Lincare - equipment choice vent

[bailachel]

My Lincare rep just told me I couldn't have the new CPAP machine that I want (PR System one) because, per corporate policy, they only provide RESMED equipment. She said RESMED gives them the best deal and that if Phillips Respironics gave them a better deal they would use them too. I have nothing against RESMED but I have been using a PR System one since 2009 and am happy with it.

While I understand their need to make a profit, this is not how I want my health care determined. Surely they could just charge a price that provided them with an equal profit margin and then let the consumers decide if they want to pay it. I have now switched to a different DME company.

[packer]

I understand where you are coming from, but want to give you some info.. I have been resperonics for years -- pr1--
I too now find myself with lincare= but good news is that the new resmed airsense 10 is a great machine
used for couple months now and really like it
Mike

[Pugsy]

At least they were honest with you.
When I first started therapy a little over 6 years ago and went to my local DME, who happened to also be Lincare office, they were pushing F & P machines then and told me that they wouldn't give me a Respironics because they were crap machines. I fired them before they could give me the F & P brick they were pushing and ended up buying a machine privately and using another DME a little bit further drive for masks and other supplies. By the time I saw them I had found a machine privately and saved money but they told me they would have got the Respironics machine if that's what I wanted and they were selling ResMed at the time. They were still happy with my mask business though.

[SewTired]

Apparently varies by the office. My Lincare office primarily carries Resprionics machines . They had no problem ordering my Resmed device , they just don't stock it. The claim about corporate policy is just garbage. Good for you that you were able to go someplace else.

[bailachel]

I asked her if they could special order it for me and she said no. ah well. On to the next DME. I'm going to have to pay for it anyway because my deductible is higher than the cost of the machine. The only reason I want to get it through an in network DME is so that it will reduce the outstanding deductible.

[BlackSpinner]

Call you insurance company for a list of in network DME's then get on the phone with them to find one who will provide the service you want.
Make sure to let the old DME know why they lost a customer.

[MarylandCPAPer]

I switched to Lincare a little over a year ago because of an insurance change that didn't cover the DME I was with. At that time, I was about 9 months away from being able to satisfy the 5-year requirement for a new APAP machine. The respiratory therapist told me that the replacement machine I would get would be another PR System One Autoset machine.

I finally got around to getting a new machine last month. Now, the machine they provide is the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset. I asked for a "for Her" model and got it with no problem. I asked why they were no longer providing PR System One Autoset machines. The respiratory therapist said "because the Resmed A10 is newer and better." Someone there also said that they had a lot of problems with the humidifiers on the PR System One machines in recent years.

I am happy with the A10 and would have been happy with a PR System One Autoset as well. I think I may be getting better therapy with the Resmed A10.

Now I will add my vent about Lincare. When I went in to get my new machine, I took my PR System One machine with me. I wanted the last month's detailed statistics from the machine and the RT had trouble reading my card. He kept the card and sent me a summary, not what I wanted. Plus, he kept the SD card. This week, I have been calling asking for my SD card back. He evidently has sent me a new one. i want the old one with all my data from the PR System One. So, the morale of my vent is: Don't let your SD card out of your sight, definitely not more than a few minutes.

I finally figured out how to use Sleepyhead software and would love to compare results between the A10 and PR machines, but I doubt they will find that SD card.

[packer]

another thing I forgot to mention- make sure you demand good hose- the climateline -- or they will give you just plain hose-
I had to fight for good hose-- without it you are back to using heated hose cover like I had to do with pr1

the climateline [ or whatever right name is] is great-- save a lot of screwing around with hose cover- much less bulky etc

[MarylandCPAPer]

It will be easiest to get a heated hose if your doctor's CPAP prescription includes it.

[SewTired]

Again, I think it is an individual office issue. The PT that I had at Lincare ordered the heated hose without my even asking. I'd take your complaint to the regional manager or to the corporate office.