Durable Medical Equipment (DME) can often be very expensive out of pocket. Fortunately for those with Medicare or Medicaid, much, if not all, of the costs can be covered.
DME is an important part of a person's recovery after injury, surgery, chronic conditions, disabilities, and other situations. They can range from relatively inexpensive and simple items like crutches to more complex and costly equipment like hospital beds and powered wheelchairs.
Medicare Part B specifically addresses DME. Suppliers must be approved to be reimbursed for DME. There are over 60,000 suppliers listed on our site, so availability is fairly wide, although not every supplier carries every item that may be needed.
Sadly, many fraudsters have abused the system, so occasionally, extra steps and bureaucratic decisions have been put in place to reduce fraud. This becomes an extra burden on patients. CMS continues to combat this by visiting suppliers and conducting audits.
DME is always improving. Recent advancements include at-home monitoring systems that can detect seizures, heart issues, falls, and many other patient-specific conditions. These remote systems can send out an SOS to whomever is listed as an emergency contact or contact 911 if needed. Telehealth is also improving, allowing easier access for those who struggle to leave their house. DME can only help so much, unfortunately, so pairing it with other technological advancements will improve patient outcomes.