Can you interview DME's

[Rossiemo]

When I woke up from my Study night with the CPAP machine, the Sleep Tech gave me a piece of paper with 4 or 5 companies on it and I was told to circle one of them as my preferred provider. I picked the one closest to my house. What the heck do I know about any of these companies. Can I use my prescription as a means to interview these other companies in my area? Seems like a pretty important decision and I would hate to be stuck with the company I circled if they are not helpful, nice, knowledgeable or know-it-all-ish.

Thanks in advance of your replies.

Still a Newbie and don't have equipment yet.

[cflame1]

You should be able to... I know that when I went for my second study (the first was through a GP, the second was through a sleep doc), I called around until I found a DME that I could work with.

[JohnBFisher]

... Can I use my prescription as a means to interview these other companies in my area? ...

I did. I interviewed the sleep lab. At first they thought I was crazy. Until I had my BiPAP titration study with them. They put a very experienced sleep tech to cover me. She told them that she had NEVER seen someone with such problems with apnea (central and obstructive) and Restless Legs. When I'm fighting sleep my legs cramp so completely that I can not walk. Take your average teenage charlie horse cramp and put it on steroids. Yeouch! Making it odder (and I showed her) all I need to do is to think "relax" at my muscles when they do that. (Problems with my brain stem cause this).

Needless to say,they had another experienced tech for the ASV titration. And I then spent a good bit of time talking with the RT before I decided to use them. If he had not cut it, I would have found another who would. If they thought it was a waste of their time, I would have found another who did not think it was. I'm a low maintenace patient. But I am paying them to help me, not just to charge my insurance company.

If they can't be bothered to help or answer, they won't get my money or my insurance companies money.

So, sure. Interview the DME. It's a great way to try to avoid problems with them.

[Slinky]

CERTAINLY! And more important you most definitely SHOULD! Just call your insurance company to ask them what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted with. The list you were given may include those not contracted w/your insurance and would be a waste of your time.

Don't be bashful. This is YOUR health, YOUR therapy, YOU are paying for it, makes no difference if you are paying out of pocket or thru insurance YOU are still the one paying for it. And you certainly have the right idea and are going about things the right way.

Good luck!!!

[KatieW]

I was given the same type of list, and told to choose one, so they could send the prescription to them. I said I wanted to shop around 1st, and asked for the prescription. Then I interviews 2 DME's. Since I had a high deductible and would be paying out of pocket, I asked each one what it would cost me for a cpap and mask, and which ones they carried. One offered me a re-conditioned, non data capable Respironics for $1,000. The other one offered me a new non data capable Respironics for $1,200. Yes, each had a data card, but for compliance information only. Neither carried Resmed, which is what I had already selected in my mind. Masks were $200, with one exchange allowed within 30 days, and there was an extra charge for the hose and filters.

Needless to say, I went directly to cpap.com that day and ordered.

If you're going through insurance, your situation is different. Find out from your insurance company what DME's are covered, and what your co-pay will be. You may even find that the on-line price is less than your co-pay.

[BleepingBeauty]

When I woke up from my Study night with the CPAP machine, the Sleep Tech gave me a piece of paper with 4 or 5 companies on it and I was told to circle one of them as my preferred provider. I picked the one closest to my house. What the heck do I know about any of these companies. Can I use my prescription as a means to interview these other companies in my area? Seems like a pretty important decision and I would hate to be stuck with the company I circled if they are not helpful, nice, knowledgeable or know-it-all-ish.

Thanks in advance of your replies.

Still a Newbie and don't have equipment yet.

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Since you're brand-new to all of this, I advise you start reading as much as you can here, BEFORE you get your equipment. Start with the thread "Where a CPAP Newbie Should Start" near the top of the list of threads, and read the CPAP Wiki (lightbulb, top of the page).

Once you have your prescription in hand (and you should have a copy of it AND your sleep study results, to keep), you can go to any DME that contracts with your insurance. And yes, DO interview them before you decide who to go with. Many don't offer the kind of "service" we expect (and are entitled to), and it's important to find an equipment dealer who'll treat you well and work with you (to choose the right - FULL DATA REPORTING! - machine, fit you well with a mask that works for you, etc.).

