Does medicare pay for safety products in the home?

[Blackcat99]

My sister -in -law told me that medicare will pay to have safety rails installed in the bathroom and shower areas in Mom's home. However, I'm not sure about that. Does anyone know if this is really true or not? Thanks:)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I'm really not sure, but I'll bet you can find out by calling MediCare: 1-800-772-1213

It sounds to me like it comes under the heading of Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and something you would actually purchase from a provider of this stuff who would then install it. Check with Medicare though and if they pay for it they'll tell you how to go about getting it.

An alternative would be to call a medical supply company in your area. The ones who supply DME for MediCare patients will be able to tell you if that is something MediCare will pay for and they will handle all the paperwork required by Medicare except for a doctor's order which you will probably have to get Most docs don't give anyone a hassle on this kind of stuff.

A provider in our area got the hospital bed my mom uses. They handled all the paperwork for MediCare and with her secondary insurance since she had to pay small percentage of the cost. She ended up paying nothing. It was all covered by MediCare and her secondary insurance.

[grannynurse FNP student]

My sister -in -law told me that medicare will pay to have safety rails installed in the bathroom and shower areas in Mom's home. However, I'm not sure about that. Does anyone know if this is really true or not? Thanks:)

Safety rails do not generally fall under durable medical equipment. This is not to say Medicare will not cover them. The best thing to do is call them.

Grannynurse :balloons:

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

Also, check out Medicare's publication on durable medical equipment in PDF file. You can download it to your computer and print it:

http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11045.pdf

[sandypinktruck]

The number for 1-800-medicare is 1-800-medicare or 1-800-655-4227

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

my sister -in -law told me that medicare will pay to have safety rails installed in the bathroom and shower areas in mom's home

i help arrange for these items as homecare rn routinely.

sorry to say: no, not a covered homecare expense under medicare.

they will pay for a 3 in 1 comode which can be used over br toilet.

now for persons enrolled in medicaid wavier program, office of aging programs will usually pay for these items.

mc dme coverage guidelines:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/06_cim/ci60.asp

[Blackcat99]

Thanks all for the great information. I will check out all of these sites.:)