DME Integrity Question

[Grand-PAP]

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[chunkyfrog]

Over a hundred hours extra?
I agree that might exceed the testing run the shopor factory would do during setup.
It's also not a lot of time. With Medicare, you could have done a lot worse.

[Janknitz]

"With Medicare, you could have done a lot worse."

I'm not sure what you mean--Medicare pays for new machines--what the dme provided may have been "gently used"--that has nothing whatsodver to do with Medicare My guess is someone tried this machine and returned it. Hopefully the DME cleaned it before passing it on to you.

[LSAT]

"With Medicare, you could have done a lot worse."

I'm not sure what you mean--Medicare pays for new machines--what the dme provided may have been "gently used"--that has nothing whatsodver to do with Medicare My guess is someone tried this machine and returned it. Hopefully the DME cleaned it before passing it on to you.

What is there to clean besides putting in a new filter?

[Randyp1234]

"With Medicare, you could have done a lot worse."

I'm not sure what you mean--Medicare pays for new machines--what the dme provided may have been "gently used"--that has nothing whatsodver to do with Medicare My guess is someone tried this machine and returned it. Hopefully the DME cleaned it before passing it on to you.

What is there to clean besides putting in a new filter?

Water tank???

[Slinky]

Yep, 220 vs 80 hrs says this PAP had had some patient use before you received it.

On the other hand, as ChunkyFrog said, 100 hours on a CPAP machine really is nothing. Many of these devices have worked well for 10 and even 12 years. Even most insurances and Medicare won't consider replacing a PAP for at least 5 years under normal circumstances.

HOWEVER, I DETEST those who try to take advantage of my "ignorance" and I sure as hale would let this DME know that I was wise to the stunt they pulled and that they sure as hale OWED me better service in the future and that I would be double checking everything they say and do in the future.

I certainly do NOT understand ChunkyFrog's comment: "With Medicare, you could have done a lot worse". Medicare is my primary and I've been provided w/a brand spanking new 0 hours on it Resmed VPAP Auto in March of 08 (they were first released in January of 08) and previous to that a spanking brand new Resmed S8 Elite w/1 hr on it (in October 06). Medicare EXPECTS to pay for NEW devices, NOT used devices.

[Grand-PAP]

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[Slinky]

If they don't shape up, ship 'em out. Always be diplomatic but don't be bashful about checking w/your insurance first and then dumping them. And don't be bashful about letting them and everyone else know WHY you decided to dump them.

Meanwhile, tho, once they know you are on to their sleezy trick you kinda have them by the short hairs and under normal circumstances they should bend over backward to keep you happy.

I was too far into my Medicare capped rental of my Resmed S8 Elite to just dump my original DME provider but that didn't stop me from getting my supplies and accessories from a different local DME provider until the capped rental was completed at which time I made sure that the sheisters knew they were fired and why.

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe others have had better experience than what I've heard locally.
Personally, I don't expect much around here--i would be delighted to be wrong.

[archangle]

On most insurance plans you're on a "rent to own" plan for the first few months. If it doesn't work out, you return the machine and only pay a monthly rental fee. Rental is in YOUR favor if it doesn't work out.

Why would you expect a rented machine to be brand new?

[rested gal]

Why would you expect a rented machine to be brand new?

Well, because it is supposed to be brand new. The "rent" is simply the way the purchase payments for a new machine are divided out over time. Medicare expects to be paying for a brand new machine, I'd think? The only reason (well, maybe not the only reason) Medicare doesn't pay the full agreed upon price up front to buy the machine outright is because so many people do "quit CPAP."

Monthly payments toward the purchase is better from Medicare's standpoint. They check for compliance and that the user is getting benefit from the therapy (as reported by a doctor) during those first crucial months. Then, Medicare either continues paying on the purchase price, or...won't keep paying on the purchase price if the person doesn't meet their compliance requirements. But I do think Medicare assumes the payments are for a NEW machine. ( Medicare probably really doesn't care, though. ) It's up to the consumer to educate himself/herself about all this stuff.

As the others have said, 100 hours is "young" as CPAPs go, but does mean someone else almost surely did use it for awhile. It's still "like new", but it ain't really "new" as in "never-been-used-before."

I'd want a brand new one, just as a matter of principle. But it might not be worth the hassle to insist on that. That machine is still a "young'un."

[tomjax]

Check the premise of your question.

DME integrity is an oxymoron


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