Apria

So I just found out my CPAP prescription was sent to Apria. Should i run for the hills?? I know many people have had bad experiences with them?? Anyone here have a positive experience??

There are many folks that have had good dealings with them, bad dealings with them and both. I just receive my vpap from them. They contacted me TWICE to inform me to pick up my machine. I asked if they had the machine in stock, and they said yes. When I got there, they did not have it in stock. Expect the worse and pray for the best.

Sheriff

When I got all the paperwork for my 90 day order in March, (of which Medicare denied all but 30 days' worth)
I took the Medicare EOB down to Apria. The district manager was very helpful, acknowledging that it was obvious
there had been a miscommunication in their order. (No one said "error" )
She immediately offered to correct the situation, so is working on an amendment, or whatever.
I stressed that the local staff are stellar, and the only reason I am jumping ship is the corporate
insistence on a cc#. --and "I hope that changes".

My prescription went from the doc to the sleep lab, who sent it to Apria. If I decide to avoid Apria and find another local DME, should I ask the doc for the prescription, or do I first need to go to the sleep lab?

Always get a copy of your prescription.

Sheriff Buford wrote:There are many folks that have had good dealings with them, bad dealings with them and both. I just receive my vpap from them. They contacted me TWICE to inform me to pick up my machine. I asked if they had the machine in stock, and they said yes. When I got there, they did not have it in stock. Expect the worse and pray for the best.
Sheriff

Just a thought, when they tell you over the phone that it is in stock, ask for the serial number, just for your records
If it is in stock, they will have it, else they don't have it.

JDS74 wrote:Always get a copy of your prescription.

Will I be able to use the copy of the prescription at an alternative DME?(Original script went to Apria, who i dont want to use). Or will the doc have to write me a new prescription? Sorry for the dumb question.

Get one from the doc. Then make a copy for the DME of your choice but keep the original.

SleepyCabeza wrote:

JDS74 wrote:Always get a copy of your prescription.

Will I be able to use the copy of the prescription at an alternative DME?(Original script went to Apria, who i dont want to use). Or will the doc have to write me a new prescription? Sorry for the dumb question.

Get a copy from your doctor and get on the phone to your insurance and find out who is in network and all the details.

I think your doctor/clinic or whoever sent the RX to Apria should have confirmed what DME you wanted to use; you are the customer, not the doctor... but of course the doctor may be in cohorts with the DME. When you call for a copy of your RX, tell them they should have asked you who you wanted. I ditto what the others have said.

Incidentally, my DME made a copy of my RX and gave the original back to me...

library lady wrote:I think your doctor/clinic or whoever sent the RX to Apria should have confirmed what DME you wanted to use; you are the customer, not the doctor... but of course the doctor may be in cohorts with the DME. When you call for a copy of your RX, tell them they should have asked you who you wanted. I ditto what the others have said.

Incidentally, my DME made a copy of my RX and gave the original back to me...

This is how it SHOULD be, but I had the same problem. When a person goes through this the first time, they don't know what they need to know. I was very trusting of the doctors and the process. I now know that the doctor, sleep clinic and DME were all working together and railroaded me down a path that was completely out of my control. I didn't go along with it and it derailed my journey a long time. I have told my primary care doctor about this and told him to let others know about this message board. I was met with a polite response that didn't seem to make an impression whatsoever.

I have always had Apria and have never ever had a problem with them! This year I have a $3,000.00 deductible so I have been ordering from CPAP.com instead of using Apria,
Hope this helps,

My sleep lab sent my order to Lincare. They suck and I promptly requested Apria. I have nothing but great things to say about them. Very fast, professional and so far so good.

library lady wrote: . . . they should have asked you who wanted.

In some places, this is the law.

Every local Apria is different but from my experience of being in the field, a lot of patients I know have had less than stellar service from them. Also, respiratory therapist that have worked for them in the past have mentioned less than stellar working conditions i.e. nothing shady or illegal just things like making you work REALLY late and then not letting you come in until noon so you wont accrue any OT. Things like that burn employees out.
I did have a relative on a ventilator that was supplied by Apria - 'best' provider from her network that had the ventilator. They were ok until the electricity went out one day and the back up battery was not working. We called Apria and they said they did not have any batteries and would have to ship one out from another location in another city and would arrive the next day or so!! I asked them what we were supposed to do in the meantime and they recommended taking to hospital or somewhere where power was on. Having worked at a company that provided many home ventilators I thought having back up batteries for every patient and some at backups at the warehouse was critical/mandatory since these are life sustaining equipment but apparently Apria did not think this was necessary. That experience kind of sealed it for me. Big national company that will do anything to save a dime.
BTW- if your insurance is Cigna you may not have an option-I believe they contracted with Apria to be their sole DME provider.