Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who it is for: clinic staff, buyers and caregivers who need to decide whether a durable medical equipment (DME) vendor is a legitimate, properly set up supplier before ordering. After reading you can build a document request list and compare vendors on criteria you can verify, without relying on rankings or marketing claims.
What counts as a durable medical equipment vendor?
A DME vendor is a business that supplies durable medical equipment: items that, per Medicare.gov, withstand repeated use, are used for a medical reason, are typically only useful to someone sick or injured, are used in the home, and are expected to last at least 3 years. Wheelchairs, hospital beds and walkers are common examples; for what a physical equipment shop is, see what a medical equipment store is.
The word “vendor” hides a real difference. Medicare.gov states that Medicare will only pay for DME items obtained from suppliers enrolled in Medicare. A seller can therefore be a retailer, a distributor or an enrolled supplier, and only the last category is the one Medicare’s supplier standards in 42 CFR 424.57 apply to. Coverage rules for the equipment itself are in Medicare Part B durable medical equipment.
Types of vendors you will meet
Home medical equipment suppliers
These are suppliers that provide equipment for use in the home. The regulation requires a supplier to maintain a physical facility on an appropriate site (42 CFR 424.57(c)(7)), so ask for the address and whether it is open to the public. State licensing may also apply; see home medical equipment licensing.
Durable medical equipment delivery
Under 42 CFR 424.57(c)(12) the supplier is responsible for delivery of Medicare-covered items and must maintain proof of delivery. For what delivery records look like for ordinary supplies, see home delivery of medical supplies.
Online DME suppliers
An online supplier is screened the same way as a local one: the same supplier standards, accreditation, insurance and facility requirements apply to an enrolled supplier regardless of how the order arrives.
DME and supplies, and free shipping
Offers such as free shipping are commercial terms, not supplier standards. Get any shipping, rental or return terms in writing from the vendor before ordering; this page makes no claim about any vendor’s terms.
Vendor screening checklist
The table maps each document or answer you can ask for to the supplier standard in 42 CFR 424.57 (checked 2026-11-01). Medicare’s standards are written for suppliers billing Medicare. A non-Medicare buyer can ask for the same items as a reasonable way to compare vendors, but should know the standards are Medicare’s.
| Criterion | What to ask for | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare enrolment | Confirmation the supplier is enrolled in Medicare | Medicare.gov DME coverage |
| Accreditation | Accreditation that names the specific products and services the supplier is accredited for | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(22) |
| State licensure | The state licence, where the state requires one for the items | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(1)(ii) |
| Liability insurance | Proof of a comprehensive liability policy of at least $300,000 | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(10) |
| Physical facility | Address of a facility on an appropriate site, accessible to the public, Medicare beneficiaries, CMS and its agents | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(7) |
| Proof of delivery | How the supplier documents delivery of items | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(12) |
| Complaint handling | The written complaint resolution protocol | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(19) |
| Warranty | How warranties expressed and implied under state law are honoured | 42 CFR 424.57(c)(6) |
Accreditation, licensure and insurance
Medicare requires a DMEPOS supplier to meet the DMEPOS quality standards and be separately accredited to enrol in and bill Medicare, and the accreditation must indicate the specific products and services for which the supplier is accredited (42 CFR 424.57(c)(22)). In practice, check that the accreditation covers the item you are buying, not just that an accreditation exists.
The regulation also requires comprehensive liability insurance of at least $300,000, and failure to maintain it results in revocation of billing privileges (42 CFR 424.57(c)(10)). A surety bond is a separate requirement, with a $50,000 base amount in the regulation (42 CFR 424.57(d)(2)(i)). Where a state requires licensure for certain items or services, the supplier must comply with it.
Delivery and proof of delivery
The supplier is responsible for delivering covered items and keeping proof of delivery (42 CFR 424.57(c)(12)). Ask how delivery is documented and what you receive at handover.
Assignment and enrolment
Medicare.gov states that a supplier that participates in Medicare must accept assignment, while a non-participating supplier does not have to accept assignment but may choose to. Ask which applies, in writing, before ordering. Medicare.gov also notes that you may need to rent, may need to buy, or may be able to choose, depending on the item; ask the vendor which options exist for yours.
Warranty, complaints and repairs
A supplier must honour all warranties expressed and implied under applicable state law (42 CFR 424.57(c)(6)), must answer questions and respond to complaints a beneficiary has about the Medicare-covered item (c)(13), and must have a complaint resolution protocol (c)(19). Ask to see the protocol before you need it.
Common mistakes
- Treating any seller as an enrolled supplier; Medicare pays only for items from enrolled suppliers.
- Accepting an accreditation that does not name the product you are ordering.
- Relying on verbal shipping or rental terms instead of written ones.
- Skipping the physical-facility and insurance checks because the vendor sells online.
For scam patterns to watch for, read DME fraud schemes; for what happens to an enrolled supplier’s enrolment over time, read Medicare revalidation for DME suppliers.
FAQ
How do I know if a durable medical equipment vendor is legitimate?
Ask for documents tied to the supplier standards in 42 CFR 424.57: product-specific accreditation, any required state licence, proof of at least $300,000 liability insurance, a physical facility address and a complaint protocol. This page gives no verdict on any vendor.
Does Medicare pay for equipment from any vendor?
No. Medicare.gov states Medicare will only pay for DME items obtained from suppliers enrolled in Medicare.
What does it mean if a supplier accepts assignment?
Per Medicare.gov, a supplier that participates in Medicare must accept assignment; a non-participating supplier does not have to but may choose to.
Is free shipping a standard offered by DME vendors?
Free shipping is not among the supplier standards. Confirm any shipping terms in writing with the vendor.
Sources
- eCFR / Cornell LII, 42 CFR 424.57, Special payment rules for items furnished by DMEPOS suppliers and issuance of DMEPOS supplier billing privileges: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/42/424.57 (checked 2026-11-01)
- Medicare.gov, Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/durable-medical-equipment-dme-coverage (checked 2026-11-01)
