Medical Equipment and Supplies
Rose Traub • July 6, 2020
Medical Equipment and Supplies
Do you ever find yourself wondering what is considered durable medical equipment and how it’s paid for? Every week, we get asked this while helping caregivers find longterm care for their loved ones.
Durable medical equipment (DME) consists of the following:
- Wheelchairs
- Hospital beds
- Traction equipment
- Canes
- Crutches
- Walkers
- Kidney machines
- Ventilators
- Oxygen
- Monitors
- Pressure mattresses
- Lifts
- Nebulizers
Does insurance pay for durable medical equipment?
Fortunately, most policies consider these items to be medically necessary and are covered. However, we recommend checking with your insurance provider to determine if DME is covered in your policy.
According to ehealthmedicare.com, “If you have Medicare Part B, Medicare covers certain medically necessary durable medical equipment if your physician or treating practitioner prescribes it for you to use in your home.”
To be covered, the prescribed medical equipment must be:
- Durable.
- Used for a medical purpose.
- Not typically useful if you aren’t sick or hurt.
- Used in your home.*
*If you are currently residing in a hospital or nursing home that is providing you with Medicare-covered care, these facilities don’t qualify as your “home.”
However, a long-term care facility does qualify as your home.
If you’re staying in a skilled nursing facility and the facility provides you with durable medical equipment, the nursing facility is responsible for the durable medical equipment.”
This means when you leave the nursing facility, you cannot take the equipment with you.
- Something to remember!!!! If your equipment is worn out, Medicare will only replace it if you have had the item for its whole lifetime. Its lifetime depends on the type of equipment, but it is never less than five (5) years from the date you began using the equipment.
Regular medical equipment and supplies consist of the following, just to name a few:
- Incontinence (briefs & diapers, underpads, incontinence accessories)
- Diabetic supplies (lancets, glucose meter test strips, glucose meters)
- Wound care (gauze, bandages, tapes, band-aids)
- Nutritionals and feeding supplies (oral supplements, pediatric electrolytes, feeding tubes)
- Ostomy (pouches, irrigation sleeves, colon, and rectal tubes)
- Personal care (skin care, mouth care, personal hygiene accessories)
- Aids for daily living (eye drops, utensil holders, first aid kits)
- Therapy aids (reaching aids, non-slip matting, sock and stocking aids)
Shop for Medical Equipment and Supplies at Wholesale Prices
If you have questions contact us TODAY at 386-847-2322 or here.
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