Anyone else heard about ResMed stopping Internet sales?

[peppi]

I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. I'm going to get my CPAP settings next week.
I asked the clinic why I couldn't simply buy an auto adjusting machine like the ResMed S8 Vantage.
Then it would adjust automatically and I wouldn't need to be set up for any particular setting.

I was told that is a very expensive machine and most insurance companies wont cover it.
After I was priced out a lesser machine from the clinic I found the S8 on the net for $598.00. MUCH lower than their $1300.00 price.

I was then told as of OCT 1 ResMed was stopping sales of their machines on the internet and you will be forced to purchase from a brick and mortar store or clinic.

Is this true? If so, I think EVERYONE should BOYCOTT ResMed all together! We are hit with the worst economics since the depression and a company wants to double bang us?
I'm not one for government intervention but this is one issue I'm hoping the government will step in and stop.

Please tell me this in not true.

[johnnygoodman]

Howdy peppi,

I've not heard anything of this sort from Resmed. It could be true, but it would surprise me.

Johnny

[roster]

........I'm not one for government intervention but this is one issue I'm hoping the government will step in and stop.

........

The guv'ment is the one who created this mess. They ain't gonna fix it.

[billbolton]

and a company wants to double bang us?

That would be your clinic and/or insurer doing the "double banging"...

Cheers,

Bill

[jnk]

Well there IS already something about THESE statements at the ResMed site NOW that irritates me:

"In the future, we are concerned that some dealers may sacrifice patient care in order to cut costs. The risks are especially high with internet dealers . . . For example, we have . . . heard from patients who bought equipment online but were not told how to use it. We want to do what we can to protect patients from these situations . . ."
--http://www.resmed.com/us/dealers/intern ... nc=dealers

Say wha . . .? Well, then, what about those of us who experienced the exact opposite? A brick-and-mortar DME brought me the machine, but I didn't get help using it until I found the forum sponsored by an internet seller! What about THAT, ResMed? Just because the brick-and-mortars are SUPPOSED to be helpful, and are charging as if they were being helpful--that does not mean they ARE being helpful.

I, too, doubt ResMed would be stupid enough to only sell to brick-and-mortar DMEs. I don't even see how they could legally do so. They already seem to make it harder for internet sales with their minimum-advertised-price silliness.

So, I would rewrite ResMed's words above this way: "In the future, we are concerned that some brick-and-mortar dealers may sacrifice patient care in order to line their pockets. The risks are especially high with brick-and-mortar dealers . . . For example, we have . . . heard from patients who bought equipment from brick-and-mortar dealers but were given barebones machines and were then misled about the correct way to get good treatment. We want to do what we can to protect patients from these situations . . ."

For the record, I can't imagine myself ever recommending an OSA machine that Johnny wasn't allowed to sell, no matter how much I love the machines of that brand.

[Birddog]

Why does it always seem that whoever is bashing a compamy or threating to boycott a well known established company like Resmed has no track record of being around very long on the forums and looks like competitors trying to steer customers away from a well known established brand.

[elg5cats]

I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. I'm going to get my CPAP settings next week.
I asked the clinic why I couldn't simply buy an auto adjusting machine like the ResMed S8 Vantage.
Then it would adjust automatically and I wouldn't need to be set up for any particular setting.I was told that is a very expensive machine and most insurance companies wont cover it.After I was priced out a lesser machine from the clinic I found the S8 on the net for $598.00. MUCH lower than their $1300.00 price.I was then told as of OCT 1 ResMed was stopping sales of their machines on the internet and you will be forced to purchase from a brick and mortar store or clinic.Is this true? If so, I think EVERYONE should BOYCOTT ResMed all together! We are hit with the worst economics since the depression and a company wants to double bang us? I'm not one for government intervention but this is one issue I'm hoping the government will step in and stop.Please tell me this in not true.

peppi, I'm sorry you are running into such frustrations as you begin your treatment of sleep apnea. Just so you know your insurance most likely pays an agreed upon rate to the DME for your CPAP machine without any strings attached to brand or Auto vs. CPAP. Call the insurance number on the back of your insurance card and ask what your benefits/coverage for sleep apnea. You may have to assert yourself in your treatment and equipment acquisition. If your DME sends you home with a $500 machine rather than a $900 machine, the DME makes a larger profit. When I was looking for potential DME to get my ResMed Autoset II, one DME told me I would have to pay a $200 fee in addition to my insurance reimbursement and copayment. When I questioned the double dipping of such practices, the DME commanded "go buy it off the internet." Many of the members here can tell you detailed accounts of having to be assertive to get equipment you want to have. Continue to educate yourself here and be assertive with your DME or get the RX and purchase online.
elg5cats

[BleepingBeauty]

Well, then, what about those of us who experienced the exact opposite? A brick-and-mortar DME brought me the machine, but I didn't get help using it until I found the forum sponsored by an internet seller! What about THAT, ResMed? Just because the brick-and-mortars are SUPPOSED to be helpful, and are charging as if they were being helpful--that does not mean they ARE being helpful.

Tell it, jnk!

[Slinky]

... I asked the clinic why I couldn't simply buy an auto adjusting machine like the ResMed S8 Vantage. ...
I was told that is a very expensive machine and most insurance companies wont cover it.
After I was priced out a lesser machine from the clinic I found the S8 on the net for $598.00. MUCH lower than their $1300.00 price.

I was then told as of OCT 1 ResMed was stopping sales of their machines on the internet and you will be forced to purchase from a brick and mortar store or clinic. ...

