To determine power wheelchair eligibility, Medicare uses five specific Mobility Related Activities of Daily Living (MRADLs). These tasks are the fundamental movements required for self-care and functional independence specifically within the home environment.

The five key MRADL tasks include:

1. Bed Mobility: The ability to move and reposition yourself while in bed.
2. Transfers: Moving to and from a bed, chair, or toilet.
3. Walking: The ability to move around the home on foot.
4. Wheeling: The ability to move through the home using a manual mobility device.
5. Negotiating Stairs: The ability to manage steps or stairs within the residence.

In addition to these core movement-based tasks, the evaluation also considers the impact of mobility deficits on broader self-care activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding.

To qualify for a power wheelchair, a physician must document that you are unable to perform one or more of these MRADLs safely and efficiently, even with the use of a cane or walker. This impairment must exist inside the home (the "within the home" rule) rather than just in the community. Documentation must also explain why a manual wheelchair is insufficient for completing these daily tasks.