Establishing a pilot program in the department of health and human services to refurbish and recondition durable medical equipment purchased under the medical assistance program

This bill establishes a pilot program in the department of health and human services (HHS) to refurbish and recondition durable medical equipment (DME) purchased under the medical assistance program (program). The bill directs HHS to develop and administer the pilot program by coordinating the pilot program with the local affiliate of a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides essential services to children and adults with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and the families of children and adults with disabilities, older adults, and veterans (local affiliate). HHS shall establish a process to track each item of DME purchased under the program and provided to a recipient under the program (recipient). The department shall institute an informational campaign that upon delivery to a recipient of an item of DME, the recipient and the recipient’s caregivers are clearly informed that upon the death of, or because of a change in health status of, the recipient, the item of DME is no longer necessary, and the recipient or the recipient’s caregiver must contact the local affiliate to schedule pick up of the item of DME. After the local affiliate picks up an item of DME, the local affiliate must arrange to have the item of DME reconditioned or refurbished, place it in the local affiliate’s inventory, and make it available free of charge to a recipient who is in need of the refurbished or reconditioned item of DME. Annually, on or before October 31, the director of HHS shall submit a report to the general assembly regarding the status of the pilot program and must include the information detailed in the bill for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The pilot program is repealed July 1, 2030.