Apria rental / purchase / maintenance

[GTOJim]

Does your state have a state insurance board? I might suspect collusion between Apria and the ins, co;
but that may not do you any good--corruption goes high.
Rat them out to BBB, and the local TV yellow journalists.
--Or you could do what I do--contact the guy in HR where you work--my guy is a pit bull!

Not sure if this is directed to me or the OP? Don't mean to steal this away from him.

As for the OP he paid the $50 to avoid being turned over to a collection agency.

I spent 4 to 5 hours on the phone resolving a verbal threat from Apria of my being turned over to a collection agency, hopefully the issue is now resolved. I can be a bit of a bull dog, fighting this kind of thing. Sometimes it's not the money, it's about the principal.

I made my post wondering how wide spread these billing errors might be? I doubt Apria only picks on me. Maybe most people feel it's not worth the hassle to deal with or haven't been aware of these small billing errors that seem to always favor Apria.

Currently I would think Apria would be given a good bit of latitude since they recently outsourced their billing department to India. As an excuse, they need time to get all the kinks worked out.

[rubymom]

Don't know anything about the original post or that issue, but will agree about Apria's billing. It took me about six months, but they finally got the message about one certain bill that I was NOT going to pay.

[DreamDiver]

Currently I would think Apria would be given a good bit of latitude since they recently outsourced their billing department to India. As an excuse, they need time to get all the kinks worked out.

Apria deserves no such lattitude. Outsourced labor is typical of their corporate cut-throat antics, probably thanks to the takeover by Blackstone, I suspect. Even before they were bought by Blackstone, Apria was a cheapskate, tactless, rude corporation that cared nothing for the people's lives they ''manage' -- only for their money. The few decent RT's that work for Apria have my sympathies. You'll find few people defending the corporation, though there apparently are a few standouts amongst their locally affiliated DME's.

This may be a harsh opinion, but it comes of a year of bad experience with Apria and the people they hired.

Respiratory therapy as a profession needs to stand up for their credibility by taking on the insurance/dme industry, getting better certification and internship practices, and demanding a pay structure similar to that of physical therapists -- independent of machine costs, supplies costs or the DME's with whom they are affiliated. Insurance companies need to look closer at the racket they have wrought for the sleep industry and come up with a more realistic model.

[carbonman]

Apria deserves no such lattitude. Apria was a cheapskate, tactless, rude corporation that cared nothing for the people's lives they ''manage' -- only for their money.

Well said.

In the process of researching, negotiating and moving my parents into the retirement community,
I learned that me, you, they, us....are just a commodity.
Be it supplying cpap equipment, elder care, medical care, etc.
is nothing more than a for profit exchange.

Only at the delivery level, at the human contact level, does it differentiate.
The RT that cares, the activities coordinator at the retirement home,
the food server in the dinning room, the nurse on the floor at the hospital,
only here, where their personal commitment to perform their job to
the highest level possible, is the human factor practiced.

[SnoozeButton]

What did you find out from Aetna?

From what I remember I called Aetna first and they gave me a list of "in network" dme's. It's important to call because their providers list can change during a contract year. I didn't know one dme from another, so I looked at location since it appeared that I would have to drive into a nearby (large) city. Based on ease of location (stupid reason I now know ) I started with Apria. Faxed them some paperwork. While I was waiting for approval I researched dme's online and discovered that Apria was poorly rated. They called back with approval and I then learned that I would be getting a barebones used machine and that it would be on perpetual maintenance. I would never own it.

Since I had not taken delivery or signed any paperwork, I decided to see what another dme would offer. Turned out American Home Patient was local. I called them and learned I would get a decent new machine (didn't ask about ownership). I set an appointment to fill out paperwork and pick up my machine. Meanwhile, I learned about APAP's and my dr. wrote a new script for one. AHP said Aetna would not approve it (baloney). That last phone called ended with a promise of a call back - hung up my phone, gathered my car keys, drove to the end of my driveway (live in the country) and my cell phone rang. It was AHP wanting to set up a pick up time for my new APAP .

I recently received a letter from AHP stating that the APAP was now mine and that any repairs are now my responsibility.

[tjoy]

I work for a DME and they are only allowed to charge this if they ACTUALLY checked the equipment with an appointment.
You are not obligated to pay and yes it is yours.

[Julie]

Replying to a 6 yr old post...

[chunkyfrog]

@tjoy:
Apparently, your lords have not yet shown you the REAL employees manual.

[garrett1812]

Old thread but great information, thanks!

I have Cigna insurance, who farms out sleep work to CareCentrix, who set me up with Apria for supplying a CPAP and supplies. I pay a fee every six months for leasing the machine, and for them to monitor usage (certain usage is required by Cigna). After that time, as I understand, I own the machine. If there is a single fee afterwards I will fight it, and thanks to seeing this information I will proactively call them at the end of my sixth payment to put it on the record I no longer want their services for equipment, maintenance, supplies etc. Nothing but headaches from Apira. Those people could not care less about you.