Nationwide Medical (DME) no longer carrying ResMed??

Hi all,

I've been using CPAP since 2010 and have been using a Swift FX mask for nearly all of that time. My DME (Nationwide Medical) recently switched me (with no notice) to the Fisher & Paykel Opus 360, which I do not like. When I asked to switch back, they told me they no longer carry ResMed products.

Any other DMEs that anyone can recommend? I don't see why I should have to give up the mask that is right for me just because they don't feel like carrying it anymore. I also was looking forward to trying the ResMed Airfit P10, which apparently won't be possible with my current DME.

Try CPAP-dot-COM.


Den

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Ask your insurance company if they reimburse for purchases online (mine does). If that's so, you're good to go.
Otherwise, ask them what other DME's are in network with them and then just call to see if they carry ResMed masks.

If I can convince Apria to provid Circadience Sleepweever masks when they don't Cary them, you can convince any DME to get any mask you want.

But why bother. Talk to your insurance company and find out what your options are. Then dump the DME who doesn't want to proved what you want.

My insurance will ONLY PAY if I use Apria. Soi must make them tow the line.

For the record, the OP didn't specify whether he/she was looking for a DME who would be paid by his/her insurance provider. If that's the case, he/she would need to contact the insurance provider to find out which DMEs are "in-network" to that provider.


Den

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I don't believe it that National Medical DME Switched you from anything. They are a reliable and trusted company. They supply al my need on time.

See here that they supply Resmeds:

http://www.nationwidemedicaldirect.com/

Avi, just because you have been successful in getting all your needs met (up until now) through one office of a DME doesn't mean that all patients will get the same treatment from all offices of the same provider. Just look on this site for the number of people who have different experiences from the same company. The "brand name" doesn't mean much for a national company these days!

protomartyr wrote:Hi all,

I've been using CPAP since 2010 and have been using a Swift FX mask for nearly all of that time. My DME (Nationwide Medical) recently switched me (with no notice) to the Fisher & Paykel Opus 360, which I do not like. When I asked to switch back, they told me they no longer carry ResMed products.

Any other DMEs that anyone can recommend? I don't see why I should have to give up the mask that is right for me just because they don't feel like carrying it anymore. I also was looking forward to trying the ResMed Airfit P10, which apparently won't be possible with my current DME.

Because of this I just switched to a local DME recommended from someone on this forum who just happened to live in my area. I've used Nationwide for YEARS & they informed me they would be CHOOSING the mask that closely matched what I NEEDED. Needless to say, that's why I switched. They got the Medicare bid & I think they are overwhelmed & trying to manage that by narrowing what they carry. They are going to lose a lot of customers this way.

If you insurance will reimburse for purchases you make from an online retailer, cpap.com would be your best bet. They give great customer service & as you know, sponsor this great forum.

If you can't do that, why don't you start a thread asking for a good DME in your area? You might get lucky like I did. Someone recommended a local DME for me & I love them. I'm in Jeffersonville, IN & someone in a nearby town told me about Louisville O2 & switching was easy & they seem like great people. If I could submit my purchase from cpap.com to my insurance, that would have been my preferred method, but my insurance won't reimburse that way (I have three insurances & want to get the benefits I'm paying for).

Also, spread the word about Nationwide - they are really getting lax in their customer service in addition to the dropping the ResMed line.

Jen

Apria also informed me they will not be carrying ResMed products;
but not to worry, "they will be able to get what I need"--yeah, right!
Forgive me for maintaining my incredulity in the interests of self-preservation.

chunkyfrog wrote:Apria also informed me they will not be carrying ResMed products;
but not to worry, "they will be able to get what I need"--yeah, right!
Forgive me for maintaining my incredulity in the interests of self-preservation.

It only took me about 4 months to convince Apria to get the mask I wanted. I found the regional manager who happened to be a PAPer. He went to bat for me and I eventually got what I wanted. Unfortunately he is no longer at Apria, but he returned my call anyway.

chunkyfrog wrote:Apria also informed me they will not be carrying ResMed products;
but not to worry, "they will be able to get what I need"--yeah, right!
Forgive me for maintaining my incredulity in the interests of self-preservation.

