lincare complaints

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
ladyjanern909

lincare complaints

Post by ladyjanern909 » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:56 am

Does anyone else do business with Lincare? The local office I am dealing with are so rude and incompetent! The billing department can't get the bills right after 10 months and the supply company sends me the wrong items! I clearly need to get a new DME. The local office doesn't even have a respiratory therapist on board. They have an LPN doing the mask fittings but she is clueless even with that job. Even the person answering the phone has an attitude. I feel as a client/cpap patient I would like a little support with all this and especially patience with getting me off in running with all things cpap. Sorry for the rant. Does anyone know where I can send a letter to the main office to voice my complaints before I move on?

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: lincare complaints

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:02 am


_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

ladyjanern909

Re: lincare complaints

Post by ladyjanern909 » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:19 am

Thanks chunkyfrog! They will be hearing from me!

Caritas is a DME I am considing. Has anyone done business with them. Don't want to go from bad to worse

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: lincare complaints

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:34 am

Never heard of them (maybe a Mom&pop--might be a good thing--fingers crossed).
Get them on the phone; and ask to speak to the RT, (if there are any professional staff).
Find out if they supply/service the makes and models of supplies you use, hours, etc.
Make sure they are in-network for your insurance. This is a very important thing, unless you are wealthy.
If you have no insurance, what are you thinking of--buying locally?
Click on any item at the top under Product News to get the sponsor of this forum (and my favorite supplier!)

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
jdm2857
Posts: 2982
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:29 pm
Location: South Jersey

Re: lincare complaints

Post by jdm2857 » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:39 am

FYI -- "Caritas" is now the name of the corporate parent of AmeriHealth.
They're now "AmeriHealth Caritas" instead of "AmeriHealth Mercy".
jeff

klutzo
Posts: 68
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:06 pm
Location: Florida

Re: lincare complaints

Post by klutzo » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:46 am

I had this type of problem with another big DME in my area called Baycare. They never filled my orders on their automated order system, and I had to keep calling the local office to get supplies from a real person, they sent reams of paperwork with each order when I finally got it after a month, and when I called about my machine making noises like it might die, it took them 2 1/2 MONTHS to answer my voice mail.

My solution was to call the sleep center where I'd had my sleep test done to diagnose apnea. The people who man those places during the day are usually the top dog at the sleep lab and are sharp as tacks and eager to help, IME. She recommended a smaller company to me, where I actually get to speak to a real live person. You might try that. Sleep techs would know about any good ones in their area.

BTW, when I was first choosing a DME, Lincare was one of the choices. I went online and looked for reviews for all the companies I was told about. Lincare was rated the most awful of any company, so I steered clear. I empathize with you and hope you find a good company. I was told by my sleep doctor that the govt. is trying to put all the small companies out of business. I sure hope not, or we'll all be up the creek.

klutzo

HoseCrusher
Posts: 2744
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:42 pm

Re: lincare complaints

Post by HoseCrusher » Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:36 am

My experience with Lincare has been nothing but positive. This makes me think that either I am very lucky or the service varies from location to location.

_________________
Mask: Brevida™ Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Machine is an AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her with Heated Humidifier.
SpO2 96+% and holding...

User avatar
caffeinatedcfo
Posts: 690
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:19 am
Location: Upstate NY

Re: lincare complaints

Post by caffeinatedcfo » Sat Jun 01, 2013 3:49 pm

LOL! They are the biggest tools! See my thread here: viewtopic/t88926/Lincare-Scum-Bags.html

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: SleepyHead software; using APAP mode 10-12cm & EPR 3

User avatar
LSAT
Posts: 13229
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:11 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: lincare complaints

Post by LSAT » Sat Jun 01, 2013 4:35 pm

caffeinatedcfo wrote:LOL! They are the biggest tools!
You mean like hammers?

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Fisher & Paykel Vitera Full Face Mask with Headgear (S, M, or L Cushion)
Additional Comments: Back up is S9 Autoset...... Buckwheat hull pillow

Trixie
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:27 am
Location: Outer Banks of NC

Re: lincare complaints

Post by Trixie » Sun Jun 02, 2013 2:25 pm

I'm having the same experience with Lincare My billing statement and insurance claims are the biggest mess I have ever seen. They have sent incorrect supplies, also. They "aren't able" to get the cpap mask I need (FitLife XL), so I had to order it online. I'm ready to move on.

btm1
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 1:00 pm
Location: Ashburn, VA

Re: lincare complaints

Post by btm1 » Sat Aug 10, 2013 2:32 pm

I think this must depend on your local Lincare office. I have found the staff at the Lincare Chantilly, VA, office to be extremely friendly and helpful. They have several highly experienced sleep/respiratory therapists on their staff. My understanding from a sleep therapy clinic physician in Ashburn, Va, is that Medicare now requires its patients in our area to get their CPAP equipment and supplies from Lincare.

