Free Medical Equipment Maryland: Loan Closets and Reuse Programs

Your parent is coming home from the hospital and needs a walker, a shower bench, and possibly a hospital bed. The discharge planner mentioned ordering equipment through Medicare, but the 20% copay on a hospital bed rental adds up fast. Before you spend anything, check Maryland's free equipment programs — most families don't know they exist.

Maryland's DME Reuse Program

The Maryland Department of Aging operates a Durable Medical Equipment Reuse Program that collects donated medical equipment, sanitizes and refurbishes it, and redistributes it to Maryland residents at no cost. Available equipment typically includes:

• Walkers and rollators
• Manual wheelchairs
• Shower chairs and bath benches
• Commodes and raised toilet seats
• Canes and crutches
• Hospital beds (limited availability)

Equipment is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through participating county agencies. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Maryland Access Point (1-844-MAP-LINK) to check current availability.

County Loan Closets

Several Maryland counties operate their own medical equipment loan closets, typically through senior services departments, churches, or nonprofit organizations. These programs lend equipment for temporary use — the same walker or wheelchair your parent needs for six weeks of recovery, returned when they're done.

Equipment varies by location, but loan closets commonly stock mobility aids, bath safety devices, and basic assistive technology. Some programs require a referral from a healthcare provider; others accept walk-ins.

Medicare Part B DME Coverage

When free sources don't have what you need, Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment ordered by a physician for home use. Coverage requires that the equipment is medically necessary and prescribed by the treating doctor.

Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount. The patient pays the remaining 20% coinsurance. For rental items like hospital beds and power wheelchairs, Medicare rents the equipment monthly for 13 months, then ownership transfers to the patient.

Key requirements:

• The equipment must be prescribed by a doctor as medically necessary
• The supplier must be Medicare-enrolled
• The patient must need the equipment for use in their home
• Some items require prior authorization

Common covered equipment includes hospital beds, patient lifts, oxygen equipment, power and manual wheelchairs, walkers, and nebulizers.

What to Arrange Before Discharge

Don't wait until your parent is home to figure out equipment. While they're still in the hospital:

1. Ask the discharge planner what DME will be prescribed
2. Call your local AAA or MAP to check the reuse program and loan closets
3. If ordering through Medicare, confirm the supplier is enrolled and get the prior authorization started
4. Make sure someone can receive and set up the equipment at home before the discharge date

The Maryland Hospital Discharge Guide includes a county-by-county resource directory with DME loan closet contacts and step-by-step instructions for coordinating equipment before the discharge date.

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