Equipment
The Supplier Name Goes on the Paper: How to Judge an Equipment Company Before It Delivers
Before you accept a bed, lift, or commode from any company, check its Medicare enrollment, its accreditation for that item, and what it will put in writing.
The hospital hands you a list of equipment and often a company name that will deliver it. Treat that name as a starting point, not a decision. Before you accept anything, judge the company on three things you can check in an hour: whether it is enrolled to bill Medicare for the item, whether it holds the accreditation Medicare requires for that category, and whether it will explain its terms in writing.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Check enrollment and accreditation first
Medicare pays for many home medical equipment items only through suppliers that are enrolled in the program. Ask the company directly whether it bills Medicare for the item you need and ask for its supplier identifier. Then ask whether it is accredited for that product category. CMS sets accreditation rules for certain suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (42 CFR 424.58, read on eCFR). A company that cannot answer both questions in a sentence each is telling you something. Medicare.gov's pages on durable medical equipment explain what the program covers and what it does not.
Ask what the arrangement actually is
Write down these answers next to the company name:
Is this a rental or a purchase? Who picks it up when you no longer need it? Who repairs it, and how do you reach that person? What happens if the item breaks in the first week? Is there a written copy of the terms before delivery day?
Ask every company the same questions
Call each company you are considering and ask the same questions in the same order. Compare the answers, not the tone. A quick, friendly answer that skips the accreditation question is less useful than a slower one that names the category and gives a number you can check. Note the name of the person you spoke with and the time of the call. Ask for the answers in an email so there is a record.
If the answers are thin
If a company will not confirm enrollment or accreditation in writing, call the hospital discharge planner and ask which suppliers they send Medicare patients to. Your parent is allowed to choose, and the hospital's list is a fair place to begin the comparison. The Local Help After a Discharge page lists who to call in the St. Louis area when a first supplier does not work out.