Still Leaning on K1s? Why It’s Time to Rethink Your Wheelchair Strategy

Another bare-bones K1 out the door...? 

If you’re like many DME providers, the K1 wheelchair is your default option. It’s familiar, easy to process, and gets the job done. That's why the  K1 continues to dominate, generating over $120 million in Medicare claims annually, according to VGM and HME Databank.  

But providers who dig deeper know that while a “naked” K1 might be the most common choice, it’s rarely the most strategic. Let’s take a deeper dive. 

A Strategy for Higher Reimbursement & Better Outcomes 

While the K1 brings in modest returns, did you know that a properly coded and accessorized K2 can provide a substantially better patient experience while dramatically boosting your monthly revenue per patient? Additionally, K2s see $110 million less in annual claims and have a 10% higher approval rate. Put simply, the K2 category is an underused lever for financial and clinical success. 

To see what this can mean for your business, let’s take a look at the difference in profitability between the unaccessorized K1 most providers default to and a K2 accessorized with essential items we believe every patient can benefit from. 

K1 vs. K2 Wheelchairs: 6 Month Profitability Snapshot

At a difference of nearly $500 across six months, this isn’t just a small bump in revenue. It’s a scalable margin opportunity that adds up fast across your fleet. 

What’s Holding Providers Back From a Better Wheelchair Strategy? 

When we ask providers why they’re still defaulting to K1s, the answers are surprisingly consistent: 

• Intake teams aren’t properly trained. 
• Many teams don’t know how to document or justify upgrades like elevating leg rests, cushions, or anti-tippers, even though these are often clinically appropriate and reimbursable. 
• Referral sources won’t approve orders. 
• Physicians and case managers are under serious pressure to ensure discharges are not delayed and are often unaware of what their patients qualify for under reimbursement guidelines. As a result, they often default to the standard wheelchair. 
• WOPDs don’t include needed accessories.  
• If the order doesn’t specify accessories, you can’t bill for them, and too often, forms are incomplete or missing essential billing codes, leaving patient needs unmet. 

Each of these issues is fixable with the right support. At Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, we’ve helped providers across the country shift from reactive to proactive when it comes to wheelchair programs. We’re here to walk you through the process and set you up for long-term success. 

Here’s just a part what your local Drive rep can do: 

Run a personalized opportunity analysis – We’ll calculate exactly how much profit you’re leaving behind by sticking with K1s. 

Train your intake team – Your staff will learn how to identify qualifying patients and complete documentation that gets approved. 

Help educate your referral network – We’ll arm you with tools to explain to prescribers why accessories matter and how they improve patient care. 

Provide complete WOPD templates – We’ll give you the documentation that sets you up to succeed right from the start. 

This isn’t just about one wheelchair—it’s about transforming your entire approach to reimbursement. 

Ready to Rethink Your Wheelchair Strategy? 

If you’re serious about growing profits and giving your patients the care they truly need, the time to act is now. Let us help you stop leaving money—and better outcomes—on the table.