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Health subcommittee backs medical-equipment loan program recommendation after debate over storage and liability
Summary
The Health & Human Services Subcommittee voted to forward a favorable recommendation for a city-run medical equipment loan program relying on donated items, while members pressed for clarity on storage, inspection, cleaning, staffing and possible partnerships with existing regional providers. A public health official said local demand appears low and staff typically refer residents to a Woburn program.
The Revere Health & Human Services Subcommittee voted to forward a motion recommending the city establish a medical equipment loan program that would let seniors and recovering residents borrow donated items such as wheelchairs, walkers, transport chairs, commodes, shower chairs and knee scooters at no direct cost.
Councilor Hass, the motion sponsor, described hands-on experience operating a similar program and said the city could start with a limited inventory and rely on donated equipment and a liability waiver. "I work with this medical equipment loan program on a daily basis... it's such a benefit to all the residents," she said, adding the program can be run flexibly and that the waiver would be drafted by the city solicitor’s office.
Other committee members pressed for operational details. Councilor Mercurio opposed the motion as presented, questioning who would manage intake, tracking, maintenance and distribution and noting existing providers—named in the meeting as Mosaic Hospital Equipment Loan Program and an "RE Equipment DME Reuse Program" in Woburn—that already serve residents. He suggested public outreach to connect residents to those services rather than duplicate them.
A public health department representative said the department receives very few requests ("in the 6 years I've been here, I've maybe gotten 2 or 3") and typically refers people to the HELP program in Woburn; the speaker identified liability, storage, cleaning and lack of staff trained to verify equipment safety as historical issues. Committee members discussed possible city pick-up schedules, limited inventories, a tracking computer program used by the senior center, and the prospect of partnering with hospitals or nonprofits to obtain and clean equipment.
After discussion, the subcommittee voted to issue a favorable recommendation to the full city council; recorded votes included one no vote and one recorded as "present." The recommendation will move the proposal to the full council for further consideration. Implementation details — including staffing, storage location, cleaning protocol, liability language and partnerships — were discussed but left for follow-up and were not finalized at the meeting.
