Hold Durable Medical Equipment (DMEs) Responsible and Monitor Their Services

People with disabilities rely on durable medical equipment (DME) companies for a plethora of disability equipment needs. Some of these needs include:

-Wheelchairs: to provide people who cannot walk or stand well, at all, or cannot walk for long distances, with the mobility they need to attain independence
-Hoyer or other Patient Lifts: lift people with mobility issues in and out of bed.
-Shower Chairs: to allow people with mobility issues to bathe
-Medical Supplies: for respiratory, diabetes, and other medical conditions
-Crutches, Canes, and Other Mobility Devices: for helping people with mobility issues get around

There are many important products that DMEs provide. Since most DMEs sell independence-providing equipment, if something breaks down, the individual is often stranded. The DME rules also keep DMEs from fixing chairs or equipment that was purchased from another DME, which can be frustrating.

DMEs are not held accountable by anyone. Even as they are paid by government insurances like Medicare and Medicaid, if they sell a bad product, the individual is left with no options for a new piece of equipment. The appeal process through insurance can be long, and getting stuck in bed, for long stretches of time, is common.

When equipment breaks, the DME companies often take a week or more to come out and fix them. This leaves many stranded in bed, for the entire stretch, requiring them to miss school, work, or other important activities.

DMEs impact the lives of those with disabilities greatly, and if they cause problems for the consumer, no one is holding them accountable. We are asking Congress to work towards passing legislation that requires DME companies to be better regulated, so they cannot keep people with disabilities stranded for extended periods.

We ask that they provide services based on necessity. If someone is trapped in bed, it needs to be a priority, that they get their chair, lift, or other mobility equipment fixed right away. This is a hazard to their health and is downright cruel and immoral. People can lose their jobs, suffer consequences of missing classes, and for some their disability progresses more when they are trapped in bed for long periods.

We all deserve dignity, so help us get ours back, by not letting DMEs get away with all of the things they do, to make the lives of people with disabilities harder.