Change of Supplier under Medicare Rules?????

[patdart]

I'm a new user, and the company who my pulmonolgist sent me to fitted me out with a Basic Respironic Easy Sleep machine which works fine, but only recoreds compliance data and claim it's the only one they have or can get for me. I've checked with Lincare and they can get me the ResMed S9 in about a week. Of course the Doctor will have to specify it on the prescription he writes.

The technician/sales person I dealt with for the first one said I had no choice with then and I stupidly signed the forms for the Resprinoc machine. I've used it three nights and had a chance to check around and now would like to change since I'll be living with it for 7 years unless I buy a newer one along the way.

I need advice on how to get them to return this one and change dealers to get the Respironic machine. Do I call my doctor and get him to order another prescription and then tell them since they don't have it I want out of the contract? I've used it 3 nights and it does a fine job as far as I can tell, but gives me much less information for the furture.

Can anyone tell me steps I need to return the old one and get the S9? What have others done with a form of Buyers' Remorse?

Pat

[Nord]

This may be a legal issue about contract... get advice about that if it gets that far...

There are many New Members here who have begun in a similar way and have been able to negotiate/ or move the DME to a better place rather that by contract. There are many posts about DME's and their particular situation. Do a search for those Posts in this forum and I think you will find a lot of information that can help you.

Research and reading can take you some time...

Good luck
Nord

[xyz]

> it's the only one they have or can get for me

It's the only one that they _want_ to get you.
That's because their reimbursment from the insurance company is the same whether the machine they give you is good or bad.

> The technician/sales person I dealt with for the first one said I had no choice

That's the usual dirty trick.

> I stupidly signed the forms for the Resprinoc machine.

The crooked DMEs (not all of them) prey on new/inexperienced patients.

> I need advice on how to get them to return this one [3 days]

Just return it to them. Be sure to get a receipt.

> and change dealers

You can go to any DME approved by your insurance.

Technically speaking, you can go to any DME you want to if you are willing to pay for it yourself.
You need a prescription for a machine or a mask.

> Do I call my doctor and get him to order another prescription

Yes. Details matter! Have the prescription written with a brand and model number and "Do not substitute" written on it. Get a heated humidifier. Insurance will usually not pay for a card reader and software, but those are lower cost items that you can buy yourself. (cpap.com is a good website.)

If the old DME gives you a hard time tell them that you are going to: contact an attorney, report them to your state medical board, send a grievance letter to your insurance company telling them of the DMEs practices, report them to the Better Business Bureau, and give them the lowest possible rating on yelp.com. If they play hardball with you, then they get what they deserve.

The key pertinent fact here is that they know exactly what they are doing, and why. And they do it every day to someone else. This forum is filled with similar unfortunate stories. Congratulations to you for finding this website and educating yourself.

[AirBreather]

I would ask your doctor to specify "ResMed S9 AutoSet" in a new prescription and to sign it with "DISPENSE AS WRITTEN" under the doctor's signature. Then take the new prescription to your supplier and ask them to fill it. If they are not able or willing to, return the machine they provided and go to any supplier who will fill the prescription as written and bill Medicare.

[GumbyCT]

I think many states have a buyers remorse clause for things like this. Have you read what you signed yet?

I am surprised that one of the many, many, RT's who came here under the guise of wanting to help have not even offered a thought.

I think you need to tone down that S9 request for Medicare. But my advise it worth just what you paid for it

[Joe..Cool]

I am the process of doing what you are talking about.

Short version is I talked to my doctor about wanting to take care of my treatment with his help and told him that I would like this machine(which ever one you want) do to the features it provides. I even showed him it online, he was impressed that I took all that time to research info and wanted to keep track of my progress. He wrote the script and next week I get my machine.

[patdart]

I called Lincare today and they tell me they can supply me with that machine if my doctor specifies it in a prescription after I use one of their basic machines for a month to meet Medicare's compliance rules of 30 days beginning when they get the order and deliver it. I then called my doctor's office and they told me they'd fax the sleep study report to Lincare and a new prescription for the machine today. We shall see how fast that works. Meanwhile they told me to continue using the other machine until I have in hand the one from Lincare and then let them know and they'd have my doctor send them an order to pick the other one up and discontinue the order. I'm not too sure how that will work, but I can drive it over to them at that time per their request. But, apparently the doctor can change his prescription and his word will be law to them.

I'm hoping it is this simple, but only time will tell. I'll lose the time on the other machine, but that's okay...I've had 28.4 hrs of sleep on it in 3 nights and that's a winner for sure. Since it's been so successful for me, I 'almost' feel guilty, but not too much so. Lincare and I have a happy past and I know nothing about the new provider except they don't deliver to my area.

Cross your fingers for me that it will go this smoothly...I didn't specify the humidifier or say Auto with it. Should I have and will that be an error? Maybe I'll have a chance before it's ordered...

[kevincoop]

I am more than happy to tell the other company that their services or product stinks so their patient is coming over to us. Heck, I'll even take it to them and get the paperwork signed.
Kevin

[Slinky]

NO! Do NOT take your current device to Lincare. Just take it back to the provider and tell them that you do not want it and are refusing it. Make them provide you w/a receipt for its return. They will probably have a notation that you have refused therapy. Don't worry about it. March over to Lincare the same day and get your 30 day loaner.

One provider delivered a Respironics pre-M Series Plus late on a Friday afternoon. I called them first thing Monday morning and told them I was returning it. They told me I couldn't return it w/o a doctor's order!!!! Oh yeah??? I was in their office w/in 15 minutes w/all their equipment. Got a receipt for returning it, drove straight to the sleep lab and told them what had transpired and that I would NOT accept anything less than a fully data capable CPAP. A script for the Resmed S8 Elite was FAXed over to another DME provider my insurance was contracted with and I got my Elite and accessories. They turned out to be sheisters - but at least I got an excellent fully data capable CPAP and I switched providers for my masks and accessories until my capped rental for the Elite was completed and then switched over completely to the new provider who I've been happy w/and who have been good to me.

[kevincoop]

I agree with slinky that I would march in there with my machine. But, some people do not like confrontation and the current company may hassle you. I wouldnt just leave my machine with lincare and let them take over, I would just let them be the bad guys.

[patdart]

I had planned to return the first one to the provider as they do not service the area. So, thanks to you both, I will personally return the unit.

Thanks,

Pat