Submitted by

Ruth Dockins

Durable medical equipment and supplies are things such as oxygen, walkers, or wheelchairs and other similar items.

There is a program through Medicare called the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, (DEMEPOS) program. The first round of the program went into effect in nine areas of the country on January 1, 2011, reducing money spent for equipment included in the program by over 42 percent in its first year of operation while maintaining access to quality equipment and supplies. 

Now the program’s benefits are coming to people with Original Medicare near you, and there is some important information you need to know.  Round 2 of the program is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2013, and expands it to 91 additional areas across the country.  These areas can be found in the fact sheet at http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/DMEPOSBeneFactSheetMarch2013.pdf.  The area nearest to the 18 counties of SEMO AAA’s service area is St. Louis, MO.

When the program starts, people with Original Medicare who live in or travel to one of these areas and need the items listed below will likely need to get these items from contract suppliersif they want Medicare to help pay, unless their current suppliers decide to become grandfathered suppliers (non-contract suppliers that choose to continue to provide certain rented medical equipment or oxygen under the terms of the program). 

So people will need to find out which suppliers are Medicare contract suppliers to make sure Medicare can help pay for their medical equipment or supplies. You can find out if a supplier is a contract supplier for the program by visiting http://www.medicare.gov/supplierdirectory/search.html or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). 

The 8 product categories that are included in Round 2 of the program are:

1. Oxygen, oxygen equipment, and supplies;
2. Standard (power and manual) wheelchairs, scooters, and related accessories;
3. Enteral nutrients, equipment, and supplies;
4. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, Respiratory Assist Devices (RADs) and related supplies and accessories;
5. Hospital beds and related accessories;
6. Walkers and related accessories;
7. Support surfaces (Group 2 mattresses and overlays); and
8. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories.

In addition to the categories of items listed, Medicare will be starting a national mail-order program for diabetic testing supplies at the same time as Round 2.  The national mail-order program will include all parts of the United States, including the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. 

When the national mail-order program starts, people with Original Medicare will need to use a contract supplier for diabetic testing supplies delivered to their homes.  This means even if you purchase your diabetic supplies from a local drug store if they mail it to you they must be a  contracted supplier but if you go to the drug store and pick up the supplies they do not have to be a contracted supplier at this time. 

Starting May 13, 2013, Medicare is mailing information to those who use diabetic testing supplies across the country.  Please call me if you have questions at 1-800-392-8771 or locally at 573-335-3331.