Sleep lab and DME games

[mayondair]

Thanks again everyone, I thought I would share this story about the DME I avoided because of this forum. The sleep lab that I had my diagnostic study called to say come in for another test, come in at 8 pm, not 10 pm like the first time. ENT doc never called. I arrive at 8 . Then the DME next door showed me how to use a CPAP and tried to get me to agree to sign up for m series brick for $2500! Oh and they said they were not the same buisness , completely separate, just a hallway between DME and lab.Take it home in the morning they said. The tritation did not go well, I did not sleep and no good numbers were obtained. Told them I was not making any decisions right now. It took 3 calls to get copies of my results from them. Their sleep doc recommended a trial with a bric and another tritation. What a croc! Never heard a word from my ENT doc. Needless to say I ran from that lab , ENT doc and DME as fast as I could. My neighbor used the same lab, they keep calling to get him to come and pick up a machine, saying his doc wants him to have it. Looks like some labs and DMEs play together.

[GumbyCT]

Thanks again everyone, I thought I would share this story about the DME I avoided because of this forum. The sleep lab that I had my diagnostic study called to say come in for another test, come in at 8 pm, not 10 pm like the first time. ENT doc never called. I arrive at 8 . Then the DME next door showed me how to use a CPAP and tried to get me to agree to sign up for m series brick for $2500! Oh and they said they were not the same buisness , completely separate, just a hallway between DME and lab.Take it home in the morning they said. The tritation did not go well, I did not sleep and no good numbers were obtained. Told them I was not making any decisions right now. It took 3 calls to get copies of my results from them. Their sleep doc recommended a trial with a bric and another tritation. What a croc! Never heard a word from my ENT doc. Needless to say I ran from that lab , ENT doc and DME as fast as I could. My neighbor used the same lab, they keep calling to get him to come and pick up a machine, saying his doc wants him to have it. Looks like some labs and DMEs play together.

"Looks like some labs and DMEs play together."
Yes and those are the ones to avoid.

Sounds like you've done well.

[Sillyme]

Congratulations. It's so easy to be intimidated if you haven't done your homework. Keep us updated.

[Janknitz]

Pat yourself on the back for not falling for that scheme!

I would let the sleep lab, sleep doctor, and referring doctor know--in writing--that you consider this to be an inappropriate collaboration because the "patient" is the one who ends up getting short-changed with inferior equipment before they have a chance to understand what's going on.

The reason it's important to be a squeaky wheel is that for every one of you who does a little self-education before walking into that trap, there are probably about 100 who don't realize what's going on and get stuck.

They'll probably come back with something like they were just trying to make it convenient and help you be sure you got the equipment ASAP, but if enough people squawk they might stop doing this.

[Kevin G.]

There is a local DME located in the same building. They are different companies and have different public entrances. They have the same ownership and apparently share the same bookeepers.

[Treesap]

Wow! I must be naieve because I'm flabbergasted they would try this. That is sooooo wrong on so many levels!

[jonquiljo]

I would let the sleep lab, sleep doctor, and referring doctor know--in writing--that you consider this to be an inappropriate collaboration because the "patient" is the one who ends up getting short-changed with inferior equipment before they have a chance to understand what's going on.

Not only would you have gotten outdated equipment, but you would have paid many times it's real value. Congratulations!

[Slartybartfast]

The sleep lab I went to actually is also its DME, so that's even worse. However, from what I've read here the past 6 weeks, I have to say the pulmonologist, and the sleep doc (different guys) and the sleep center they evidently jointly share an interest in, are first rate.

However I rebelled when the sleep doctor wrote the prescription and handed it to the sleep tech, who was already slitting the tape on a new box holding an S9 CPAP. At least they weren't trying to stick me with an older machine. The doc disappeared down the hall to his next patient and I told the sleep tech I didn't want a CPAP, but would only settle for an auto, and I wanted to choose which one I got. Sleep tech got huffy with me and I politely declined and politely left the lab, politely informing the front office gal that I'd be sending her a request for my prescription the next day. A few days later I received the machine I wanted, not the one the sleep tech wanted me to have.

[montana user]

Wow! I must be naieve because I'm flabbergasted they would try this. That is sooooo wrong on so many levels!

The sleep lab I started with ( private) did this same thing! The husband owned the sleep lab and his wife owned the DME. We were told to push the DME as hard as we could. Most of us did not do it, since it is one illegal, and second immorally wrong! The lab I run now is a hospital base and we do have a DME, but we make sure every patient knows they have a choice of providers. We even ask if they travel alot and if they do, we suggest using a national DME so they can get service no matter what state they are in.

[jonquiljo]

The sleep lab I started with ( private) did this same thing! The husband owned the sleep lab and his wife owned the DME. We were told to push the DME as hard as we could.

This is what's wrong with health insurance in the United States! Forget the stupid health care bill - this type of thing is the root of the problem - corruption and greed. You are not going to fix anything by paying people to have more of the same (with money we can't afford). You need to fix the root of the problem. Why do you think health care is so hard to afford in the first place?

[mayondair]

Sounds like I'm not the only onto encounter DME and lab playing together. I'm just glad they didn't rip me off, or my neighbor either. Thanks again all!