Hospice care involves many medical services, including durable medical equipment. DME is an essential component that improves quality of life, mobility, and independence for patients living with a disability or chronic illness or facing end-of-life treatment.
Tens of millions of people with Medicare rely on DME and other supplies. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, about 1.5% or $14.1 billion of the Medicare budget is spent on DME. It's a staggering figure that doesn't include private plans or personal DME spending. Despite the benefits and common use of DME, patients and families often report experiencing barriers to reliable equipment access.
In 2022, 1.72 million people with Medicare received hospice care for at least one day, which has more than tripled from 500,000 in 2000. As the number of patients using hospice care increases, operators may experience problems with supply and demand, leading to fewer DME options for hospice patients.
Without access to equipment, patients lose medically necessary healthcare, leading to poor outcomes and quality problems. Expanding DME vendor networks is an active solution that increases supply and availability, simplifying DME management.
Better equipment access depends on finding the right vendors and suppliers. A diverse network with more vendor choices protects patient needs and helps avoid shortages and delays that interfere with your operations.
Multiple DME vendors open your product line, giving you access to more equipment so you can increase your inventory and include backup options. With more DME products, you expand your ability to supply a large patient and hospice population. The result is fewer equipment shortages and a seamless patient care experience.
Similarly, a diverse selection of DME providers improves the wait time, eliminating delays. Hospices can quickly find, order, and ship necessary equipment from the vendor directly to patients. Plus, the right DME network ordering tools allow you to track order updates and delivery status, keeping you in the loop on arrival. Without delays, patients receive proper and timely treatment, improving care outcomes and quality of life.
Medical care and DME are unique to each patient because a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't exist with hospice care and equipment. A diverse vendor network, especially one that includes Medicare-approved DME vendors, is essential for a population with diverse medical needs. Hospices that use a broader network are more capable of meeting patient needs and protecting patient care.
The key feature of a vendor-flexible system is that it doesn't rely on a single supplier or product. Designing your DME management plan with an agnostic or neutral approach provides several vendor network benefits.
A well-rounded and expanded DME plan and network adds agility to your hospice operations. With flexible DME options, you can respond quickly to a high volume of patient needs without straining your workflow or interrupting care.
A flexible and robust DME network allows hospices to choose the right vendor for unique patient situations. Some vendors may have supplies others don't or specialize in niche equipment, giving operators a broader selection.
With more choices and options, operators can quickly address complex patient conditions. A rapid response avoids delays that may worsen symptoms while saving healthcare and operational costs and avoiding revenue disruption.
Waiting for essential DME causes significant emotional and physical distress for patients and families. DME helps patients and caregivers adapt to daily living tasks, making life more comfortable and increasing the quality of life. A diverse network provides rapid access and a broader selection. This prevents patients from waiting unnecessarily, reducing stress and increasing satisfaction.
Community Health Network (CHN) struggled with DME management and found that an unstable plan and irregular process caused significant revenue and time loss. CHN only ordered DME once a month and faced shortages, so patients often waited extended periods for supplies.
The company invested in a new DME system and vendor network, using a data platform to track progress. With a more robust system, CHN simplified the ordering, stocking, and dispensing process and selected the best products suited to their patients.
The centralized data reporting allowed CHN to track inventory levels and build a better stock for fewer DME shortages and delays, streamlining its approach. The changes helped CHN gain an additional $1 million in revenue, improve the timeliness of care, and maintain quality patient outcomes.
Preventing DME shortages and delays requires a proactive approach to DME management. A diverse DME network is a timely solution that creates operational flexibility for better responsiveness and quality of care.
Qualis offers management services and flexible DME solutions with access to over 900 vendors nationwide, improving equipment choice, access, and control for hospices. Explore how Qualis can provide your hospice with a robust, flexible DME vendor network to improve patient care. Get in touch today.