4. Expanded Feature Catalog (What DME Suppliers and Surveyors Ask For)

Date: 30 Sept 2026 · Back to WHAT-TO-DO-AND-AVOID.md

These are features small DME suppliers need or ask for, each classified with the same honesty as the stated list. Demand doesn't mean you should build it. Most of it is already inside a billing suite. Demand signals come from the DMEPOS quality standards, ACHC guidance and vendor pages (10). Supplier interviews haven't been done yet.

Legend: TS = Table stakes, D = Differentiator, X = Distraction, L = Liability. Priority: P0 = v1, P1 = next, P2 = later, — = don't build.

A. Equipment records (the core, so lean in)

Feature	Demand signal	Category	Priority	Notes
Serial register (model, serial, manufacturer, purchase date, location, status)	Required: equipment must be tracked by model or serial number so recalled units can be found	TS → D	P0	CSV import from the billing system's asset export or a spreadsheet.
Clean / dirty / repair / quarantine state machine with who, when and method	Cleaning and storage is ACHC's most-cited DMEPOS deficiency (2021–22)	D	P0	The heart of the product. Block "out on rental" unless the unit was logged clean.
Preventive maintenance schedules by manufacturer interval, with due lists	Required: documented PM, failures and repairs	D	P0	Ship templates for the 20 most common rental items.
Repair and failure log per serial	Required	D	P0	Include vendor repair tickets and photos.
Survey evidence export (cleaning, PM, repairs, recalls, delivery sign-offs, for a date range)	Surveyors ask to see records	D	P0	PDF plus CSV. Never label it "compliance certified".
Recall matching (manufacturer and FDA notices against your serials, list affected patients)	Required: be able to locate recalled equipment	D	P1	High "wow" value. Start with manual entry of recall notices, then automate.
Clean/dirty warehouse zones (scan a unit into a zone)	Clean and dirty separation is a common finding	D	P1	Cheap QR labels on shelves.
Temperature and humidity checks for storage	Some accreditor standards (unverified)	TS	P2	Only if pilots ask.

B. Delivery and pickup

Feature	Category	Priority	Notes
Driver app: scan, photo, patient or caregiver signature, offline	TS / D	P0	Must be faster than the suite's app, or drivers won't use it.
Setup and education checklist signed at delivery	D	P0	Patient education and setup are part of the quality standards.
Pickup condition and "dirty" tagging in one tap	D	P0	Feeds the state machine automatically.
Route optimisation and live truck tracking	X	—	WellSky sells it, and 1–3 driver shops don't need it.
Truck inventory	TS	P2	Bonafide has it.

C. Rental admin

Feature	Category	Priority	Notes
Rental-month counter per patient and unit (information only)	TS	P1	Helps warehouse staff plan pickups. Not billing.
Capped-rental billing and claims	L	—	Billing suite's job.
Eligibility, prior authorization, HCPCS coding	L	—	Same.
CPAP usage compliance data	L	—	Manufacturer platforms own it, and ResMed owns Brightree.
Customer booking storefront	X	—	Wrong buyer flow for Medicare rentals.
Cash-pay rental checkout (deposits, card holds)	X	P2 at most	Only if pilots have a real cash-pay line.

D. Channel and account features

Feature	Category	Priority	Notes
Consultant view (one login, many client suppliers, read-only survey packs)	D	P1	The distribution engine. See 07.
Multi-location roll-up	TS	P1	Needed for the $199 and $399 plans.
Roles and audit log (who changed what)	TS	P0	Needed for HIPAA and for trust in the records.
Billing-system integration (read-only import of orders and patients)	D	P2	Start with CSV. Build connectors only for the suite most of your customers use.

E. Security and privacy (not optional)

Feature	Category	Priority	Notes
BAA-capable hosting, encryption, access logs, session timeouts	TS	P0	No PHI until these exist.
Minimum PHI design: patient reference, address and signature only	TS	P0	No diagnoses, no insurance numbers.
SOC 2 report	X for now	P2	Only if larger suppliers ask. Not needed for the target buyer.