You'll will love this one about the DME......GUARANTEED

[elazarus]

The other day I wrote about the service from DME's....or lack thereof.

On Monday the DME canceled my appt as they did not have the Pick Up form from the former DME, Lincare. At 4pm Monday I told the new DME Premiere not to worry about it that I will get the paperwork and then I will decide who to use for XPAP care.

Today, my Doctor's office called as asked me what the problem was in that Premiere called and said that I may be going elsewhere and I hadn't called them back.

I told the P.A. that I have the paperwork that they had 10 days to get and now I can go anywhere I choose....plus I refuse to accept whatever machine they want to give me (as discussed here for profit reasons) instead of what the Doctor wrote on the prescription.

The bottom line is that WE DO have control over our healthcare. We do have choices as to who we do business with. And, if I would not accept this type of service in my business why should I accept it from a health care provider....especially when I told them "Hell with the insurance, I will pay for it to get the show on the road".

The Doctor's P.A. said she would call them to make sure that I get what I want/need and I am bringing the info that I obtained from this great forum.....

Film at 11....

Elliot

[Wulfman...]

Congratulations, Elliot!!!

Best wishes,

Den

[geoDoug]

I'm REALLY close to firing my DME (Apria) and going to somebody else. This is the first time I've had to talk to them since I got my CPAP. I've now left two messages for an RT. One on Monday and one today. This is simply unacceptable service. This is my health we're talking about, so I expect my provider to give me what I want. I refuse to accept anything less, dammit. If I don't hear from them by the end of today, I'm calling another DME. Can ya tell I'm pissed?

For what it's worth, I've been unfortunate enough to spend a lot of time in hospitals over the last 20 years for a lot of unrelated problems. I've had pounded into my head that you have to stand your ground with EVERYBODY you talk to. It sucks, but it's a reality right now and ironically raises one's blood pressure. But in the end tends it makes life easier.

Doug.

[roubai]

I'm REALLY close to firing my DME (Apria) and going to somebody else.

When I got my first machine, back when I had insurance of sorts, two different Stanford doctors asked who my insurance used for DME. When I told them "Apria," both did the breath-hissed-in-between-teeth, head-shaking thing. I hope my next health insurance plan uses someone else, but even if they don't, at least I know how to get my own supplies now.

[elazarus]

I think is is very important for people to know that once they get set up with a machine/kit from a DME, they are free to go on their own without a prescription to get masks etc.

We have heard over and over...Research, Research, Research......every bit of information that you can get from this forum and its good people will help you cut through the clutter.

Print out everything that you find useful and use it when speaking with your DME.

My 2 cents

Elliot

[oceanpearl]

[quote="geoDoug"]I'm REALLY close to firing my DME (Apria) and going to somebody else. This is the first time I've had to talk to them since I got my CPAP. I've now left two messages for an RT. One on Monday and one today. This is simply unacceptable service. This is my health we're talking about, so I expect my provider to give me what I want. I refuse to accept anything less, dammit. If I don't hear from them by the end of today, I'm calling another DME. Can ya tell I'm pissed?

For what it's worth, I've been unfortunate enough to spend a lot of time in hospitals over the last 20 years for a lot of unrelated problems. I've had pounded into my head that you have to stand your ground with EVERYBODY you talk to. It sucks, but it's a reality right now and ironically raises one's blood pressure. But in the end tends it makes life easier.

Doug.

[geoDoug]

I hope that CIGNA is not your insurer, they only use Apria.

Nope. Used to be CIGNA, but I had another bad run-in with them involving a differeni problem. It's Aetna.

Doug.

[cflame1]

Careful with Aetna... I got a mailing a few months ago, asking me to start using Apria... I said "NOT LIKELY!!" and threw it out.

[geoDoug]

Careful with Aetna... I got a mailing a few months ago, asking me to start using Apria... I said "NOT LIKELY!!" and threw it out.

Thanks for the heads-up. One of the few cathartic moments of the last couple of weeks came today when I was talking to an Aetna rep. I had called to make sure that it wasn't going to be a problem with them if I return my remstar plus machine, which is still under rental, to Apria--and then go get a real machine from a DME that will actually talk to me (to be named later--still looking!). I got to say to her, "I'm looking for another provider because Apria is so unresponsive that they won't return any of my phone calls." I stopped short of adding "It's as if I don't exist any more. They foisted a low end machine on me, overbilled you (over $1,000 for a Remstar plus!), and now won't answer any of my calls. They're either incompetent or don't care or both." I think I'm gonna use that if I have an opening.

Felt good anyway.

Doug.

[Stefernie]

Careful with Aetna... I got a mailing a few months ago, asking me to start using Apria... I said "NOT LIKELY!!" and threw it out.

Thanks for the heads-up. One of the few cathartic moments of the last couple of weeks came today when I was talking to an Aetna rep. I had called to make sure that it wasn't going to be a problem with them if I return my remstar plus machine, which is still under rental, to Apria--and then go get a real machine from a DME that will actually talk to me (to be named later--still looking!). I got to say to her, "I'm looking for another provider because Apria is so unresponsive that they won't return any of my phone calls." I stopped short of adding "It's as if I don't exist any more. They foisted a low end machine on me, overbilled you (over $1,000 for a Remstar plus!), and now won't answer any of my calls. They're either incompetent or don't care or both." I think I'm gonna use that if I have an opening.

Felt good anyway.

Doug.

Use it.

[elazarus]

remstar plus machine, which is still under rental, to Apria--and then go get a real machine from a DME

Just so I know, as I finally have my appointment tomorrow (what a hassle) with the new DME....what you call a "REAL" machine.

I have one shot since switching DME's and would like to make sure I don't blow it.

Thank you in advance.

Elliot

[robbieh]

Maybe we need Michael Moore to do a movie about us and call it Pappo...

[geoDoug]

I have one shot since switching DME's and would like to make sure I don't blow it.

Sorry. That was me engaging in a little hyperbole. The right word would be "inadequate" for my needs. The Remstar Plus is a fine machine for what it does. It's just not as fully featured. Also, keep in mind that what I was given was an older machine that didn't have c-flex. In other words it gathers no data but compliance and has no pressure relief.

Doug.

[elazarus]

I just find Bi-Flex vs C-Flex

Auto vs Auto M series with A-Flex...

SO CONFUSING no matter how many times I read it.....

Does anyone have an easier way for a moron (me) to understand?

Thanks

Elliot

[John_M]

[quote="elazarus"]I just find Bi-Flex vs C-Flex

Auto vs Auto M series with A-Flex...

SO CONFUSING no matter how many times I read it.....

Does anyone have an easier way for a moron (me) to understand?

Thanks

Elliot