DME Loan Closets and Medical Equipment Reuse in Missouri

Quick Reference

What Medical Equipment Reuse Means

A DME loan closet or reuse program collects equipment that another person no longer needs, checks it, and makes it available again. Some programs lend items. Others give them away, sell refurbished equipment at low cost, or use a mix of these methods.

Missouri does not have one live statewide inventory showing every available walker, wheelchair, bed, or shower chair. The official MoAT program says inventory varies daily and by location. That is why calling two or three nearby programs is often faster than relying on one organization.

Common equipment may include manual wheelchairs, transport chairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, commodes, shower chairs, tub benches, transfer boards, scooters, wheelchair parts, hospital beds, patient lifts, and other assistive devices. What is available depends on donations, safety checks, storage space, and local program rules.

For a broader national explanation of reuse programs and safety questions, see our DME loan closet guide.

Best Statewide Routes

Regional Missouri Equipment Programs

The programs below are examples of active routes verified for this update. They do not form a complete statewide inventory. Always call before traveling because stock, service areas, eligibility, and pickup rules can change.

Northwest Missouri residents can also ask Access II DME about its no-cost equipment loan program; some items may require a deposit. Other MoAT partners may be closer to your county.

Equipment to Ask For

Do not ask only, “Do you have medical equipment?” Give the exact item and measurements. The more specific you are, the faster a program can tell you whether something will work.

• Walker type: standard, two-wheel, rollator, or bariatric.
• Wheelchair seat width, user weight, footrests, arm style, and whether a transport chair would work.
• Shower chair or tub transfer bench, including bathroom layout and needed width.
• Bedside commode, toilet safety frame, or raised toilet seat.
• Hospital bed type, mattress needs, and whether delivery or setup is required.
• Patient lift type, sling size, and whether a caregiver has been trained to use it.
• Scooter or power chair, including charging equipment, battery condition, and transport needs.

Medicare, MO HealthNet, and Reuse

Loan closets are not insurance. A reuse program can be useful when you need a temporary item, have a coverage gap, are waiting for insurance, or need something insurance does not cover. But medically necessary DME may also be available through Medicare or MO HealthNet.

Medicare

Medicare DME coverage says Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment when a doctor or other qualified provider orders it for use in the home. Medicare lists items such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, hospital beds, commode chairs, oxygen equipment, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment. After the Part B deductible, the beneficiary generally pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when Medicare rules are met.

If Medicare costs are hard to manage, see our Missouri Medicare Savings guide. A loan closet can still be useful while a covered order is being processed, but tell the supplier what borrowed equipment you are already using.

MO HealthNet

Missouri’s Medicaid program has a DME program. The MO HealthNet DME page lists examples such as wheelchairs, wheelchair accessories, hospital beds, respiratory care equipment, prosthetics, and orthotics. A current DME benefit table shows that coverage differs by MO HealthNet eligibility group and that restrictions can apply.

If you need help with MO HealthNet, SNAP, or other state applications, our Missouri benefits portals guide explains the main state entry points.

When insurance will not solve it

Insurance can take time, may require documentation, and may not cover every convenience or home-safety item. If you cannot find free equipment and can afford a payment, MoAT’s Show Me Loans can finance qualifying assistive technology and DME for eligible Missouri applicants. This is a loan that must be repaid, not free assistance.

For assistive technology that you want to test before buying, MoAT also has a device loan program. Those loans are for trying devices, temporary replacement, or exploration and are different from a community DME loan closet.

If You Live in Rural Missouri

Rural residents may have to work across county lines. Start with the nearest MoAT partner and the CIL serving your county. Then call your Area Agency on Aging and ask about transportation, caregiver support, home modifications, and other local services that may make the equipment usable in the home.

Missouri has 10 Area Agencies on Aging covering every county. If you have several needs at once, our Missouri senior benefits guide can help you organize food, healthcare, housing, utility, and local-support calls around the equipment problem.

If the main problem is getting a wheelchair into the home, adding grab bars, widening access, or making another safety repair, see our Missouri home repair guide rather than treating DME alone as the solution.

What to Prepare Before Calling

• The user’s height and weight.
• Wheelchair seat width or walker height if known.
• The diagnosis or reason for the equipment, without giving more medical detail than the program needs.
• A doctor’s or therapist’s recommendation if one exists.
• Your ZIP code and county.
• Whether you can pick up the item and what vehicle you have.
• Whether stairs, narrow doors, or a small bathroom affect fit.
• Your insurance type if you also want help finding a covered supplier.

If a family member is providing daily hands-on care, our Missouri caregiver pay guide explains separate programs that may help with the caregiving side of the situation.

How to Start Without Wasting Time

1. Ask the doctor or therapist for the exact equipment description.
2. Call the closest reuse program and one backup program the same day.
3. Ask whether the item is available now, what rules apply, and whether pickup, delivery, or a deposit is required.
4. If the item is medically necessary, start Medicare or MO HealthNet supplier paperwork at the same time.
5. Before accepting used equipment, check fit, brakes, wheels, moving parts, batteries, cords, cushions, and missing pieces.
6. Write down who you spoke with, the date, and the next step.

Phone Scripts

Reality Checks

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Driving to a loan closet without confirming stock and hours.
• Accepting a wheelchair without checking seat width, brakes, footrests, and weight capacity.
• Assuming every item called “free” becomes your property. Ask whether it is a loan, gift, or low-cost sale.
• Using person-to-person equipment without checking condition and safe fit.
• Waiting for a loan closet before starting a Medicare or MO HealthNet order.
• Assuming one agency serves every Missouri county.

If the First Path Fails

If equipment is needed because of an urgent safety problem and normal routes are stalled, our Missouri emergency help guide can help you find broader local crisis resources.

You can also call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for aging-service referrals, or use 211 to ask about local nonprofit, faith-based, and community resources. Neither service guarantees that DME is available, but both can help locate organizations to call.

Last updated: 15 September 2026 · Next review: 15 January 2027