A patient who receives Medicare benefits presents to the pharmacy with a prescription for a walker. A walker should be billed to which of the following Medicare programs?

When a patient who receives Medicare benefits presents a prescription for a walker, it should be billed to Part B of Medicare. Part B covers durable medical equipment (DME), which includes items such as walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids needed for medical reasons.

Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care, but not DME. Part C refers to Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance plans that combine the benefits of Part A and Part B, but billing for a walker specifically aligns with what is covered under Part B. Part D focuses on prescription medications and does not cover durable medical equipment.

Therefore, billing the walker to Part B is appropriate because that program is designed to address the costs associated with outpatient medical equipment that beneficiaries may require for daily activities and mobility.