Reordering supplies craziness.

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Cardsfan
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Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Cardsfan » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:28 am

OK, after 7 months of the insanity of reordering supplies monthly, I've had it. Lincare has me on a schedule where cpap supplies are re ordered every month. So every month, I get the phone call and place my order. Got to keep track of items ordered, received, paid for by insurance, bills from Lincare being paid monthly. By the time the cycle is complete, it starts all over. It is time consuming to say the least. And that's if everything goes perfectly.
I've had enough and want a better, less time consuming system. I'd like to get it to where I order supplies 2X a yr. I've gotten the OK from my insurance co. Just wondering how others deal with the issue. I suppose my 6 month order would look like (following insurance replacement schedule)
1 complete mask
5 cushions
6 filters
2 long hoses.
1 water tub for humidifier.
It just seems so inefficient to be doing this every month.

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nanwilson
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by nanwilson » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:43 am

Cardsfan wrote:OK, after 7 months of the insanity of reordering supplies monthly, I've had it. Lincare has me on a schedule where cpap supplies are re ordered every month. So every month, I get the phone call and place my order. Got to keep track of items ordered, received, paid for by insurance, bills from Lincare being paid monthly. By the time the cycle is complete, it starts all over. It is time consuming to say the least. And that's if everything goes perfectly.
I've had enough and want a better, less time consuming system. I'd like to get it to where I order supplies 2X a yr. I've gotten the OK from my insurance co. Just wondering how others deal with the issue. I suppose my 6 month order would look like (following insurance replacement schedule)
1 complete mask
5 cushions
6 filters
2 long hoses.
1 water tub for humidifier.
It just seems so inefficient to be doing this every month.

Yup... entirely inefficient for YOU.. but totally efficient for the DME, they are making big bucks every time you order.
I only get new supplies when I need them.... hoses, I have never replaced since I take good care of it
water tub..... ditto
filters, I wash the foam one monthly and replace the white one 3 weeks to a month depends on the dirt
mask and pillows, only as needed

No wonder your premiums are so high in the US, you are encouraged to over use your insurance .
Started cpap in 2010.. still at it with great results.

Worldwar2
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Worldwar2 » Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:53 am

I'm very pleased with Versus Healthcare. I think as word gets out about how doing business with them is so effortless, the other two will disappear.

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Cardsfan
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Cardsfan » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:00 am

Nan- how old is your hose?

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nanwilson
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by nanwilson » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:06 am

Cardsfan wrote:Nan- how old is your hose?
New machine Dec 2013... same hose. I have a hose cover on it made of fleece and its routed up over my headboard, so never gets moved or touched....... My 15 month old g-grandson can't even reach it
If it ain't broken... don't fix it............... When you have to pay for stuff yourself, you really take good care of it.
Started cpap in 2010.. still at it with great results.

Cardsfan
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Cardsfan » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:08 am

I've never heard of Versus Healthcare. I have to go where my insurance says is in network, either Lincare or Apria.

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Chevie
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Chevie » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:10 am

Cardsfan wrote:So every month, I get the phone call and place my order.
Hilarious. You have been doing it to yourself.

Cardsfan
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Cardsfan » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:16 am

Chevie- I am new to this. And I have been following the Respitory therapist's instructions on replacement of parts. So if you want to laugh at someone, go pick on someone else.

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LSAT
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by LSAT » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:22 am

Cardsfan wrote:Chevie- I am new to this. And I have been following the Respitory therapist's instructions on replacement of parts. So if you want to laugh at someone, go pick on someone else.
The RT woks for the DME...they love when you order all these items. $$$$$$ Use common sense...don't believe the DME.

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Cardsfan
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Cardsfan » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:32 am

LSAT- I get the feeling most of you guys just keep using your old stuff till if falls apart? I though the reason the hose gets replaced every 3 months is so that mold doesn't grow in it. My hose is dark, and I'd never see it if that happened.

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knothead
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by knothead » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:39 am

CF,
My ordering company(Apria) was set up to call me every month, I got so tired of telling them to stop calling that I finally told them to take me OFF the call list. They did and now I only order when I need something. We actually get along better this way...

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Chevie
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Chevie » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:59 am

Cardsfan wrote:Chevie- I am new to this. And I have been following the Respitory therapist's instructions on replacement of parts. So if you want to laugh at someone, go pick on someone else.
It's good that you are learning. No one will treat you better than you treat yourself. Carpe der neckums.

BTW, I use the same hose for years and never clean the inside.

nanwilson
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by nanwilson » Wed Aug 26, 2015 12:05 pm

Cardsfan wrote:LSAT- I get the feeling most of you guys just keep using your old stuff till if falls apart? I though the reason the hose gets replaced every 3 months is so that mold doesn't grow in it. My hose is dark, and I'd never see it if that happened.
How will "mold" grow in you hose?????? Nothing can get in there... its just air, do you breathe mold during the day in the "air" in your house?.

I would suggest that you do some reading here on the forum, particularly those threads that pertain to: "how often do you clean your ......"
I would also read the threads that pertain to: backups of equipment.
Most of us have "A" backup of most everything in case of an emergency or loss.
I have a spare (used) machine, about 4 or 5 different masks, 6 months worth of filters, a plain 6 foot hose, but because of the fact that I pay for everything myself, I do not have a spare humidifier for my PR 60 with heated hose.
Started cpap in 2010.. still at it with great results.

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Denial Dave
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Denial Dave » Wed Aug 26, 2015 12:45 pm

I'm on my 2nd hose in 3 years... My original 1st hose was replaced because I accidentally poked a hole in it near the connector. I washed one hose after opening the package, but they've never been washed since.. I use a light weight fleece cover on my hose that gets washed semi-weekly with laundry.

I've been using the same tub for 3 years. BUT, I replace my headgear ever 6 months because they stretch and lose flexibility & I HAVE to replace my cushions every 3 months or massive uncontrollable leaks occur.

I call Apria twice a year and place an order for small supplies to keep my account active & it keeps blue cross / blue shield happy.

The rest of the time I make purchases with out of pocket money via whoever has the lowest prices for what I need.

Dave

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Wulfman...
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Re: Reordering supplies craziness.

Post by Wulfman... » Wed Aug 26, 2015 1:08 pm

Cardsfan wrote:LSAT- I get the feeling most of you guys just keep using your old stuff till if falls apart?
I though the reason the hose gets replaced every 3 months is so that mold doesn't grow in it.
My hose is dark, and I'd never see it if that happened.
Categorically......"Yes"......and......."No".

Here's some reading material from the archives:

viewtopic.php?p=567264#p567264

The manufacturers and DMEs are in cahoots to make money. They're counting on the insurance providers to pay and that's why our insurance premiums are so damn high. This stuff doesn't NEED to be replaced as often as the schedules provide for.

From the beginning (except for the initial purchase for which my insurance provider reimbursed me), I've purchased all of my consumable supplies (and extra equipment) out-of-pocket and have never relied on my insurance providers to pay for them. I've also come to the conclusion that if I fork out my own money, I'll take better care of them and they'll last longer.

I still use the original hose I started out with, along with a spare I had purchased a year or so later. I also have many backup/spare hoses, filters, masks, mask seals, headgear, etc., etc. stashed away for future use. If one uses distilled water and keeps their filters cleaned/replaced, there's nothing to get in the hoses to "grow". Water vapor molecules are much too small to carry any pathogens (viruses or bacteria) out of the HH tanks. The air you breathe at night is the same as you breathe in your dwelling the other hours of the day, except that it's filtered going through the machine and even cleaner.

Far too many XPAP users don't seem think about this stuff in a logical manner.


Den

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