Durable Medical Equipment After Hospital Discharge in New Hampshire

What Medicare Covers

Medicare Part B may cover durable medical equipment when a treating practitioner orders it as medically necessary for use in the patient's home and the other coverage rules are met. A standard written order and supporting medical-necessity documentation are generally required; a Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) is required only for selected items. Original Medicare typically covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible, with the patient responsible for the remaining 20%.

Commonly covered DME after a hospital discharge includes:

• Hospital beds (manual or semi-electric) when the patient requires positioning that a regular bed cannot provide
• Wheelchairs (manual or power) when the patient cannot walk or can only walk short distances with significant difficulty
• Walkers and rollators for patients who need assistive support during mobility rehabilitation
• Oxygen equipment including concentrators, tanks, and portable systems for patients with documented oxygen saturation issues
• CPAP/BiPAP machines for patients with sleep apnea requiring continued respiratory support at home
• Commode chairs when the patient cannot safely use standard bathroom facilities. Shower chairs are generally not covered by Original Medicare, so ask about Medicaid or community alternatives.

Medicare requires that DME be supplied by a Medicare-enrolled supplier. Using a non-enrolled supplier means Medicare won't reimburse the cost, and you'll be responsible for the full amount out of pocket.

Getting Equipment Before Discharge Day

The hospital's case manager or discharge planner should order DME as part of the discharge plan — not on the day of discharge, but early enough for delivery and setup before your parent arrives home. Equipment that shows up two days after your parent is already home creates a safety gap that increases fall risk and the chance of readmission.

Ask the case manager these questions before discharge:

• Has the DME order been submitted to a Medicare-enrolled supplier?
• What is the confirmed delivery date?
• Will the supplier set up the equipment and train the patient or caregiver on its use?
• Has insurance pre-authorization been obtained for items that require it (power wheelchairs, complex rehab equipment)?

If the hospital's preferred supplier can't deliver on time, ask for alternative supplier referrals. You are not required to use the supplier the hospital recommends.

New Hampshire DME Suppliers and Low-Cost Alternatives

For patients who need equipment quickly or have items not covered by Medicare, New Hampshire has several resources worth knowing about:

Medicare-enrolled suppliers in the state include regional branches of national chains as well as independent medical supply companies. Coverage varies by location — suppliers in the Manchester-Nashua corridor may not deliver to the North Country or the Upper Valley. Confirm the delivery area before committing.

Community equipment lending programs provide free or low-cost used and refurbished medical equipment. The Loaner's Closet in Derry and the Refurbished Equipment Marketplace (REM) in Concord are two established programs that maintain inventories of hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and other common DME. These are particularly useful for items that are needed temporarily during recovery or for equipment types that Medicare doesn't cover.

ServiceLink can help connect families with additional community resources for medical equipment, including programs funded through the state's Older Americans Act allocations.

When Medicare Denies Equipment

If Medicare denies coverage for a piece of equipment your parent needs, you have the right to appeal. The initial denial letter includes instructions for the redetermination process. Your parent's physician can submit additional clinical documentation supporting the medical necessity of the equipment.

Common reasons for DME denials include insufficient documentation of medical necessity, an incomplete order or supporting documentation, or a request for an item that Medicare considers not medically necessary for home use (such as an electric hospital bed when a manual model would meet the clinical need). In many cases, a more detailed physician letter resolves the denial on the first appeal.

For equipment needs that fall outside Medicare coverage entirely — home modifications like grab bars, ramp installations, or bathroom renovations — the Choices for Independence (CFI) Medicaid waiver may cover these costs for eligible individuals. The New Hampshire Hospital Discharge Guide includes a DME checklist and instructions for coordinating equipment orders as part of the broader discharge plan.

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