FAQs

Who is the emPOWER Ankle for?
The emPOWER Ankle is for people with above or below the knee amputations who are low to moderately active and want to maintain an active lifestyle.

The device is intended to replace a missing foot and ankle. The emPOWER Ankle is to be used exclusively for fittings of lower extremity amputations as prescribed by a healthcare professional.

The emPOWER Ankle does not work for everyone and individual results may vary. The most common complications are complete battery discharge which may reduce walking distance and speed, improper tuning or improper walking up and down stairs which increases the risk of falls.

What is the weight of the emPOWER Ankle?
The total weight of the emPOWER Ankle with battery, foot module, sock and foot cover is 4.8 lbs. (2.2 kg), which is 6% less than the weight of the BiOM Ankle (5.1 lbs.). This is approximately the weight of the anatomical ankle for a 190 lb. person.

How long does the emPOWER Battery last?
The emPOWER Battery lasts up to 2X longer than the BiOM Ankle Battery (up to 8 hours). User weight and activity level have the largest effect on battery run time. Both emPOWER Batteries can be fully charged in as little as 90 minutes. The batteries are equipped with indicator lights which reflect their state of charge with a touch of a button – each lit bar represents 25% of charge. In addition, an alert can be set that will vibrate the ankle when battery capacity is low.

Is the emPOWER Ankle water proof?
The emPOWER Ankle is water resistant but not waterproof. Limit water exposure to light rain or small puddles.

What does the emPOWER warranty cover?
The emPOWER Ankle and Charger are covered by a 3 year warranty. The emPOWER battery is covered by a 1 year warranty.

Is the emPOWER Ankle covered by insurance reimbursement?
The emPOWER Ankle is covered by a number of providers, including Workers’ Compensation, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Private insurers who have provided reimbursement for their enrollees — on a case-by-case basis — include Aetna, various Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurers, Empire State, Humana, United Healthcare and Tricare. At this time, the emPOWER Ankle is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Those who have served 24 months of consecutive active duty in the U.S. military, may be eligible for prosthetic device coverage through the Department of Veteran’s Affairs – even if currently using private insurance for the majority of their healthcare needs. To determine VA eligibility, click here: http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/veterans.asp

Is there an L Code for the emPOWER Ankle?
Yes. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has recognized the unique aspects of the emPOWER Ankle and designated a new code to supplement the existing L5973 Code. The emPOWER Ankle can be reimbursed using both the L5973 and the L5969 together.

The L5969 Code reimburses the unique power assist technology of the emPOWER Ankle, describing it as, “Addition, endoskeletal ankle-foot or ankle system, power assist, includes any type motor(s).”

The word “Addition” included in the code enables practitioners to add the L5969 code to the L5973 code that reimburses the microprocessor computing of the emPOWER Ankle.

Can I buy the emPOWER Ankle, batteries or chargers directly from BionX?
No. All products must be ordered and fitted by trained Practitioners only. Every Practitioner is trained in the tools, technology and expertise to fit and tune the emPOWER Ankle, and its components, to your individual needs. The emPOWER Ankle is currently available through our growing network of Practitioners across the U.S., Canada and Europe.

What type of Reimbursement Support does BionX offer?
BionX offers Reimbursement Support with every order to help pre-qualify patients, as well as prepare and review the medical necessity of the device for payers. Ask your BionX Territory Manager to review a sample of the emPOWER Pre-Authorization Package. You’ll find our support, involvement and results well exceed the industry standard.