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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
QUESTIONS: 414-328-8910
Date: Oct 5, 2007
Understanding the Prosthetic Service Card (PSC)
By Keith Sorensen
Senior Benefits Advocate
During the last PVA Medical Services site visit it was brought out that we may need to more fully explain the Prosthetic Service Card. The cards are not usually used at the Milwaukee Medical Center as you have five day per week coverage by bringing your item in for repair. If you are unable to bring the equipment to the hospital, arrangements can be made through prosthetics to have a private vendor provide the needed service. In an effort to educate us all on the benefit, we will address it in this article.
All parts procured or fabricated to replace existing parts or to modify a previously issued appliance are considered as "repairs," regardless of whether installation is performed by a commercial source, a VA facility, or the veteran. Repairs will be obtained by use of the Prosthetic Service Card (PSC).
Equipment repairs and services which may be authorized under the authority of PSCs
include artificial limbs, aids for the blind and veterinary services for guide dogs, orthopedic braces, and wheelchairs. The card is limited to the following amounts:
(a) Wheelchairs $200
(b) Blind aids and/or braces $100
(c) Artificial limbs $300
Invoices for repairs or veterinary treatment obtained under the authority of a PSC will be submitted to and paid for by the Prosthetic Service with Primary Service Area (PSA)
responsibility where the veteran resides. When eligible veterans requiring repairs to authorized appliances do not possess a PSC, prior approval for repairs must be given by the Prosthetic Representative, or designee, before payment of repairs can be made.
Prosthetic representatives are responsible for the overall administration of the PSCs, to include receiving and processing all PSC invoices submitted by vendors for repairs to appliances. Vendors are responsible for ensuring that the appliance being repaired is described on the PSC and for obtaining prior and proper authorization when repairs exceed the authorized limitations of the card. Every effort should be made to ensure that repairs that exceed the limitations of the appropriate PSC are authorized before the card limit is exceeded. There will be cases where the limit is inadvertently exceeded before proper authorization is given; however, this is unacceptable after more than one occurrence following documented notification from the repair source of the proper process. In such subsequent cases, only the card limit for the repairs will be paid, and a copy of the invoice will be returned with the balance marked as "unauthorized repair."
The veteran is responsible for safeguarding their PSC, using it only for the identified
appliance(s) and for updating as required. We veterans should take care to ensure that they do not sign a “blank” invoice, and to verify that the charges on the invoice are for services received. A veteran with more than one type of appliance for which a PSC is authorized will be furnished a separate PSC for each appliance.
A veteran’s PSC will be cancelled or revoked if:
(a) There is an adjudication rating action resulting in lack of eligibility for a beneficiary for the appliance or repairs thereto.
(b) There is a medical determination that there is no further need for the appliance.
(c) There is flagrant abuse of the benefits of the PSC, e.g., signing blank invoices, using the card for unauthorized purchases more than twice, etc.
Please call our office and not prosthetics if you have questions on this issue. If you have any questions about any other benefits, do not hesitate to contact our office at (414)902-5655.
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Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America
2311 South 108th Street
West Allis, WI 53227-1901
414-328-8910
<http://www.wisconsinPVA.org/>
info@wisconsinPVA.org
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