What do I do with complaints about DME?

[Morningglory]

Between being in a rural area and being on Medicare, I don't have tons of options for who to use for my cpap. I am using LIncare now, and I know I've read about a lot of others having problems with them as well. Most of my problems involve them not returning messages, claiming to never have the info I seek, etc.

They were shady while I was waiting to receive my machine, and I ended up talking to someone at the corporate office. They did get more helpful in response.

Now I have my machine but keep having difficulties with my mask (I'm pretty new to cpap and have a lot of questions). Tried to reach them last week without luck, and ditto so far this week. I could try a different DME, but I don't want to have to give up my machine and wait for another one.

Is there someone that regulates DMEs that I could talk to? Who else can I make a complaint with?

[Julie]

I certainly can't help with the DME (in Canada here), but we can probably help with the mask - what (in as much detail as poss) problems are you having??

[Pugsy]

You don't have to give up your machine just to use someone else for the masks.
Mask purchases aren't tied to a machine purchase.
The new DME will need some information about your diagnosis though and may need to contact your doctor but you can get masks from whomever you wish and still keep the machine under contract with first DME.
Just call up those in your area that work with Medicare and find out their mask swapping policy and see how agreeable they sound to maybe being more helpful.

As far as who to complain to....there's a reason that I called my local Lincare office ....LinIDONTcare.
They got fired before I could even get a machine from them...because they lied to me and that was enough for me to fire them straight away.

[LSAT]

Medicare Supplier directory...Just insert your zipcode....https://www.medicare.gov/SupplierDirectory/

As far as complaints, search out the Lincare Home Office and e-mail them...(Sometimes the home office is as bad as the locals)

[Madalot]

I feel your pain, morningglory. I, too, live in a rural area and am on Medicare. Being on the Trilogy makes it 10x worse because most DME's won't take me at all. I called EVERY local DME and was told no way (because of the Trilogy). The DME I am using now (my only other choice is Apria) is out of another state and they just lost their ONLY RT in my state. When I first started with them, they had 4 RT's in the office in my state. Now they have NONE and as far as I know, aren't planning on replacing the one they lost.

Good thing I can pretty much take care of myself because if I couldn't, I'd be SCREWED.

[Midnight Strangler]

keep having difficulties with my mask (I'm pretty new to cpap and have a lot of questions)

That's the kind of issues that this forum is good at helping with. Just start describing the problems and asking questions.

Most DME employees don't know crap about how to use the product they are selling.

[Morningglory]

Thank you guys for your help! I think at this point I need someone who can help me in person. I've posted here and received great input, but I haven't felt confident that I'm doing things right still.

I emailed my doctor to see if there is another place that could handle the masks. Great suggestion. I called their corporate office before when I had trouble getting the machine. It helped but not for very long.

[archangle]

Be sure to write your CongresScum and complain about the providers medicare uses. Your CongressScum doesn't really care, but nothing will happen unless enough voters complain.

[Captain Neon]

Be sure to write your CongresScum and complain about the providers medicare uses. Your CongressScum doesn't really care, but nothing will happen unless enough voters complain.

I was involved in politics for several years, and have friends in both the US majour parties as well as the usual minour parties. Money is the driver in politics. Elected officials respond to donations: BIG ONES. Anything else and it is just platitudes. Nobody drawing a checque for their political involvemnt will admit this publicly, but just check the FEC filings and the electoral outcome. It all boils down to who has the most money to spend. Elections are won by outspending opponents. Nobody really cares about constituent service, it's just a way to keep the peasants happy so a lot of money isn't wasted in a primary fight. No one would give a rodent's backside about what a certain Presidential candidate is saying were he not able to spend billions of dollars of his own money.

[mike1953]

Contact your state SHIP rep. If you had listed your location in you profile I could give you a phone number but since you have not done so you will have to look it up yourself. I have the information in my signature.

[KeepSmiling]

Between being in a rural area and being on Medicare, I don't have tons of options for who to use for my cpap. I am using LIncare now, and I know I've read about a lot of others having problems with them as well. Most of my problems involve them not returning messages, claiming to never have the info I seek, etc.

They were shady while I was waiting to receive my machine, and I ended up talking to someone at the corporate office. They did get more helpful in response.

Now I have my machine but keep having difficulties with my mask (I'm pretty new to cpap and have a lot of questions). Tried to reach them last week without luck, and ditto so far this week. I could try a different DME, but I don't want to have to give up my machine and wait for another one.

Is there someone that regulates DMEs that I could talk to? Who else can I make a complaint with?

I do not know what the return policy is for the mask return with this DME, but it sounds like they may be waiting for the (30 day or whatever ) is up so you are stuck with the mask.

I would deal with that first, so you are not out of a mask and spent money on it, the insurance may say you need to wait X amount of months for a new on.

I would email the local DME (CC a copy to the higher up and your insurance) asking for an appointment for a mask fitting because this one is not a good fit.

In the mean time where did you do your sleep study and/or titration. Can they help you with finding a mask that fits.

***

Another solution, talk to your insurance, find out how much they pay the DME for masks, ask them can they pay the same amount or less for online sales. It so insane the prices insurance is willing to approve for DMEs. I can/t way they can't dish out less for other places. The patients come out winners with less costs, the insurance should be happy dishing out less money.