# 2026-00487: Medicare Demands Face Time for Your Wheelchair Order

2026-00487, Medicare Program; Updates to the Master List of Items Potentially Subject to Face to Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery and/or Prior Authorization Requirements; Updates to the Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List; and Updates to the Required Prior Authorization List, is a Federal Register rule from Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published 2026-01-13, effective 2026-04-13 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00487
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00487
- Title: Medicare Program; Updates to the Master List of Items Potentially Subject to Face to Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery and/or Prior Authorization Requirements; Updates to the Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List; and Updates to the Required Prior Authorization List
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Health and Human Services Department; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Citation: 91 FR 1250
- Published: 2026-01-13
- Effective: 2026-04-13
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 0938-ZB98
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Medicare Demands Face Time for Your Wheelchair Order

## Summary

Starting April 13, 2026, Medicare is updating the list of medical items that need a face-to-face doctor visit, a written order, or prior approval before you get them. These changes affect patients, doctors, and suppliers by making sure the right checks happen before certain equipment or services are provided. This helps keep care safe and costs clear for everyone involved.

## Abstract

This document announces the updated Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes on the Master List. It also announces updates to the HCPCS codes on the Required Face-to-Face and Written Order Prior to Delivery List and the Required Prior Authorization List.

## Effects PRIA read

- 18 HCPCS Codes Added to Master List: mixed, low. On April 13, 2026, CMS adds 18 HCPCS codes to the Master List of DMEPOS items that may be subject to face-to-face encounter, written order prior to delivery, and/or prior authorization. The added codes include items such as continuous glucose monitor supplies, wound dressings, certain orthoses, pow…
- Oxygen Equipment Requires Face-to-Face Visit: mixed, medium. Effective April 13, 2026, CMS adds eight oxygen-related HCPCS codes to the Required Face-to-Face Encounter and Written Order Prior to Delivery List. For these oxygen supplies and devices, the treating practitioner must have a face-to-face encounter with the beneficiary within the 6 months before th…
- Seven Items Added to Prior Authorization List: cost, medium. Beginning April 13, 2026, CMS adds seven HCPCS codes to the Required Prior Authorization List: five orthoses codes and two pneumatic compression device codes. Before providing these items and submitting a claim, a requester must submit a prior authorization request with the written order and releva…
- CMS Estimates $32.1M Net Savings: benefit, low. CMS estimates the additions to the prior authorization program will result in an estimated net savings of $32.1 million. The gross savings assumption is based on a 20 percent reduction in paid claims for the relevant items, with review costs deducted to arrive at the net savings estimate.

## Related documents

- [2026-20281](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20281): Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model, 2026-10-02
- [2026-20131](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20131): Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality…, 2026-10-01
- [2026-19959](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19959): Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Prog…, 2026-09-30
- [2026-20067](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20067): Medicare Program; FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements; Correction, 2026-09-30
- [2026-19946](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19946): Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospectiv…, 2026-09-29
- [2026-15686](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15686): Medicare Program; FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements, 2026-08-03

## Sources
- [2026-00487 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/13/2026-00487/medicare-program-updates-to-the-master-list-of-items-potentially-subject-to-face-to-face-encounter)
- [2026-00487 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-13/pdf/2026-00487.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00482, Service of Process; Address Change](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00482)
- [Next: 2026-00535, Civil Monetary Penalties-2026 Adjustment](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00535)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00487 (as of 2026-06-11).