Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) includes coverage for patient lifts as durable medical equipment (DME) prescribed by your physician for in-home use. Once you have reached the Part B deductible, you are responsible for paying 20% of the Medicare-approved amount (given that your supplier agrees to assignment).
Medicare’s approach to covering various types of DME can differ. Depending on the equipment, you might:
– Be required to lease the equipment.
– Have to purchase the equipment outright.
– Get the choice to either lease or purchase the equipment.
Medicare will only provide cover for your DME if both your healthcare providers and DME providers are registered with Medicare. Providers must adhere to rigorous criteria to not only become accredited by Medicare but also to sustain their accreditation status. Should your providers or suppliers not be registered, Medicare is not liable to settle the bills they bring in.
Ensure that your healthcare providers and DME providers are registered with Medicare. Before acquiring any DME, it’s critical to confirm with the supplier whether they participate in Medicare. When suppliers are registered participants of Medicare, they are obligated to adhere to assignment (indicating they can only bill you for the co-insurance and Part B deductible, adhering to the approved Medicare rate). When suppliers are not participating or do not adhere to assignment, the cost they can bill you is unlimited.
