The pandemic has exacerbated supply chain problems across the board, and medical devices and rehabilitation equipment have not been spared. Enter RehabPulse in Middleton, Wisconsin — a company that provides patients with the medical equipment they need at lower prices and provides patients with insurance reimbursement.
The company has an online marketplace so patients can buy rehabilitation equipment prescribed by doctors. Patients can do this conveniently at home, a key benefit for disabled patients.
Often, when a patient needs rehabilitation equipment, they must go to a brick-and-mortar durable medical equipment (DME) store to purchase the item. As a result, patients are limited by store inventory rather than being able to view all store items in one place. Additionally, patients in rural areas may not have a local DME store, making it difficult to procure equipment.
Gaurav Mishra, president and CEO of RehabPulse, said in an email: “Insurance-reimbursable DMEs are typically purchased at the local DME dealer’s brick-and-mortar store, requiring potential disabled consumers to travel to a location multiple times to receive them. “These DME dealers are mostly small shops with only a few players operating nationwide. Patients are limited to finding dealers nearby and many times rural areas may not have such a location. RehabPulse has no such restrictions for patients , the technology platform allows it to serve patients across the United States.”
Some online DME stores do exist, such as spin life, Rehabilitation Centerand Parkour. However, they do not process insurance claims. Mishra said patients would have to buy the device and then pay for their own insurance.
RehabPulse addresses both needs: The company claims to have a complete inventory of rehabilitation equipment on the online marketplace, and it handles insurance reimbursements so patients don’t have to.
RehabPulse’s online marketplace offers equipment – wheelchairs, hinged stands, oxygen concentrators, breast pumps, push button zip aids and other items. In addition, it has a network of clinicians, home assessors and therapists who can perform home assessments, white glove delivery, device setup, maintenance instruction and training upon device arrival.
“Amazon only sells non-custom DME products. For example, custom wheelchairs that require measurements and have multiple part configurations cannot be sold on Amazon,” Mishra said. “Amazon only sells non-custom pre-boxed products in DME. If the product is made to order, Amazon will not sell it.”
He added that Amazon does not provide rental services, repairs or clinical evaluations, so they cannot make insurance claims. But for products sold on both platforms, RehabPulse claims the lowest prices and offers a price-match guarantee, Mishra said.
The company started using its e-commerce platform as early as 2020. In mid-2021, it added an insurance claims section. Mishra claims that within 12 months of launch, the business has grown exponentially — up 1,400%. He said the company expects annual revenue to be in the millions of dollars, but declined to provide specific numbers, citing the company’s private ownership.
“Dealers have historically charged high markups for DME, causing insurers and consumers to pay more for their rehabilitation equipment,” Mishra said. “The RehabPulse e-commerce platform can disrupt the traditional brick-and-mortar model and provide a more affordable and convenient channel for purchasing DME. RehabPulse further expands the coverage of nearly 85% of contracted technicians and therapists nationwide to provide home care services and in-home Take care of these customers with reduced mobility.”
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