Certificate of medical necessity

A certificate of medical necessity (CMN) is like a special note written by a doctor that explains why someone needs a specific medical item or service.

Let's say you broke your arm and your doctor thinks you need a special kind of wheelchair that lets you tilt back so you can rest more comfortably. They might write a CMN that explains why you need this special wheelchair instead of a regular one.

The CMN tells the people who provide the wheelchair why it's important for your health and well-being that you have this specific kind of wheelchair. It helps them understand why you need it and why it's not just a luxury or something you want.

Having a CMN can be really helpful because it can make it easier to get the medical items or services you need. Without it, it might be harder to get insurance to pay for it or for the company providing the item or service to understand why you need it.