Thinking of Switching DME's - Delays in New ASV :-(

Well after seeing the sleep doc on the 15th, she of course said that I need an ASV. During my ASV Tritration/Sleep Study they were able to get my AHI down to like 1.4!!!

She said she would be sending over my Prescription and all Documents to my current DME (I've been using for past 3+Years).... She said they should call me Monday and that this week i'd have my new machine etc and she scheduled a 2 week follow-up to see how the pressures are.

Not hearing anything from my DME(Local in town), I called - they told me the Respiratory tech would not be in till Wednesday and after he reviewed the prescription they would order the ASV....

They call Wed (my wife took the call) - They say they just submitted it to my insurance but i might take 3 weeks to a month! That a Prior Auth is needed yatta yatta! Ugg my wife snapped but that is beside the point.... Crazy have been jumping hurdles for what almost 8 months now!!!! you would think with all the hurdles the insurance has been making us jump they would of seen this coming (Failed Cpap, Failed Bi-pap study, a month getting ASV Study approved etc....)

UGG!!!!!! WTF frustrating as F!

So we decided to call the sleep doc back to let her know what the DME said, that well I would have to move that 2 week appt further ahead etc. Well the lady at the sleep doc's office called my sleep doc as she was gone for the day to explain everything - She called us back an hour later to tell us - To drop my DME, F them basically, that there is a better DME they use a lot that really cares about their patients and that it would not take near as long.

So that is what I am doing today. I guess I need to let me current DME know I am dropping them? To send my records to the new DME? I have never had to change DME's - how is it?

Well thanks for reading and hanging out with me while I go thru this crazy journey for proper sleep, for those that are new I think there is a link in my Sig section to splains my story.

Take Care!
Eric D

Is there any way you can get a loaner from the sleep doc till your own machine is acquired? I'm glad you finally got the proper diagnosis. I know you've been on a LONG path to get treated.
When I ordered supplies from a new DME, other than my original DME, all I had to do was email them a copy of my prescription. (I've done it with 2 on line DME's, but I was not dealing with insurance compliance)
Get a copy of your new prescription.
Don't think of yourself as changing DME's, think of it as having 2 stores to shop at instead of one. There is no law that says you can only use one supplier. Just make sure you keep in line with what your insurance will cover and don't get any automatic shipments. 2 DME's can have your prescription at the same time. Lincare, Apria, and our host all have mine. You do not have to drop your original DME. But I would let them know if you want to cancel any orders being processed.

Glad to see you back with us.

I am in the process of changing my husband's DME. He was diagnosed in March. I was happy to use an independent family-owned company. I reluctantly gave a credit card number. I was told it was just to have on file and would be used for the initial payment. They came and set up the machine in mid-March. I didn't get any invoice. I did however get billed by my credit card company. I called the company to get an invoice and was told that they ONLY do credit card billing. This is a deal breaker. I called our insurance and they said that yes, we could change DMEs. I called the sleep doctor's office. They need to deauthorize the old company and send the sleep study, prescription, and compliance data to the new one. I got a call back from the doctor's office saying "You can't do that". I explained that I could do that and had checked with Insurance already.

I immediately got a call from the first DME about picking up their machine. Since we will be billed for the entire month rental, we will be keeping it for three more weeks. Certainly until he gets a replacement. You can bet that we will be keeping every item that we paid for. Including the humidifier, filters, mask, headgear, etc. I'm hoping he gets the same make and model so that we can reuse the humidifier and have a spare filter.

We are getting his new machine from the same DME that I already use. They were taken over by Lincare, but they seem to still be operating on the local level.

ugg, just talked with the orig DME - I there to see what ASV they were going to Order me..... Well they front desk person called someone - he said are we ordering patient xyz the aircurve 10 asv? i guess the person on the phone said no - the old PR system one 960 whatever series. now this was sort of new when I started Cpap 4 years ago - I told them well if they cant get a newer machine like the dreamstation or the new resmed to not bother ...... I called the new DME i am thinking of switching too - the guy was really nice, he did say they they mostly deal with PR - that he really wants my business and he would call/email his vendor to see if he can get the Dreamstation (unsure if the ASV has been released yet) or the Resmed Aircurve ASV


I know Its also about money and I am sure the dme would rather get me the older model as they would make more money......

I just know ill be stuck with this for 5 years and well dont want 8 year old technology 5 years from now

No Clue What To Do!!!

metsfan302 wrote:I told them well if they cant get a newer machine like the dreamstation

there is no dreamstation asv. not yet.

Your new DME sounds promising, and also they want to stay on the good side of your doctor, so that's a good thing. I'd say work with them if they can get you want you want and faster, it's a win-win.

As soon as you are assured that the new DME can do what they promise, send a CERTIFIED LETTER, keeping a copy, to the old DME telling them they no longer have your business, and politely tell them why.

I don't think that they can be without an RT if they are Medicare certified, if their RT was out there should have been a replacements. They also serve patients on oxygen who may need help TODAY, not in several days when their RT gets around to it.

Why do I keep looking for the word "Apria"?
I know, the old outfit is local--maybe their real masters are those whose names we gag to repeat.