Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) introduced legislation Monday that would allow senior citizens to benefit from the home use of cutting-edge medical technologies.
“Many of our constituents rely on disposable medical devices that provide healing in the home setting following hospital stays,” Ellmers said after her presentation of H.R. 1018, the Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015. “While private health plans cover these innovative devices, Medicare does not – which results in patients returning to the more-expensive hospital setting to receive the care they need.”
Under the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) language in the Medicare policy, patients can receive ancillary medical devices in the home. However, the definition of DME was written many years ago and is archaic by today’s medical standards. Descriptions of eligible equipment are limited to items such as crutches, wheelchairs and oxygen tanks.
In recent years, many disposable technologies have been developed that are easier to use and much less expensive than their durable versions. However, Medicare patients are not able to benefit from these products because of the law’s specific language.
Ellmers’ legislation would establish “Disposable Medical Technology” (DMT), that would be incorporated into the existing DME coverages, allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use the more-efficient, less-expensive disposable equipment at home.
Rep. George Butterfield (D-NC) is a co-sponsor of the bill.
“To ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the same medical devices as privately ensured patients, Congressman Butterfield and I introduced the Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015,” Ellmers said. “This bipartisan legislation provides updates to outdated Medicare policies so that beneficiaries can receive the care they need in the comfort of their own home.”