Frequently Asked Questions

We work very closely with the DME (durable medical equipment) suppliers to help you get your equipment but we are two separate companies. We do not sell wheelchairs; we are a therapy company that specializes in therapy wheelchair assessments and training. You need both a therapist AND a DME supplier to get your equipment.

The role of your therapist is threefold:

• to use clinical knowledge to help you get the right equipment
• help get it paid for by your insurance by explaining what is medically necessary
• act as your advocate throughout the process since your therapist has no financial incentive related to the equipment sale

In order to get equipment, you, your therapist, your DME supplier, and your doctor each need to do their part. At Life Wheels On, our therapists complete their paperwork typically in < 3 days and send it to your selected DME supplier. After our recommendations are sent, it is up to you, your DME supplier, and your doctor to complete the insurance paperwork requirements. Some of our patients receive equipment in 30-90 days and other take longer because of the variables mentioned above. Our therapists work very hard to ensure that we are not holding up the delivery process because we know how badly our patients need their equipment.

Our services are billed to insurance as outpatient therapy. For many of our patients there are no out of pocket costs. If you have Medicaid there are no out of pocket costs. If your insurance has a therapy copay or deductible, you will be responsible for those costs as indicated by your policy.

Our model of care is very patient centered. As the wheelchair user mentioned above, we seek to empower, not dictate recommendations to our patients. Our therapists are trained to know what questions to ask to help you get the best possible equipment for your needs. We keep you at the center of the process since you are the one using the equipment. Bad experiences with poor outcomes often occur from evaluations that were rushed and didn’t allow time for equipment trials or a thorough assessment. Other times a bad experience occurs when a supplier or therapist did not know what questions to ask or did not listen well to the patient. Our goal is to operate as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality of care and taking the time to listen to our patients. It is only with good listening that we can help you get the right equipment that will work best for you.

You need to have your paperwork filled out and ready so your therapist can spend the appointment focused on you and not on paperwork. The therapist will want to see any current equipment you have and will ask you questions about your goals and your mobility. If you are able to walk, the therapist will watch you walk a short distance. There is very little physical movement during the appointment and most patients experience little to no pain from the assessment. The majority of the session(s) is question and answers getting to know you and your needs.

We can make recommendations for your home modifications for wheelchair use. If you have Medicaid, we can work with your service coordinator to help get your modifications paid for. If you do not have Medicaid, we can make recommendations and provide you with some options of contractors who specialize in this area.

We understand that getting to the office is not an easy task for people who are not mobile. Because of this we have partnered with another company, ALME Transportation, to help with transportation.