Lower Limb Prostheses

Missoulian: Medicare puzzle: Big rise in artificial feet costs

Questionable Billing by Suppliers of Lower Limb Prostheses
"We found a number of problems with Medicare payments for lower limb prostheses. In 2009, Medicare inappropriately paid $43 million for lower limb prostheses that did not meet certain Medicare requirements. These payments could have been prevented by using claims processing edits. Lower limb prostheses are designed to replace, as much as possible, the function of a missing limb. The Medicare requirements we reviewed stipulate how suppliers must submit claims for certain types and combinations of prostheses. "