Durable Medical Equipment
What is Durable Medical Equipment?
Durable medical equipment is a term used by government and prevent health insurance programs to refer to equipment that:
- Can be used over and over
- Is mainly used for medical purposes
- Is normally not useful to a person who isn't sick, injured or disabled
- Is appropiate for use in the home
Durable medical equipment is sometimes referred to as home medical equipment.
As you might expect there is a long list of items that might be classified
as durable medical equipment. Here are some examples of durable medical equipment.
Devices that help people get around, such as canes, crutches, walkers, and
wheelchairs
- Equipment to help breathing, like oxygen tanks and regulators, ventilators, and nebulizers
- Devices that protect the skin such as heat lamps and alternating pressure pads and mattresses
- Monitoring devices, like glucose meters and pacemaker monitors
- Other examples include hospital beds, side rails for beds and bedpans
How do I get durable medical equipment?
Persons who need durable medical equipment may be able to receive some assistance throught Medicare. Toqualify for assistance, persons who are covered my Medicaid or Medicare must meet several requirements:
- The durable medical equipment must be a medical necessity
- The patients doctor must write a prescription for the equipment
Some types of equipment may not be covered under Medicare of Medicaid, even if they were helpful or useful. For example, an air conditioner is not covered because its main purpose is not medical; it is just as useful to people to people who are not sick or injured.
Persons who need durable medical equipment but do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaidassistance may be able to get help from the Jesse Tree Health Equipmetn Loan Program (HELP). Durable medical equipment that is donated to teh program is refurbished and loaned, at no cost, to those who need but could not otherwise afford it.
The Jesse Tree will need a prescription for the durable medical equipment from the patient's doctor. The Jesse Tree offices are located at 2622 Market Street in Galveston. Call (409) 762-1344 or (409) 762-2233 for morre information.