EASTON, MARYLAND — Free first: Maryland’s Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use Program offers sanitized, repaired donated gear to Marylanders with any illness, injury, or disability, regardless of age or insurance coverage. The Maryland Department of Aging runs the program; Talbot County Commission on Aging’s resources page also lists Maryland DME Reuse among partner programs.
Aging splits requests into Basic DME and Complex DME. Both are free. Aging says Marylanders of any age may request equipment without a prescription for Basic DME; Complex DME requires a health-care professional to complete part of the application for the recipient’s safety. Maryland Equips, the state’s Technology First equipment campaign, adds that pediatric equipment is also available through DME Re-Use.
The category examples on Maryland Aging’s Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use Program page are the source for that split.
Applications may be filed online or by downloading Basic or Complex forms (posted as PDFs on the Aging site) and returning them by mail, email, or fax as the form instructs. To request a paper application by mail, Aging lists 240-230-8000 or DME.MDOA [at] maryland.gov. After a completed request is processed, DME staff contact the requester about availability. If the item is in stock, a pickup appointment and location are scheduled. Aging says equipment is not delivered; pickup is by appointment only at a distribution center the requester chooses.
On Aging’s Distribution and Donation Sites list, Cambridge’s Delmarva Community Services site at 2450 Cambridge Beltway, Cambridge, MD 21613, accepts donations Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; callers should contact the MAP office at 410-221-1930 in advance to schedule a donation drop-off. Centreville’s Queen Anne’s County Department of Community Services site at 104 Powell St. is listed Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as a distribution center only. Aging also notes that county landfills may serve as donation sites and that donors should contact their local collection center for instructions. Accepted and not-accepted donation lists are posted on the same program page and change with inventory needs.
Aging’s Maryland Equips page frames DME Re-Use as one free equipment path under a broader Technology First partnership, with the same DME phone and email for questions. Readers looking only for walkers, shower chairs, wheelchairs, or similar re-use gear can stay on the Durable Medical Equipment Re-Use Program page for forms and site hours.
| Category | Examples listed by MD Aging |
|---|---|
| Basic DME | Canes, crutches, walkers, rollators, shower chairs, tub transfer benches, bedside commodes, toilet safety rails |
| Complex DME | Manual, transport, and power wheelchairs; power scooters; home hospital beds; mechanical lifts |
Source: Maryland Department of Aging
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
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