What is a Certificate of Medical Necessity primarily used for?

A Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) is primarily used to justify the necessity for durable medical equipment (DME) for patients. This document serves as a formal declaration from a healthcare provider that a specific piece of medical equipment is essential for the patient's treatment or management of their health condition. The CMN outlines the medical conditions of the patient and the need for the equipment, ensuring that the equipment is covered by insurance plans such as Medicare or Medicaid.

While surgical events, whether inpatient or outpatient, may also require justification for procedures and services, the CMN is specifically designed to address the need for equipment rather than procedures. Prescription medications are typically managed through different forms of documentation, such as prior authorization or medication orders, rather than a CMN. Therefore, the focus of a Certificate of Medical Necessity is on durable medical equipment, making it the correct answer.