AUSTIN START-UP CONNECTS UNUSED DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (DME) WITH PEOPLE IN NEED—FOR FREE

Many people go without durable medical equipment (DME), such as a wheelchair, because they do not qualify under Medicare or other insurance coverage and they cannot afford to buy the equipment. Others have equipment they no longer need. The DME List, an Austin start-up, connects these two groups of people via its online community at www.thedmelist.com, at no cost to either party.

At The DME List, durable medical equipment (DME) can be searched by categories like bath tub chair, bedside commode, cane, crutch, hospital bed, lift, walker, wheelchair and others. There is no cost to list or search for DME, and those who list are encouraged to give the DME free to those who need it. This online community is being piloted in Austin, Texas, with search capabilities in the Austin area. Eventually, durable medical equipment will be searchable from within 5 miles to 300 miles from any given zip code, nationwide.

Durable medical equipment (DME) is provided to beneficiaries of Medicare and other health insurance programs, improving the quality of life for recipients and allowing recipients to be more independent. Eventually, the DME is of no use to its owner, who regains independence or passes on. “I see DME in homes, nursing homes and retirement centers unused, collecting dust. At the same time, there are patients who need equipment but do not qualify under Medicare or other insurance coverage and cannot afford to buy the equipment. In most cases, the patients do without,” said Michael Hill, founder of The DME List. Mr. Hill, who has served as a physical therapist to geriatric patients for 35 years created, The DME List to connect people with unused DME with people who need it.

The DME List connects people with unused durable medical equipment (DME) with people who need it through its online community at www.thedmelist.com. The DME List is based in Austin, Texas.