WHEELCHAIRS & CUSHIONS
Sam's Health Mart carries a complete line of wheelchairs that we fit. We rent and sell new. We can get specialty wheelchairs well as bill through Medicare Part B and Medicaid. If you or a loved one needs a wheelchair, give us a call.
Transport Wheelchairs
With four small wheels and light weight frames, transport wheelchairs are the perfect choice for transporting someone to and from the house or around the mall. A transport wheelchair is narrower than a standard wheelchair, making it a good choice for tight hallways and narrow doorways around the house.
Standard Weight Wheelchairs
With weights starting at 35 pounds, a standard weight wheelchair is the perfect choice when you need a wheelchair that will be used less than 4 hours per day, but needs to be self-propelled. A full selection is available from the most basic models with fixed legrests and armrests to wheelchairs that have elevating legrests and removable armrests. There are also models with a "hemi" height option. This option allows you to lower the set-to-floor height and remove the legrests so that the user can use their feet to help propel the chair. All standard weight wheelchairs fold for easy transport and storage. Consider a foam cushion for additional comfort.
Lightweight Wheelchairs
With weights ranging from 28-34 pounds, a lightweight wheelchair is a great choice when you need a wheelchair that will be used more frequently, when you need special options, or when you have your heart set on a specific frame and upholstery color combination. A full range of options are available including adjustable angle back, wild frame colors, pneumatic (air-filled) tires, a wide range of seating sizes and heights, and multiple legrests and armrest choices.
Ultralightweight Wheelchairs
With wheelchair weights as low as 14 pounds and available in both rigid and folding models, an ultralightweight wheelchair is for the full-time advanced user who demands performance and for those who want the lightest chair possible for ease of use and transport.
Tilt/Recline Wheelchairs
A reclining back is a great option for those who spend the majority of their time in a wheelchair as it offers more positions. And a tilt wheelchair offers alternative positioning and pressure relief for those who are unable to re-position themselves. Both of these options add weight to the wheelchair, so keep this in mind if easy transport is a concern.
Heavy Duty Wheelchairs
With weight capacities ranging from 300 to 650 pounds, these heavy duty wheelchairs can accommodate nearly any user. We can provide a full range of heavy duty wheelchairs, from economical bariatric transport chairs, to complex highly-configurable models.
Medicare Billing
Medicare pays for most manual wheelchairs as a capped rental. Some types of wheelchairs are considered special order and may not be available as a capped rental option. The most common exception to this is ultralightweight wheelchairs. These are covered under the Medicare code K0005 and can be billed as a purchase. Ultralightweight wheelchairs are only paid for by Medicare in very specific situations usually involving a very active person who requires the chair to be able to complete their activities of daily living i.e. driving, going to work or school and living independently. Please contact us at 1-866-563-SAMS (7237) if you need more information.
CUSHIONS
Foam Wheelchair Cushions Foam is light and varies widely in stiffness and density. Proper stiffness, density and resilience help ensure adequate support and an effective lifespan. Foam envelops the buttocks well, but can be hot and is damaged by moisture and light, so a protective cover should be used. Wheelchair Cushion covers made from fabric that does not stretch and is fitted tight around a cushion tend to negate the compressive benefits of foam. Foam wheelchair cushions absorb impact loads well, so it can help absorb the shock of going over bumps or obstacles.
Gel Wheelchair Cushions These wheelchair cushions are heavier than foams and, therefore, are often used in combination with foams. These materials are good at minimizing heat and are typically encased by a protective cover so are easily cleaned. Because of their incompressible nature, viscous fluid and gel wheelchair cushions often use a contoured non-deforming foam base or a flat, compressible foam base to better enable the cushion to conform around the body. Gels and fluids absorb vibration but cannot absorb impact well. Therefore, these materials can absorb the vibrations that one might experience in a car, but not the impact one gets when bumping over a curbcut.
Air Wheelchair Cushions Air is highly compressible and would make an excellent support surface, except for its requirement of an impermeable membrane. Therefore, the efficacy of air wheelchair cushions is directly related to the design of its container and proper inflation. Some encompass the body well while others do not. Some dissipate heat well, all can handle moisture without harm and most will absorb impact loads. Because air wheelchair cushions are adjustable, they can be inflated to meet the needs of the user, but this adjustability also means that they must be maintained properly. An improperly inflated air cushion can be either too hard or too soft, and both are potentially damaging situations. If an air wheelchair cushion is right for you, be sure to read the instructions so you inflate the cushion properly.
MedicareBilling Your Wheelchair cushions may be covered by Medicare if your diagnosis indicates that your purchase is medically necessary. Medicare also requires that medical necessity be established for the wheelchair that is being used with the cushion. If Medicare paid for the wheelchair then there should be no problem. If Medicare did not pay for your wheelchair we would need to obtain some additional paperwork. Please contact us at 1-866-563-SAMS (7237) if you need more information.