Can a Medicare patient receive reimbursement directl from Medicare for purchase of durable medical equipment?

ABSOLUTELY THEY CAN! Wherever you bought your durable medical equipment should be able to bill Medicare DMERC on your behalf. They send in the claim for you and they have to check the box to NOT ACCEPT ASSIGNMENT and the money will get directly paid to you at whatever amount is allowable via medicare. I do this all the time for patients with post cataract surgery glasses The only way a provider can accept payment up front from a patient is to have them sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN). Providers can not bill a patient unassigned if they do not have this form signed by the patient with the correct option chosen on the form. This form tells Medicare that the patient was aware and wanted to pay for the items and or services and understood the fact that they may not be covered due to the specific reasons that are stated on the ABN.