Okay, Peppi, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you really are new to OSA. I can easily believe you are, given the horsepuckies you say you were fed by the "clinic" Because it is a familiar story fed to many of us in these apena support forums when we were first started on xPAP therapy. In fact, this line of BS and lack of support and education by the DME suppliers and sleep doctors is WHY the majority of us ended up seeking out these online apnea support fourms.

First, I am going to ask you were told this by your sleep clinic? And this sleep clinic ALSO sells CPAPs and CPAP supplies?

First thing Monday morning call your insurance company and ask them 1] what local DME suppliers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than one as that will give you more bargaining/negotiating room. 2] Ask just what your DME benefits are: a] annual deducatable and fiscal year for them, b] copays, c] some form of "capped rental" (rent to own), d] outright purchase, e] what brands and models they will pay for (do NOT express a preference or ask about specific brands or models!!!!), f] how much they are contracted to pay for a CPAP, g] would YOU be considered "in network" if YOU purchased a new CPAP out of pocket and submitted a bill w/paid invoice and proper HCPCS coding and would the insurance company reimburse you and at what rate or percentage?

Next, I would go straight to the horse's mouth. I would FAX, e-mail or call Resmed's toll-free number and tell them that your "clinic" (provide the name and city) told you that as of 01 Oct 2009 Resmed was instituting a new policy of refusing to sell Resmed xPAPs to online DME suppliers and ask if this is correct.

You will be doing, not only yourself, but other new xPAP patients a VALUABLE favor by getting this out in the open and if this "clinic" of yours was out and out right lying about the forbidding sales policy Resmed has the opportunity to set that "clinic" straight and it is vitally important that the xPAP manufacturers be made aware of the distasteful tactics of such local DME suppliers and clinics.

[Slinky]

Ooopsie!!! I FORGOT!

You should also call, FAX, e-mail or write to your sleep clinic where you had your sleep studies and ask for 1] the doctor's dictated results (1-2 pages each), 2] the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs (5+ pages each) for BOTH your in-lab sleep evaluation study AND your in-lab titration study as well as 3] your equipment order (prescription). These are all part of your medical records and assuming you are in the USA you have a LEGAL RIGHT to them under HIPAA.

And you should be aware that 1] most insurance companies pay for xPAPs by insurance (HCPCS) code, NOT by brand and model, 2] all CPAPs from bare bone, compliance data only, to fully data capable to fully data capable APAPs are HCPCS code e0601. Of course, the bare bone, compliance data only CPAPs cost the DME less than the more advanced CPAPs and APAPs, BUT they are ALL HCPCS code e0601. So the local DME supplier gets paid the same amount whether they provide a bare bone, compliance data only CPAP, a fully data capable CPAP or a fully data capable APAP. 3 years ago the difference between a bare bone CPAP and a fully data capable CPAP was around $40. AND they should NOT charge YOU one penny more than the insurance contracted amount and your copay. And watch the copay - I've read of some trying to charge the copay based on the BILLED amount (which is their pipe dream) rather than the ALLOWED (contracted) amount.

AND - Resmed, Respironics and Fisher & Paykel all will replace FREE to the local DME suppliers most any of their masks that a patient has tried and been unsuccessful with IF the local DME supplier will fill out a form and return mask and form to the manufacturer W/IN 30 DAYS.

I think I've covered the most blatant and common stunts some of these local DME suppliers pull on unsuspecting OSA newbies.

[jdm2857]

So, I would rewrite ResMed's words above this way: "In the future, we are concerned that some brick-and-mortar dealers may sacrifice patient care in order to line their pockets. The risks are especially high with brick-and-mortar dealers . . . For example, we have . . . heard from patients who bought equipment from brick-and-mortar dealers but were given barebones machines and were then misled about the correct way to get good treatment. We want to do what we can to protect patients from these situations . . ."

For the record, I can't imagine myself ever recommending an OSA machine that Johnny wasn't allowed to sell, no matter how much I love the machines of that brand.

The future is now.

[BlackSpinner]

Well since they stopped shipments to Canada my next machine or masks won't be a resmed anyway - so though I love the machine and mask they have already lost a customer.
Plus I will make sure that anyone else coming down with OSA that I now won't be buying a resmed machine.

Anybody know where I can get the filters? I could cut them down to the right size - I will be damned if I am going to pay $12 for 3 one inch square filters.

[Georgio]

What in the world has Resmed got against Canadians, or for that matter Americans? Incidentally, have they fixed their quality control issues on the Swift LT mask nasal cushions yet? They really could take a lesson from DevilBiss!

Georgio

[Hawthorne]

Filters for Resmeds - check cpapauction.com. There are brand new Resmed filters there sometimes. They are still shipping to Canada! You need to make sure the seller will ship to Canada AND via the postal service, to avoid Brokerage fees. It's just a matter of asking those 2 questions usually.

Maybe the OP heard that Resmed would no longer allow online sellers to ship to Canada and that has caused some confusion.

[peppilappu]

Since no one has heard of this, then I can only assume my clinic is making it up to force me to buy their machines.

So Ill call ResMed on Monday and get to the bottom of this.

YES I am new to the forum and I really do not appreciate people bashing me for being concerned about something my clinic told me.
I plan to buy an auto adjusting machine regardless if my insurance pays for it or not.
I'm still doing the research on the best valued machine. I really want the ability to have bi-Level AND Auto-adjust even if its too expensive for my insurance co.

I appreciate all those that did give me their opinions .

My real name is Phil and I am new to Sleep apnea and this forum. I have found this forum to be very educational but the personal bashing, I really can do without.

I'll report back once I hear from ResMed direct.

Thank you.