How Long Does Getting a Custom Power Mobility Device Really Take?
The short answer: It varies, but the mobility provider you choose can make all the difference.
The journey to receiving a custom power mobility device (PMD) is thorough, and for good reason. Custom mobility equipment is often a long-term investment that must support a user's medical needs, daily activities, comfort, and independence.
While timelines are heavily dependent upon the individual's medical needs, insurance requirements, and equipment specifications, finding the right provider to walk you through the process can play a major role in how quickly you can receive your wheelchair. Often, partnering with experienced mobility providers can be the difference in receiving a custom PMD in as little as 60 days compared to waiting six months or more with standard mobility providers.
Understanding The Custom Power Mobility Device Process
When using insurance, the process of receiving a custom PMD can be overwhelming due to its lengthy five-step process. However, understanding what happens in each step can help simplify the process while minimizing the potential for delays.
Requesting Mobility Equipment
This step is typically completed in 72 hours because it only requires the patient or physician to submit a request for equipment to a mobility equipment provider.
Completing a Mobility Evaluation
After the request for a PMD is submitted, typically the mobility equipment provider will take about a week to verify patient demographics and insurance, then schedule a mobility evaluation. The evaluation usually involves the patient, a physical therapist, the mobility equipment provider, and an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), a specialized rehabilitation specialist that bridges the gap between medical needs and practical solutions, making it possible for individuals to regain mobility and improve their quality of life.
Requesting Medical Funding
This can be the most time-consuming part of the process, due to physicians, insurance, and mobility equipment providers all needing to review and accurately process the required documents. If all documents are reviewed and submitted in a timely manner, this step can take between two and three weeks. However, if the documents are incomplete or inaccurate it can result in delays or denials that may extend the process by as much as 90 days.
Ordering & Assembling Mobility Equipment
This step is mostly dependent on the mobility equipment provider’s process and the manufacturer’s delivery timelines but with experienced providers, this step can potentially be completed in as little as seven to 10 business days.
Scheduling, Delivering, and Final Fitting
Usually done within a week of the mobility equipment provider receiving the custom PMD, the patient will be contacted to schedule their equipment delivery, fitting, and adjustments.
How Rehab Medical Helps Accelerate the Custom Wheelchair Process
Rehab Medical's specialized custom mobility device service model is designed to help patients move through the process faster without sacrificing quality of care. This is done by pairing each patient with a dedicated patient care team consisting of a sales representative, ATP, patient care representative, insurance specialist, and billing expert.
Through this dedicated patient care model, Rehab Medical can proactively follow up with physicians and referral partners, provide ongoing communication between patients and caregivers, and streamline ordering, assembly, and delivery workflows so patients receive their equipment in as little as 60 days once all required documents are submitted and approved.
The impact of this approach was shared by a family who expected the process to take up to two years but received her child’s custom wheelchair in just four months.
“My child needed a non-motorized custom wheelchair owing to increasing difficulties with mobility following a severe and relentless case of juvenile arthritis. Since he didn’t need to use it exclusively, I had doubts about whether it would be approved at all; at the very least, I’d been cautioned by other parents to expect an exhausting 2-year long odyssey.
We were so fortunate that his referral was sent to Rehab Medical, though! The entire process was incredibly fast - around 4 months total, at least 2 months of which was due exclusively to our asking to reschedule several appts a few times. There were no denials from insurance. (I credit Rehab for this, because his physician had never before prescribed a wheelchair for any patient).
At every stage, the team was flexible and friendly. When I had to cancel appts - including at the last-minute owing to illnesses - they were friendly and flexible. I thought they might give up - I could imagine other companies not calling back after I’d rescheduled twice at the last minute. But they never acted put out, even though I’m sure we had inconvenienced them. Instead, they wished us well and followed up via text and phone call a few days later.”
Why the Right Mobility Equipment Provider Makes All the Difference
From referral to delivery, receiving a custom wheelchair is a team effort. It requires collaborative efforts from caregivers, clinicians, and mobility users to ensure the patient receives the right mobility equipment for their needs.
Equally important is understanding the five-step process of receiving custom mobility equipment so you understand why partnering with the right provider can make all the difference in how long it takes to receive equipment.
Learn more about Rehab Medical’s unique process here. If you’re interested in receiving a custom PMD through an experienced mobility equipment provider, reach out to our team of mobility specialists here.
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