It's nice that you have options (I have no choice in my DME; there's only one w/my insurance). Take advantage of that and find the DME that suits you best, regardless of how near or far they are from home. (My DME is 50 miles away, and my sleep doctor is over 100 miles away; we do what we gotta do and go where we gotta go. )

Many of us find that, even with insurance coverage, we can buy the machine we want from an online DME (like our host, https://www.cpap.com) and pay less than what our co-pay would be if we purchased from our local DME. There's real value in having a local DME fit you properly with a mask and get you started (if they offer you good service). There ARE good RTs and DMEs out there, but they seem to be way too few and far between. So, do your homework!

Good luck!

[Gerryk]

Interviewing the DME's is a great idea. You do not have to go with any one DME, you can have your pick of who ever you want. Remember if you have insurance, some may be in and some may be out of network.

Gerry

[Wulfman]

I interviewed some of the local ones in my area......both before and shortly after I obtained my CPAP prescription. Then, I purchased all of my equipment from CPAP.COM.


Den

[Ogre]

What I don't fully understand is why the DME's equipment costs so much more than it does at CPAP.com. Is it just because they can charge the insurance companies the huge fees? I don't have insurance and when my DME quoted a machine and mask to me I just about had a heart attack. I was lucky enough to find a used machine on Craigslist for $100. I also understand that the DME's are also providing you with fittings and all but damn, that is quiet a "fee" to go through them.

[Slinky]

Oy! We've all forgotten! Do you have an annual deductable? What is the fiscal year for the annual deductable. This being January you may well get stuck w/paying all or most all of the cost of your equipment and accessories if you have an annual deductable w/your insurance. Be sure to ask!

[el_zorro]

Just ask the doctor for your prescription and both sleep studies. They you should be able to interview and shop around for a DME that you like or buy your equipment online if you arent using insurance. Sometimes if you have a high deductable you can still save money online even if you forego your insurance.

[Slinky]

Local DME providers accept insurance. Insurance drives up their costs dramatically. There are multiple insurance companies to deal with, each w/their own forms, plus each insurance company has several or many different policies w/different benefit coverage. Local providers must have sufficient trained staff to handle the insurance forms and claims.

Insurance payments for the CPAPs themselves are usually made over a period of several months, 10 is about the average. So the local provider must shell out the money upfront to buy the stock to have on their shelves when the patients come in but will only receive reimbursment for them in dribbles over the next 10 months or so.

Given the lousy track record of so many local DME providers in providing proper mask fittings, education, support and advice ..... I didn't include them as a reason for the extra cost of buying from the locals.

[muskyjack]

Yes you should "interview" DME's because some are alot better than others. My doctor's office gave me a list of 4 DME's. By 4 simple phone calls I was able to eliminate 2 of them right away because they could not give me a straight answer to some basic questions like price, selection and if I could go to their office instead of getting "potluck" of what ever is in the truck from a in-home visit. Plus found out later one of the eliminated ones did not accept my insurance.

The list the doctor's office gave me was very adequate in listing the 4 closest/larger most commonly used DME's and the one I selected was very useful in getting a proper fitting mask and some supplies. Sure the items cost more than online but got some useful service in the fitting plus a 30 day mask exchange . The good service was worth the higher than on-line price which did not seem out of line like stories I read on this site about the other DME places.

Ended up going online to buy machine because could not see the point in "rent-to-own" being several times higher in cost than buying outright online.

[Rossiemo]

Thank you to all of you that took the time to answer my question. Actually went with the one I had on my list and they were great. My problem now is with the sleep center tech who supplied wrong information regarding my study. DME was concerned that the prescribed machine would not be comfortable for me based on this study. I will ask further questions and get back. Spent first night at home with machine (APAP) and I think did oK. My pressure was 9 to 17. I will list equipment soon.

Thanks again.