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CHOICES
Durable Medical Goods
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME) that your doctor prescribes for use in your home. Only your doctor can prescribe medical equipment for you. DME is equipment that can withstand repeated use; is used for a medical reason; isn't usually useful to someone who isn't sick or injured; is used in your home; and has an expected lifetime of at least 3 years.
Many items are considered durable medical equipment. Including hospital beds, canes, commode chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen equipment, suction pumps, nebulizers and patient lifts, to name a few.
If your supplier accepts assignment, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Medicare Part B deductible applies. Medicare pays for different kinds of DME in different ways. Some equipment must be rented, some types must be purchased and some may be rented or purchased.
Medicare will only cover your DME if your doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare. Doctors and suppliers have to meet strict standards to enroll and stay enrolled in Medicare. If your doctors or suppliers aren't enrolled, Medicare won't pay the claims submitted by them. If suppliers are enrolled in Medicare but aren't "participating," they may choose not to accept assignment. If suppliers don't accept assignment, there's no limit on the amount they can charge you
CT participates in a competitive bidding program. In most cases, Medicare will only help pay for durable equipment and supplies if they're provided by contract suppliers in the program. The specific amount you'll owe may depend on several things, like: other insurance you may have; how much your vendor charges; and whether your vendor accepts assignment.
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