*This post is part of San Diego Hospice’s “Hospice Terminology Series” where we will be breaking down the definitions of words commonly used in hospice care.

If you are caring for someone with a serious illness, chances are they are already using, or could greatly benefit from, Durable Medical Equipment (DME). But what exactly is the definition of Durable Medical Equipment? Simply, it is anything used in the home to aid in a better quality of living.

Examples of Durable Medical Equipment range from:

• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Portable oxygen tanks
• Hospital Beds

In most cases it is a benefit that is covered by Medicare Part B, or by other insurance providers, if there is a medical need.

Items not considered Durable Medical Equipment fall into the following categories:

• Anything that must be thrown away after use (eg., catheters, surgical face masks),
• Anything not appropriate for home use (oscillating bed that would need supervision)
• Items that are to be used primarily outside the home (electric scooter would fall under here if you were able to walk around your own home most of the time).

If you are in need of DME, there are a couple of options for getting them into your home. You can purchase them with help from insurance, or you have the option of renting the equipment. Some suppliers will let you rent the equipment if you only need it for short period of time. To help find San Diego providers of Durable Medical Equipment, you can go to the Medicare Supplier Directory on their website and type in your zip code to find the closest suppliers to you.

The good news is: for individuals receiving hospice care, DME will be covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal (known as Medicaid nationally) and most private insurances, as related to the hospice diagnosis. Check with the individual’s hospice team member regarding questions surrounding the need for DME and what your hospice insurance benefit will cover. If you’d like more detailed information about what is covered under the Medicare / Medi-Cal Hospice Benefit, you can find additional information on the Medicare website.

-Susan Griswold is the marketing coordinator for San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine