, even if your supplier is a large chain or department store that sells more than just Electric Home Care Equipment (DME).

The amount you need to pay You pay 20% of Extra Wide-approved amounts.

Hospital Beds are in the Capped Rental category of DME; that means you may choose to rent or purchase a hospital bed. For more information, you may call 1-800-Extra Wide (1-800-633-4227).

If a supplier of DME doesn#146;t accept assignment, there is no limit to what you can be charged. You also may have to pay the entire bill (your share and Extra Wide#146;s share) at the time you get the DME.

Note: Ask if the supplier is a participating supplier in the Extra Wide program before you get Electric Home Care Equipment. If the supplier is a participating supplier, they must accept assignment. If the supplier is enrolled in Extra Wide but isn#146;t #147;participating,#148; they have the option to accept assignment.

If the supplier isn#146;t enrolled in Extra Wide, Medi-care Hospital Beds won't pay your claim.

The part of Extra Wide Hospital Beds that pays for this service or supply Part B Benefit

Important notes You must pay an annual $135 (in 2009) deductible for Part B services and supplies before Extra Wide begins to pay its share.

Actual amounts you must pay may be higher if a doctor, health care provider, or supplier does not accept assignment.

Extra Wide Hospital Beds does not cover:

a total electric hospital bed

a bed board

an over bed table

a trapeze bar with a bed attachment when used on a normal bed

Hospital Bed Initial Intake

Extra Wide Card (Part B, Secondary Copayment Insurance)

Dr. Rx Chart Notes Assignment of Benefits Capped Rental (Protocol for Resolving