Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses it: clinic and supply staff, home-care coordinators, buyers and students who need to know what “durable medical equipment” means and which products are commonly listed under it.
What is DME in healthcare?
Durable medical equipment (DME) is reusable equipment used for a medical reason, normally in the home. Medicare.gov describes DME as equipment that is durable (it can withstand repeated use), used for a medical reason, typically only useful to someone who is sick or injured, used in your home, and expected to last at least 3 years (Medicare.gov, checked 2026-10-30).
The definition in federal regulation is stricter in wording. 42 CFR 414.202 says DME is equipment, furnished by a supplier or a home health agency, that meets all five of these conditions (eCFR, checked 2026-10-30):
- it can withstand repeated use;
- for items classified as DME after January 1, 2012, it has an expected life of at least 3 years;
- it is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose;
- it generally is not useful to an individual in the absence of an illness or injury;
- it is appropriate for use in the home.
The 3-year point has a date attached: the regulation states it for items classified as DME after January 1, 2012, while the plain-language Medicare.gov page states it without that qualifier.
Durable medical equipment list: common examples
Medicare.gov says Medicare-covered DME “includes, but isn’t limited to” the items below, so any list, including this one, is a set of examples and not a complete catalogue. Where CASRAI has a guide on an item, it is linked.
| Item on the Medicare.gov list | More on CASRAI |
|---|---|
| Canes | What is a cane? |
| Commode chairs | |
| CPAP therapy | What is a CPAP machine? |
| Crutches | |
| Glucose monitors and related supplies | |
| High frequency chest oscillation devices | |
| Hospital beds | |
| Infusion pumps and supplies | |
| Lymphedema powered devices | |
| Oxygen equipment and accessories | What is an oxygen concentrator? |
| Respiratory assist devices | |
| Walkers | |
| Wheelchairs and scooters | What is a wheelchair? |
DME versus other DMEPOS categories
A DME list is only one part of a larger group. CMS uses DMEPOS (durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies) for the “equipment, devices, and supplies” Medicare Part B covers when medically necessary, with benefit categories set under section 1861 of the Social Security Act (CMS, checked 2026-10-30). The page gives no examples for surgical dressings. Several items people expect on a DME list sit in a different category.
| CMS DMEPOS category | Examples CMS gives |
|---|---|
| Durable medical equipment | Hospital beds, wheelchairs, ventilators, oxygen equipment |
| Power mobility devices | Power-operated vehicles, power wheelchairs |
| Prosthetics and orthotics | Artificial limbs and eyes; leg, arm, back and neck braces |
| Prosthetic devices | Devices that replace an internal organ, such as ostomy bags |
| Surgical dressings | Surgical dressings, splints, casts and other devices used for reduction of fractures and dislocations |
| Therapeutic shoes | Extra-depth shoes with inserts, or custom molded shoes with inserts, for an individual with diabetes |
| Lymphedema compression treatment items | Gradient compression garments and other lymphedema compression treatment items |
Braces, artificial limbs, dressings and therapeutic shoes are therefore not DME in CMS terms, even when they are supplied alongside it.
How to tell whether an item counts as DME
Apply the five conditions above in order. An item that is used for a medical reason, can take repeated use, lasts at least 3 years (for items classified after January 1, 2012), is generally of no use to a person without an illness or injury, and suits home use meets the regulatory definition. An item that fails any one condition, such as a single-use disposable, does not meet the definition as written. Whether a particular product is billed or covered is decided by the payer and its coding; billing codes are explained in HCPCS vs CPT codes, and the rent-or-own question is covered in renting vs buying home medical equipment.
Safe use and handling basics
Use each product only as its manufacturer’s instructions for use describe, and keep those instructions with the equipment. Questions about whether a device suits a particular person belong with that person’s clinician.
Common mistakes
- Treating a list as complete. Medicare.gov says its list “includes, but isn’t limited to” the named items.
- Assuming prosthetics, orthotics, surgical dressings or therapeutic shoes are DME. CMS lists them as separate DMEPOS categories.
- Applying the 3-year life test without its date. The regulation attaches it to items classified as DME after January 1, 2012.
FAQ
What is DME in healthcare?
Equipment that can withstand repeated use, serves a medical purpose, is appropriate for use in the home and is expected to last at least 3 years (Medicare.gov, checked 2026-10-30).
Is a hospital bed durable medical equipment?
Yes. Hospital beds appear on the Medicare.gov DME list and in the CMS DME category examples.
Are braces and artificial limbs DME?
CMS places them in a separate DMEPOS category, prosthetics and orthotics.
Is a DME list complete?
No. Medicare.gov says covered DME “includes, but isn’t limited to” the items it names.
Sources
- Medicare.gov, Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage (checked 2026-10-30)
- eCFR, 42 CFR 414.202, Definitions (checked 2026-10-30)
- CMS, DMEPOS fee schedule (checked 2026-10-30)
