Durable medical equipment (sometimes referred to as “DME”), such as walkers, wheelchairs, bedside com-modes, or hospital beds, can be obtained for long-term or short-term use from equipment suppliers. Medical equipment can be delivered to patients’ homes while they are still in the hospital or after they are discharged.
Check first with the medical team, however, to make sure they agree that the equipment is necessary and appropriate. You will need a doctor’s certification of the medical need for the equipment in order to get approval from the insurance company (assuming, of course, that your policy covers durable medical equipment in the first place) or to authorize payment to the equipment company through Medicare or Medicaid.
Although there may be other paperwork, usually what’s required is a written prescription from the doctor for equipment, much the same as for prescription drugs. The next step in the process is to have the discharge planner in the hospital (the social worker or nurse case manager) forward the prescriptions to an equipment supply company, who will then make arrangements with you for delivery. If there are items you desire but are not covered, you can always buy or rent them yourself.
Patients who have already been discharged home and afterwards find that they need equipment to help facilitate their care can contact their home care company if they are currently receiving nursing visits. They may be able to have the equipment delivered to the patient’s home. Or, you should contact the doctor’s office. The physician can provide you with a prescription if the patient needs the equipment for medical reasons. You can then take this prescription to an equipment supply company.