Don’t Forget the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Providers During COVID-19!

At some point in our lives, we all will need to rely on the use of home/durable medical equipment, whether it be something as simple as a walking aid to gain stability or something more complex, like a custom wheelchair or a non-invasive ventilator to assist with breathing. When that day comes, it will become an important part of you and your family’s life. Quality and accessibility cannot be sacrificed. 

Durable medical equipment providers are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring patients continue to receive the products and services you need at home, such as oxygen, ventilators, and other forms of equipment for patients who may be discharging from the hospital. They are delivering to homes that could possibly be infected with this virus. They are arming themselves as best as they can, but many are in short supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

For years, the home medical equipment industry has suffered at the hands of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) via continuous reimbursement cuts to the durable medical products and services. We must ensure that the suppliers of these goods and services continue to stay in business. They are especially critical during these dark times. Click here to view the map of closures of HME/DME businesses over the past 10 years. Most of the closures occurred because they could not keep up with the overregulation and under-payment of CMS. 

As we all hunker down during this COVID-19 pandemic, please take a minute to reach out to your legislators and let them know the importance of durable medical equipment access during this time of crisis. 

Click here to find your legislators contact information.