For clinicians & referrers
Referrals made simple. Paperwork that lands clean.
Fax an order, send it through your EMR, or send us a chart note and we'll tell you what's covered before you write it. We confirm receipt and next steps by phone — every time.
Send an order
Fax: (800) 438-2048
EMR: we accept orders through your EMR's DME ordering workflow — call (800) 977-3002 and we'll set up the connection.
Oxygen & ventilators — as fast as 2 hours
For urgent respiratory needs, call us directly rather than faxing. Service-area and hours apply — we'll confirm the window when you call.
Most equipment — next business day
Once we have everything we need and insurance is cleared on the order, most items deliver the next business day. Incomplete documentation is the most common reason an order slips — see What to send.
Respiratory therapist at start of care
An RT is available for ventilator and NIV starts of care, and for discharge transitions from a facility to the home.
Start here — choose your path
I know what I need.
Fax the order with demographics, the signed SWO, and the chart notes that support it. Cover sheet and full checklist here.
Referral checklist →02I'm not sure it's covered.
Send demographics and the most recent signed exam that addresses the condition. We'll tell you what's covered, what else we'd need, and what it will take. No order required.
How to send a pre-check →03I'm discharging a patient today.
Call (800) 977-3002. For oxygen and ventilators we can often be at the home within two hours, with an RT for vent and NIV starts.
Urgent discharge — call now →Not sure yet? Send us less.
To get a coverage answer you don't need a complete referral packet. Send:
- Patient demographics — name, DOB, address, phone, insurance
- The most recent signed examination note that addresses the condition the equipment is for
Fax to (800) 438-2048 with “COVERAGE QUESTION” on the cover sheet. We'll review and call you with what's covered, what's missing, and the timeline.
Coverage references — ready to use
Ten references finished — updated Aug 2026. Each is one page with tables and checklists: LCD + article cited.
Respiratory & orders
Mobility
Beds, surfaces & hygiene
Coverage rules clinicians ask about most
Answer first, then what it means for your order. Verify against the current LCD or payer policy before relying on this for a specific claim — call us and we'll check it with you. Last reviewed August 2026 · Diamond clinical review.
01Same and similar: will existing equipment block this order?
Medicare generally won't pay for a new item that serves the same purpose as equipment the patient already has on file — even if with another supplier, even if the patient no longer has it.
What it means: we run a same-and-similar check before delivery. If something is on file, we'll tell you your options — repair, replacement documentation, or appeal — rather than delivering an item that will deny. Tell us on the cover sheet if the patient has had similar equipment before.
02Capped rentals: how the rental period works
Most standard DME is billed as a capped rental — Medicare pays monthly for a set number of months. Once in the patient's possession, Medicare generally expects it to last five years (reasonable useful lifetime). Before then, replacement is typically only for loss, theft, irreparable damage, or documented change in condition.
What it means: if ordering a replacement inside 5 years, the chart note needs to say why — what changed, or what happened to the item. Send that note with the order.
03Hospice: patient coming off hospice back to original Medicare
While on hospice benefit, equipment related to terminal diagnosis is hospice's responsibility. When the patient revokes or is discharged from hospice, DME billing returns to original Medicare — and we generally need a fresh order and current documentation.
What it means: tell us the hospice revocation/discharge date. It drives what we can bill from and how quickly we can start.
04What we need signed: SWO, and when a detailed order is required
A Standard Written Order must be signed/dated by the treating practitioner and identify patient, item, ordering practitioner/NPI, and order date. Some items additionally require detailed elements — settings, quantities, frequency, length of need (e.g. oxygen liter flow/hours, PAP pressure, nebulizer drug/frequency).
What it means: missing date, NPI, or specific item is the most common reason delivery slips a day. Our cover sheet has a checklist.
05Which items need prior authorization
Some items require PA before delivery — Medicare maintains a required-PA list, and MA/commercial plans each maintain their own, usually broader (e.g. power mobility, certain support surfaces).
What it means: PA adds time. Send clinical documentation up front and we'll submit; we'll tell you expected turnaround when we confirm receipt.
06Face-to-face encounters
Certain items require a documented face-to-face encounter with the treating practitioner within a set window before the order, addressing the condition the equipment is for.
What it means: the note must discuss the condition and why the equipment is needed. An unrelated visit note won't support the claim, even if recent.
Specs that change the order
Match the patient to the equipment before you write the order — capacity, width, and dimensions are the most common cause of a redelivery. Values below from our stocked models* — confirm exact model match before ordering.
Hospital beds
| Bed type | Weight capacity | Sleep surface |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-electric | 250 lb | 36″ × 80″ |
| Full-electric | 250 lb | 36″ × 80″ |
| Bariatric / expanded width | 600 lb | 42″–48″ × 80″ |
*Verify against stocked SKU. Room access and doorway width matter — call (800) 977-3002.
Wheelchairs
| Chair type | Weight capacity | Seat widths |
|---|---|---|
| Standard manual | 250 lb | 16″–20″ |
| Transport | 250 lb | 19″ |
| Heavy duty / bariatric | 450 lb | 20″–24″ |
Also: patient lifts, Barton chairs, commodes, support surfaces — call for specs.
Over capacity, or a tight home? Call (800) 977-3002 before ordering. We'd rather solve it on the phone than at the door.
Products — what we need to deliver this
Respiratory therapists, in the home
Our RTs handle ventilator and NIV starts of care, and support facility-to-home transitions so the patient's settings and the caregiver's training carry over intact.
- Vent and NIV start of care in the home
- Discharge transition support — coordination with your RT or case manager before the patient leaves
- Caregiver teaching and return demonstration
To arrange RT coverage for a discharge, call (800) 977-3002 and ask for respiratory.
Service area
Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties by arrangement. Tell us the ZIP and we'll confirm. Coverage detail →
Payers & credentials
Medicare-enrolled · Exemplary Provider accredited (The Compliance Team) · CA licensed · Serving Southern California since 1995. Certificates on request — (800) 977-3002.
After hours: 24/7 emergency oxygen support for existing patients — call the main line. Ordering through your EMR? Call us and we'll get connected.How to refer