Does your DME ever...

[DiverCTHunter]

Give you your supplies in Zip-Loc™ bags with their logo sticker stuck on them?

[akcpapguy]

Yes we do this all the time for various CPAP (and other product lines) supplies that come packaged in large quantities. Things that some to mind are nasal pillows, mask seals and filters.

[chunkyfrog]

That may not be the original packaging.
I prefer it when supplies are heat sealed at the factory to prevent tampering.
Tell us what came that way--others may chime in on how stuff is normally packaged.

[DiverCTHunter]

That may not be the original packaging.
I prefer it when supplies are heat sealed at the factory to prevent tampering.
Tell us what came that way--others may chime in on how stuff is normally packaged.

Exactly.

When the RT set up my new mask (a waste of time, but hey, they didn't charge extra for it), they took out one of the 3 sets of nasal pillows that came with, and left me the other 2
Fast forward to my first cushion & pillow refill and I get a factory-sealed package with the cushion and a 4-oz. zip-top (not Zip-Loc™) baggie with 2 Medium nasal pillows.

Since I got billed for 2 pillows, I'm thinking they're taking the "extra" ones that come in the factory refill pack, repackaging them, and double-billing.

Oh well, only 3 more weeks until Blue-Cross prices themselves and these jokers out of my supply chain.

[chunkyfrog]

AHP does that to two associates.
AHP is not on my short list for next DME.

[mcdover]

Give you your supplies in Zip-Loc™ bags with their logo sticker stuck on them?

Fairly common practice with items bought in very large quantities like filters, nasal pillows, and cushions.

[DiverCTHunter]

Fairly common practice with items bought in very large quantities like filters, nasal pillows, and cushions.

Strange. I've gotten the same items (pillows and cushions) in the factory sealed bag one refill cycle and in a Zip-Loc™ the next month. I'd have ass-u-me'd that even bulk orders would be individually packaged and sealed at the factory. How else would you be able to trace lot numbers?

[xenablue]

Hmmmm, sounds a bit sus to me. I have always received my CPAP supplies in original manufacturer sealed bags, which in some cases come in a bigger sealed bag from the manufacturer.

Even some nasal pillows I bought on ebay came in original sealed bags.

Next time, I would ask your DME if you could please have new nasal pillows in the original packaging. Sound to me like you're getting 'extras' from trial masks or something. I can't believe manufacturers would bulk send medical supplies open in a big bag for grubby, germy hands to get all over ... ewwwwww.

Cheers,
xena

[DiverCTHunter]

Next time, I would ask your DME if you could please have new nasal pillows in the original packaging. Sound to me like you're getting 'extras' from trial masks or something. I can't believe manufacturers would bulk send medical supplies open in a big bag for grubby, germy hands to get all over ... ewwwwww.

That was pretty much my thought as well. Not to mention a good reason to dunk everything in the sanitizer before use.

The good news is that this is my next-to last refill with them before I switch to buying online at the start of the year.

[xenablue]

Indeed!! I sanitise mine even when they've been sealed.

Good luck with online ordering - I had great success with that, especially our hosts.

cheers,
xena

[akcpapguy]

Next time, I would ask your DME if you could please have new nasal pillows in the original packaging. Sound to me like you're getting 'extras' from trial masks or something. I can't believe manufacturers would bulk send medical supplies open in a big bag for grubby, germy hands to get all over ... ewwwwww.

Many cushions/pillows DO come individually packaged when ordered in small quantities, however SOME manufacutrers offer "bulk" packaging and those often do not come individually packaged.

That was pretty much my thought as well. Not to mention a good reason to dunk everything in the sanitizer before use.

The good news is that this is my next-to last refill with them before I switch to buying online at the start of the year.[/quote]

Always a good idea to sanitize masks before use, the seals often retain chemicals/lubricants used in the manufacturing process and many people are sensitive to these products.

[NateS]

Yes we do this all the time for various CPAP (and other product lines) supplies that come packaged in large quantities. Things that some to mind are nasal pillows, mask seals and filters.

That sounds very, very strange. Especially for nasal pillows.

Would anyone think of buying toothbrushes dispensed this way?

Or feminine hygiene products?

Or medical supplies? In fact, aren't cpap items medical supplies?

Could you let us know the brands of products dispensed this way, so we could avoid them?

Nate

[ems]

Could someone please remind me whether our hosts work with Medicare people. I seem to remember that they do, but want to be sure. I have a machine, so I'm talking about masks and other supplies.

[akcpapguy]

Sure Matt,

Resmed, Respironics, Fisher & Paykel, Invacare, Pruitan Bennett, Covidien, Cardinal....just for starters.

[Janknitz]

ResMed nasal pillows come in small, Ziplock bags marked with the size in large, printed on the plastic letters (XS, S, M, L). When you get a mask kit, it comes with THREE sizes of nasal pillows, the mask and headgear. I have heard some DME's remove all but one size of nasal pillows (even though they are packaged together for one price by the manufacturer) and then resell the other two nasal pillows to others. So if you're getting those small bags of nasal pillows, that may be the origin--not much you can do.

If you're getting entire masks in unmarked ziplock bags instead of sealed factory labeled bags, more than likely your DME is repackaging free samples and selling them to you. Again, no way to prove or do much about it.