Home medical devices pose risks for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers
Fortune August 9, 2024
Increasingly popular home medical devices can be a huge help for Medicare beneficiaries (particularly ones with chronic conditions) and their family caregivers. The devices offer vital health assistance and treatment in a comfortable, convenient setting and are often used in hospital at home programs.
But these devices—known as durable medical equipment in Medicare Part B parlance and ranging from infusion pumps to nebulizers to CPAP machines to home dialysis machines—also come with five potential problems for users and caregivers:
- Home medical devices can be potentially unsafe due to their design or misuse.
- They often come with little or no support for the person using the device when the Medicare beneficiary or caregiver lacks the knowledge and expertise to operate...