Chrome plating, etc.

Chrome plating, etc.

Dear Colleagues,

Does anyone use chrome or nickle plating codes today? According to one
reply, one manufacturer of components still manufactures parts that need to
be plated during the fabrication process.

My suggestion is that we solicit Medicare to include any long term protection
process in L2750. This would include, chrome or nickle plating, powder
coating, anodizing, irridating, plastisol, etc.. The key here is these are
long term protective coatings and they are reasonable manufacturing or
fabricating processes. I believe this can be argued sucessfully with
Medicare as being medically necessary. In essence, it should really be
argued as device necessary. Otherwise, how can a wheelchair (or any other
medical device for that matter) that is chrome plated be a covered Medicare
device without deducting for the cosmetic or protective coating?

I would suggest that L2780 be relegated to processes that inhibit oxidation,
such as sandblasting, acrylic or other surface coatings, polishing, etc.,
etc. Since all of these processes benefit the device recipient by retarding
oxidation, which in turn protects clothing, skin etc.

Additionally, since there is virtually no differences in allowables at this
time, there would really be no need to keep L2750. However, powder coating,
chrome, anodizing, etc., processes are much more expensive to apply to a
device than power buffing or other short term surface processes.

Wil Haines, CPO