HI 00601.030 Supplies, Appliances and Equipment

Supplies, appliances, and equipment, which are ordinarily furnished by the hospital for the care and treatment of the beneficiary solely during their inpatient stay in the hospital are covered inpatient hospital services.

Under certain circumstances, supplies, appliances, and equipment used during the beneficiary's inpatient stay are covered even though they leave the hospital with the patient when they are discharged. Examples of items covered under this rule are cardiac valves, cardiac pacemakers, and artificial limbs, which are permanently installed in or attached to the patient's body while they are an inpatient of the hospital; and items, such as tracheostomy of drainage tubes, which are temporarily installed in or attached to the patient's body while they are receiving treatment as an inpatient and which are also necessary to permit or facilitate the patient's release from the hospital.

Supplies, appliances, and equipment furnished to an inpatient for use only outside the hospital are not, in general, covered as inpatient hospital services (for coverage of such items under Part B, see HI 00610.100 ). However, a temporary or disposable item which is medically necessary to permit or facilitate the patient's departure from the hospital, and is required until the patient can obtain a continuing supply is covered as an inpatient hospital service.

The reasonable cost of oxygen furnished to hospital inpatient is covered under Part A as an inpatient supply.