A seat lift mechanism may be covered if a person is not able to stand up from any chair in his/her home. The person must be able to walk, once they reach a standing position.

Note: The fact that a patient has trouble or is unable to get up from a chair, even a low chair, does not justify the need for a seat lift.

The patient must have severe arthritis of the hip or knee or have a severe neuromuscular disease. The seat lift mechanism must be part of the doctor's course of treatment and be prescribed to improve, or prevent deterioration of, the patient's condition.

A seat lift mechanism gently raises and slightly tilts the chair to raise the person from a sitting position to a standing position. Medicare only covers seat lift mechanisms that operate smoothly, can be controlled by the patient and assist the patient in standing up without other help.

Medicare covers only a seat lift mechanism, not the cost of an entire chair.

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

A Certificate of Medical Necessity for Seat Lift (DMERC 07.03A) must be completed, signed, and dated by the treating doctor.