Billing charge for S9 monitoring feature

[Anfield8]

Hi Everyone,

We just got an S9 Autoset for my husband yesterday. The DME charged for the machine, then further down the list they charged for "monitoring feature/device stand alone/integrated any type" $600. The DME tech said it was for the SD card. Thought this was all part of the machine and so should be billed as one item....what could they charge for next I'm wondering? Has anyone had any experience with this? I know DME's bill for the headgear/tubing/filters separately. Our insurance is Triwest and I saw on their DMEPOS schedule, Apnea monitor with recorder but has no allowance for it....don't want to be stuck with a $600 bill for a $20 SD card !!! Any help from you would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[justcaring]

Just remove the option from your quote and go get a SD card yourself. We can show you how to download and recreate data online.

[mcdad]

$600 for card / monitoring...

Sounds like they are on crack.

[Mebake]

The SD card is standard equipment! How much was the total machine? $600.00 for a SD card is ridiculous. I hope they have a better explanation than what you were given. Are they charging you to monitor the data? There are also attachments that send the data automatically to the DME. I think I would speak to someone more important than a tech. If your DME is a chain I would talk to a regional or area representative. Also maybe the Better Business Bureau. As for paying $600.00 bucks for an SD card that is standard equipment for the S9 I would tell them to keep it and buy my own.


Good luck and don’t settle you’re the customer

[elena88]

I would run screaming like my hair was on fire away from this dme..



do a little research, find a new one asap.

[jdm2857]

Does your S9 have a ResTraxx module installed? ResTraxx is a device that allows your DME or MD to monitor your therapy remotely. It is wireless and uses AT&T's wireless network. It is a small black box that attaches to the back of the S9 and has an antenna sticking up. Here's ResMed's ResTraxx info:

http://www.resmed.com/us/products/restr ... clinicians

[Anfield8]

Thanks for your replies.
Have spoken to the DME admin this morning...who had spoken to their billing office in another city in the state...and this is what she got from them....this is the charge for the monitoring device(apparently inside the machine - not I think the SD card), if we choose return the S9 and get an Intellipap (which was offered to us before, but we insisted on the S9) they can remove the monitoring device from that and we won't get charged...either that or WE pay the $600 if the Insurance won't cover it.
We already have the machine, my husband used it last night and it worked well...very quiet, much to my liking. We do not have the ResTraxx on it...which if we did THEN I would expect the extra charge. The total charge for the machine was $1750......but I don't want to have to pay the 20%...and the $600 which I think should be covered as part of the machine.
Can anyone tell me also what prices their DME's billed for their S9's - just the machine...is my price low ?(LoL)

[mcdad]

Monitoring device in the Machine????

I think they gave you a canned answer.

The only devices I have seen is the mentioned SD card and the RESTRAX.

I'd call their bluff and ask them what model device is installed.

You can also say you need to know for your home owners insurance or to make sure your wireless internet or cordless phones interfere with it.

And if its wireless it should have some kind of FCC statement or documentation with it.

I bet they can't tell you it.

I also bet that the DME is not authorized by RESMED to install anything internally?

Sounds real fishy.

[FoxNewsFan]

I bought a new S9 with humidifier, hose, case for $525 from cpapauction.com

Ed

[Janknitz]

I agree with McDad. Tell them you want the brand and serial number of the device installed for tracking. I'll bet they can't come up with this info.

Meanwhile, look around for another DME (make sure any new DME is covered by your insurance) and return the machine to these jerks. Let them pull that bunk on some other sucker.

[Uncle_Bob]

send me the card i will do it for $300

[elena88]

this is what my NEW dme does..

they check they internet for the price that day online.... cheapest price,

they sell it to you for that..

and they are brick and morter down the street, so I can try on tons of masks and borrow machines..

this is cash price, I just bought a mask that way, cash, but they will send along info to insurance to apply what I paid to my deductable...

[mcdad]

I found this RESMED site that list all compliance and monitoring for the S9.

http://www.s9morecomfort.com/s9morecomf ... ement.html

So you can call your DME on their $600 device claim.

Insurance fraud comes to mind

[akcpapguy]

In the past both Resmed and Respironics PAP machines could be ordered in any configuration without the card module. So many DME's began billing for the card module, insurance companies would deny the charges and the patient would be responsible. After a short time some DME's became wise and decided this wasn't the best option for customer service and stopped this practice. Fast forward to today, and while I can't speak for Resmed, you can still order Respironics PAP's without the card module and humidifier.
Some DME's have started the practice of billing for the card module once again. Generally I have seen this trend in Mom and Pop DME's who wanted to grow client base and started to acceptMedicare assignment, and are now sitting on unpaid claims and in financial crunch.

So Illegal...NO......Poor customer service.....YES

[Anfield8]

Update - After taking down all the great information I was given by everyone, I contacted my insurance and they confirmed they wouldn't cover the "monitoring device". I then spoke to Resmed who were very helpful and said the billing code the DME were using was for the ResTraxx module, and the unit itself did not have anything that could be removed or charged for separately. Finally I called the DME's head office billing section, to ask the questions about the serial # and device installed, (which she said she couldn't tell me, because the paperwork hadn't reached her yet - snail mail I guess). After a discussion about the billing codes and telling her that Resmed said the code was for the ResTraxx, she adamantly said that they were billing correctly and nothing could be done. My reply to that was "well, in that case I have two options - bring the whole machine back to you or contact my insurance and tell them there might be a case of fraudulent billing happening" and told her I would contact her later in the week when she had our paperwork. Ten minutes later she calls back saying they were cancelling the charge for the "monitoring device and it would not be billed" !!! I confirmed this with the local office. BUT I still have to wait for them to bill Triwest......and hope they will not try to pull a fast one......but if they do...I will be putting my words into action about the fraud item. After they complete the billing ....we will never go near this place again....we opted to buy the machine...thankfully.
Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped us......its so good to have such great advice and support from you all.