Source: U.S. Rehab / Dan Fedor, VGM

---

The Required Order of Events

There is no ambiguity here — the correct sequence is:

1. Face-to-face encounter (with ordering practitioner)
2. LCMP wheelchair evaluation (PT/OT) — if applicable
3. SWO for the PMD base (power wheelchair)
4. Detailed SWO (accessories) — cannot be dated prior to the base SWO

Important

The SWO and Detailed SWO may be dated the same day as the face-to-face/LCMP completion — they just cannot be dated before it.

The logic: the ordering practitioner cannot order an item before having all documentation that establishes medical necessity.

---

Date on the SWO — Best Practice

• One of the required SWO elements is the order date, which has caused significant industry confusion
• Recommended approach: List only one date on both the SWO and Detailed SWO, serving as both the order date and signature date
• Instruct the ordering practitioner: “This date is the date you sign the document”

---

Six-Month Rules

Requirement	Timeframe	Notes
SWO must be written within	6 months of face-to-face date	LCMP eval date does not reset this clock
LCMP eval must be completed within	6 months of face-to-face date	Because SWO can’t be written until LCMP is done
PMD delivery (all power wheelchairs & scooters)	Within 6 months of prior auth affirmation letter	Prior auth required for all PMDs
Manual wheelchair delivery	Within 1 year of SWO date	Standard; no ADMC
K0005 / E1161 delivery (if ADMC obtained)	Within 6 months of ADMC approval letter	ADMC for these is optional

---

Summary Flow

Face-to-face encounter ↓ LCMP evaluation (if applicable) — must finish within 6 months of face-to-face ↓ SWO written for PMD base — must be written within 6 months of face-to-face ↓ Detailed SWO (accessories) — same day or after base SWO ↓ Prior authorization obtained (required for all PMDs) ↓ Delivery — within 6 months of prior auth letter (PMDs) or 1 year of SWO (manual WC)

---

Tags

billing PMD power-wheelchair SWO face-to-face LCMP prior-auth ADMC documentation complex-rehab