Medicare excludes home-modification costs, creating post-discharge cliff for stroke patients

Medicare will not cover thousands of dollars in home-modification costs, like ramps, rails, and widened doorways, for patients discharged after a stroke. These items are deemed 'not medical' equipment, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket for essential modifications required for safe return home. This coverage gap creates a significant financial cliff post-discharge and can delay or complicate transitions from inpatient rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities. Billing teams should advise patients and case managers on this limitation early in the discharge-planning process to prevent billing surprises and facilitate timely access to alternative funding sources.