That's very disturbing to hear about Apria, CF. I've just recently gone thru Apria's whole 'we need your credit card number' fiasco (they still don't have it ) - now apparently I've got to stand by while they push product brands other than what I need? No more ResMed? Can anybody else confirm this? Part of the problem is that since ResMed is top dog they feel they can jack up their prices to the maximum... this may lower the profit margins of the major DMEs... just a thought.

The cost of Resmed masks relative to what they can bill the insurance companies (and medicare) seems to be a big issue for some DMEs. It's easy to see that the retail list prices for Resmed masks at cpap.com is often $10-20 (or more) above the retail prices for the competing masks from other manufacturers:

Resmed

• Swift FX with Bella Loops lists at $137 at cpap.com (it's are on sale right now for $128)
• Swift FX and FX for Her both list at $127 (they are on sale right now for $118)
• AirFit P10 and P10 for Her both list at $118 (they're on sale right now for $99)
• Swift LT and LT for Her both lists for $121 (they're on sale right now for $118)

PR

• Nuance and Nuance Pro both list at $109
• OptiLife lists at $89.10 (it's on sale right now for $68.95)
• GoLife for Men and GoLife for Women both list at $89 (they're on sale right now for $84.95)

F&P

• Pilaro Q lists at $109 (it's on sale right now for $79.99)
• Opus 360 lists at $74.45

Other miscellaneous pillows masks

• Puritan Bennett Breeze SleepGear lists at $79.99
• RespCare Aloha Nasal Pillows lists at $99 (and is on sale right now for $84)
• RespCare Bravo II Nasal Pillows lists at $69.95
• Innomed Bravo Nasal Pillows lists at $69.95
• Airway Management Tap Pap lists at $129 (and is on sale right now for $99)

In other words, the cheapest of the Resmed pillows masks lists for $118 and, except for the Tap PAP, the most expensive nasal pillows mask from a competitor $109. The Swift FX with Bella Loops is almost $30 more expensive than the Pilaro Q or the Nuance/Nuance Pro masks.

And prices at a brick and mortar DME that bill insurance companies directly are effectively capped by the insurance company payments. If the insurance won't pay their share of a bill for $127 for a Swift FX, the DME isn't going to sell the Swift FX. (They can't legally charge the insurance customer the "balance" between what the FX costs and what the insurance company pays (including the patient's copay), because that's "balance billing".)

The small local DME that I use for everything except masks has not carried Resmed masks for the last year and a half. And they won't not ORDER a Resmed mask even if you asked them to. When they quit carrying Resmed masks, they did let the customers know. They said they just couldn't make enough profit on Resmed masks. They didn't just arbitrarily "chose" a mask for you; rather they let you know that if you wanted to get masks from them, you needed to come in and figure out what mask you wanted. They let me trial a Pilaro for free and didn't charge me or my insurance when I ripped through two Pilaro pillows trying to get them to sit right on my face. When it was clear that I really couldn't switch from the Swift FX, this DME provided me (and others in the same boat) with substantial help in finding a new DME that still carried Resmed Masks. I was overjoyed to hear that my favorite DME is now negotiating with Resmed and may soon (in the next 6 months or so) start offering a limited number of Resmed masks.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'll start another thread to see about local DME recommendations (I'm also looking through the list on my insurance company's website). I would love to be able to order from cpap dot com, I'll check with my insurance to see if they reimburse.

Jen,
I was glad to hear that you contacted Louisville O2 and that you are happy with them! I hope the construction on Speghetti Junction doesn't slow you down! BTW, my sleep doctor is in Jeff, and I love him too.

--Rhonda

M'ohms wrote:Jen,
I was glad to hear that you contacted Louisville O2 and that you are happy with them! I hope the construction on Speghetti Junction doesn't slow you down! BTW, my sleep doctor is in Jeff, and I love him too.

--Rhonda

Rhonda,

Thanks again for recommending Louisville O2, they are great! They mailed my order to avoid the bridge construction, which is still manageable, but quickly getting worse. My sleep Dr is in New Albany, I wish he was in Jeff.

Jen