What is durable medical equipment (DME)?

Durable medical equipment refers to medical supports and devices that can withstand repeated uses over time. Common types of DME covered by Medi-Cal covered by Medi-Cal include:

• Mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters (manual and motorized)
• Ambulation devices such as canes, walkers, and gait trainers
• Hospital beds and accessories including bedside rails and mattresses
• Oxygen and respiratory equipment such as oxygen racks and tanks, ventilators, nebulizers, and CPAP machines
• Patient lifts and standing systems such as stairway chairlifts and standing frames
• Portable ramps
• Blood glucose monitors
• Infusion pumps
• Bathroom equipment such as seats, benches, stools, rails, and shower hoses
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies such as speech-generating devices
• DME that helps caretakers with disabilities (including biological parents, stepparents, foster parents, and legal guardians) care for their child

For more information, see our article Durable Medical Equipment (DME) 101.