Medical supplies of an expendable nature, such as bandages, rubber gloves and irrigating kits are not considered by Medicare to be DME.
[citation needed] In all cases, however, there are strict rules and laws governing HME / DMEPOS suppliers that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
These include: All HME / DMEPOS suppliers are required to comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect patients' confidentiality and records.
[citation needed] Home medical equipment is typically covered by patient's healthcare insurance, including Medicare (Part B).
This effort aims to standardize and improve the quality of service to patients provided by home medical equipment suppliers.