Pennsylvania’s durable medical equipment (DME) providers are facing a funding crisis when assessing reimbursement rates for care provided to state residents. In recent years, rates have continued to remain stagnant while costs continue to grow, and it is impacting communities throughout Pennsylvania.

These low payments are creating pressure on DMEs to consider no longer accepting Medicaid patients, or worse, closing their doors altogether. This creates significant access-to-care concerns for critical equipment like oxygen tanks, CPAP machines, colostomy bags, wheelchairs, etc.

There are 177 DMEPOS supplier locations in Pennsylvania as of October 2024 – a count that represents a 49% decrease in locations since July of 2013. The loss of these providers has disproportionately affected rural areas, which already have access-to-care challenges.  

There are 18 counties that have no DME provider locations at all, and an additional 18 counties that have only one supplier location. We cannot afford to see any further decline as losses to access will inevitably lead to more acute care interventions which, in turn, drive up health care costs.

Soon, I will be introducing legislation that increases the reimbursement rates for certain Durable Medical Equipment (DME). The proposal will ensure these integral components of the healthcare system receive this funding directly from the commonwealth.

This is not only an access to care issue but also a quality-of-life issue. In a time when access to care is critical, we must prioritize funding for this critical industry.

Please join me in this effort to ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to critical durable medical equipment.