The only negatives I found are:
a) They could supply Philips Respironics "Comfort Gel"™ nasal masks that Respironics discontinued December 31, 2010, but not Respironics newer "Comfort Gel Blue™ " nasal mask. Lincare seemed unaware of the later mask model. However, they did carry a Fisher & Paykeel "Eson™ " nasal mask, that seems to me at least as good as the Comfort Gel Blue. [I have for several years been using the still older Respironics "Profile Lite" nasal mask, because I found the forehead piece more comfortable than that of the ComfortGel. But recent ones have caused a pressure sore on the bridge of my nose. If I loosen the mask to relieve the pressure, then the mask leaks. I solved the problem with a small piece of tissue paper on the bridge of my nose, but since I replace the masks every 2 months or so anyhow, I thought to see if I found any of the newer designs more comfortable.]
b) The automatic CPAP machine they got for me a few years ago is an up-to-date model (ResMed S9 Escape Auto™) with a removable data card that can give therapists and physicians data feedback, but the Escape Auto is the basic model that doesn't record as much data as my new sleep specialist, Dr. Charu Sabharwal desires. As a result she wants me to undergo a new overnight sleep study at her Ashburn, VA, sleep clinic. This is probably the fourth or fifth overnight sleep study I've had since I was first diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2001. One of the purposes of having the auto CPAP was to avoid the nuisance and cost of further overnight titration studies at monitored sleep centers. [The other was that the titration studies were inconclusive as to what pressure setting I needed, since it apparently varied through the night as well as changed over the years as my other health parameters changed.]
c) The Lincare sleep therapist believed that the data from the ResMed S-9 Escape Auto™ data card was as complete as the data collected by the more expensive ResMed S-9 Auto™. i later found that the ResMed web site says otherwise.
d) My previous CPAP supplier, Esprit Home Care, had made home visits. Lincare will make then if I insist and if I can wait for an open schedule slot, but they prefer I drive to their facility. [I changed to Lincare only because Esprit closed its local office.]

kbobtn
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:58 am
Location: TN

Re: lincare complaints

Post by kbobtn » Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:50 pm

I agree, it must be a location/local office thing. I switched to Lincare last year when my former company stopped participating in my insurance (without notice, of course). I have found them to be attentive, helpful, and accurate. They seem to be up to date on equipment options, though I must admit I haven't asked for any but the most common things. I did walk in unannounced the other day to inquire about possibly ordering and switching to the new Quattro Air mask, and I walked out with one in hand. They called a few days later to see how I liked it and if I did, to update the system so that the monthly calls for eligible parts would be correct . Oh, and offered a 30 day return if it didn't suit.

User avatar
Thewino
Posts: 231
Joined: Sat May 04, 2013 5:13 pm

Re: lincare complaints

Post by Thewino » Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:52 am

Man, I had big, big problems with American HomePatient. In my opinion, they are the absolutely rudest employees I have ever encountered. I'm a pretty mellow guy and these people infuriated me. I went so far as sending a very professional three page letter of complaints to the American HomePatient home office in Tennessee.

You guessed it: they didn't care enough to reply. My opinion is to stay far, far away from these guys.

I just couldn't stand giving them one more dollar of my money so I quit going to them.

I have not tried LinCare because of all the negative remarks on this forum.

Maybe your physician has a DME that he/she has had pretty cordial arrangements with. This isn't fail proof but it's a start.

Good Luck!
TheWino
The wino and I know the joy of the ocean... J. Buffett ***Please do not take any information from my post/s as medical advice. I am simply providing personal experiences. Thank you***

Cpaprt

Re: lincare complaints

Post by Cpaprt » Sun Aug 25, 2013 2:30 am

The comfort gel mask is not even made anymore. All of the masks are comfort gel blues.

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: lincare complaints

Post by chunkyfrog » Sun Aug 25, 2013 12:09 pm

Hi, good to see when a pro is visiting us. A few are actually members.
Feel free to register, especially if you are also a fellow papper
(in which case, you can enter your equipment, as I have)
You don't have to agree with everything said here--even stuff I say!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her