We want to share crucial information from the Office of the Texas Governor to help our community prepare for and recover from disasters. Here's a summary of steps to replace lost or damaged durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive technology (AT):
Insurance Claims
Contact Insurance: If your DME or AT is insured, report the damage to your insurance company.
Document Damage: Take photos and videos of the damage and keep all items until the insurance adjuster advises otherwise.
Temporary Repairs: Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage and keep receipts for these expenses.
Resources: Use the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Company Lookup or call 800-252-3439 for assistance.
FEMA Assistance
Coverage: FEMA can help cover medical and dental expenses, including the repair or replacement of essential assistive devices.
Application: For detailed application steps, refer to FEMA’s guidelines.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Replacement: VR funds can replace equipment bought with VR funds if it’s damaged in a disaster. This also applies to individuals who are employed or seeking employment.
Further Information: Consult VR for detailed procedures.
Medicare
Original Medicare: Covers the repair or replacement costs for previously paid DME from Medicare-approved suppliers.
Medicare Health Plan: Contact your plan provider for specific replacement procedures.
Medicaid Waivers
Policy: Medicaid allows for the replacement of DME that’s non-functional or irreparably damaged.
Waivers: Programs like CLASS, DBMD, HCS, and TxHmL have provisions for replacing aids and modifications post-disaster.
For more comprehensive details, refer to the full report from the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities.
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