Are DMEPOS suppliers required to deliver to and instruct the beneficiary on the equipment provided?

Answer:

Yes. Supplier standard 12 states a 'supplier is responsible for delivery and must instruct beneficiaries on use of Medicare covered items and maintain proof of delivery and beneficiary instruction.' The supplier must document it or another qualified party has, at an appropriate time, provided beneficiaries with necessary information and instructions on how to use Medicare-covered items safely and effectively.
 

The supplier is 100% responsible for delivery of Medicare-covered items and for instruction on the use of those items. That said, the supplier may choose to contract these services . But, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring this happens properly and for maintaining all documentation regarding the requirements of this standard lies with the supplier.

Below are further considerations for this supplier standard and we'll put this in the first person with 'you' being 'the supplier':

1. In conjunction with standard 4, ensure the inventory being delivered is inventory purchased by you and is not owned by the company delivering the inventory directly to the beneficiary. You are required to maintain proof the inventory delivered was from your own inventory and not from inventory owned by the delivering company. This may be documented by maintaining invoices.
2. You are responsible to maintain proof of the delivery in the patient's file.
3. You may provide beneficiaries with instructions on how to safely and effectively use the equipment or may choose to contract this service out to a qualified individual.
4. If you have a delivery person who is not qualified in the use of the product, the delivery person should not be the one instructing the beneficiary on how to use the equipment.
5. Instruction on the safe and effective use of the equipment should be done at an 'appropriate time'. An appropriate time is before the beneficiary must start using the equipment since the goal is to ensure safe and effective use of the equipment.
6. You must document this instruction has taken place. It would be wise to document how it took place. Many suppliers have written instructions to review with the beneficiary in person and to leave with the beneficiary as reference material, along with a phone number to call if there are additional questions.