Has anyone used Apria Health Care? Whom do you recommend for DME in northern California?

[juliep]

I am meeting my sleep doctor next week to discuss my sleep study. I already received a letter from his attending that she recommends BiPAP. My initial prescription, which I got late last year, says Apria, but I can choose another supplier when I meet with him again next week.

So is Apria any good?

Whom do you recommend in northern California (San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland to Sacramento)?

[LSAT]

Apria Sucks..Avoid at all costs

[juliep]

LOL. Ok. I once read they were even called "Crapia"!

[chunkyfrog]

Crapria is a common moniker on this forum.
I used them for a month or so, but they demanded my credit card number--
and my insurance had neither deductibles nor co-pays.
(Why did they need my cc#?) Only one explanation--to enable fraudulent charges.
No, thank you.

[juliep]

Crapria is a common moniker on this forum.
I used them for a month or so, but they demanded my credit card number--
and my insurance had neither deductibles nor co-pays.
(Why did they need my cc#?) Only one explanation--to enable fraudulent charges.
No, thank you.

That sucks chunkyfrog. I guess that means I am going to avoid them too then. Thank you for the warning.

[Okie bipap]

You need to check with your insurance company and find out which DME suppliers are in their network.

[juliep]

Oh, I have another question I forgot to ask:

Can all DME suppliers get whatever supply I need?

For example, I thought ResMed Swift FX nasal pillows were good, but I tried a new one in my sleep study called Phillips Nuance Pro (with gel). Do I have to select supplier based on what they stock or can get?

Also, can you switch supplies when the time for replacement is due? Like, can I get nasal pillows sometimes, and then a full-face mask at another?

[juliep]

You need to check with your insurance company and find out which DME suppliers are in their network.

I use Medicare, which has a DME finder online. Almost everyone takes Medicare, but I will check. The problem is, I don't know how to narrow down their list. (Well, I tried calling one supplier multiple times and there was never an answer, so I crossed them off the list)

[Okie bipap]

You can use any of the DME suppliers on the list.

[chunkyfrog]

Medicare's list has a distance box if you need more choices--but farther away.
If you have specific supplies in mind, call before conducting business,
and eliminate any who will not answer the phone.

[Okie bipap]

If you are prescribed a bi-level machine, ask your doctor to specify the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAUTO.

[Pugsy]

Can all DME suppliers get whatever supply I need?

They can if they want to. Sometimes they don't want to.

can you switch supplies when the time for replacement is due? Like, can I get nasal pillows sometimes, and then a full-face mask at another?

You can switch types of masks and brands of masks each time you meet your replacement allowance time frame and want to get a mask.
You don't have to get the same mask as you got the last time.

[juliep]

If you are prescribed a bi-level machine, ask your doctor to specify the ResMed AirCurve 10 VAUTO.

Is that the best one for BiPAP?

[juliep]

Medicare's list has a distance box if you need more choices--but farther away.
If you have specific supplies in mind, call before conducting business,
and eliminate any who will not answer the phone.

LOL on that last part! I tried that with a one-off, individual shop, and they never answered.

I will remember to call the supplier and ask before telling my doctor which supplier to write on the prescription.

[juliep]

can you switch supplies when the time for replacement is due? Like, can I get nasal pillows sometimes, and then a full-face mask at another?

You can switch types of masks and brands of masks each time you meet your replacement allowance time frame and want to get a mask.
You don't have to get the same mask as you got the last time.

Good advice. Thank you. The problem is they don' replace the mask frame until 3 months and headgear until 6 months; but they nasal pillows and nasal mask cushions twice a month, and FFM's are once a month.

I never understood why nasal mask cushions are twice monthly, but FFM's are just once a month. Makes no sense.