my spin on why resmed won't sell autoscan in USA

[gster]

they probably read a lot of posts in here and said to themselves:

"we do not want any part of these junior sleep lab technicians in this forum. so let's not sell autoscan in the USA."

[KeziasPurr]

I personally think it sucks. (Excuse my language). We pay good money for their equipment (more than other brands) and they won't sell us the whole package. And why sell it in Australia and not here? There are many Aussies who are in this forum who could be seen as "junior sleep lab techs" (as gster mentions above). I don't know............it just irks me.

[neversleeps]

I think it sucks, too. They used to sell it here. I'm not sure what lurks in the mind of Peter Farrell to have singled out the United States. He obviously doesn't want the U.S. CPAP internet retailers and their customers to have the same advantages as the Australian CPAP internet retailers and their customers. But, why?

He doesn't seem to mind living here in the United States; he just doesn't want to sell to us. Go figure.

Does anyone know if you can buy Resmed software from European or Asian internet retailers? I'm curious to know the extent of Resmed's selective exclusionary sales practices.

[Slinky]

Resmed's about face surprised me some since they were way ahead of Respironics in providing the Advanced Patient menu w/the Efficacy Data (average Pressure, Leak, AHI, AI and HI data) and the Usage Data (number of nights the machine has been used, number of hours used and hours used that night) via their good size, easy to read LED screen. Of course, they also left it up to the discretion of the ordering doctor whether to give access to that Advanced Patient menu.

Of course, I don't think there are too many sleep doctors that even know what machines can do what and were even aware that some of the Resmeds offered the Advanced Patient menu so never scripted its availability for the patient. Many of these doctors just script the pressure(s) and leave it up to the DME to decide which machine to provide and even to provide the compliance data to the doctor.

[Wulfman]

they probably read a lot of posts in here and said to themselves:

"we do not want any part of these junior sleep lab technicians in this forum. so let's not sell autoscan in the USA."

This doesn't explain why ResMad put the ka-bosh on U.S. sellers selling their products outside of the U.S. almost two years before.

I think it's more logical that the brick & mortar DMEs were screaming at ResMad to do something about the difference in pricing between the Internet sellers and the b & m sellers. They just came down with a "heavy hand" on all of their products. This is why you see so much hostility towards ResMad on this forum. They're trying to cater to the b & m's even though (supposedly) the Internet sales only made up a small part of the sales.

Has anybody else noticed (recently) how many new users on this forum are relating how their DMEs are really pushing ResMad machines? Something's going on.....

"Follow the money". If they REALLY cared about the ultimate users (US), they'd be cutting prices to get as many of these machines to the needy users as possible. More volume = more income.

At least Respironics is "looking the other way" with reference to their software sales. At the present time I BELIEVE they've looking at our interests a little more favorably. (unless or until they change their policies)


Den

[TGregg]

ResMed's new policies seem to be aimed at keeping as much choice, money and power in the hands of the medical biz and out of patients hands as much as possible.

The real fact is, health insurance companies are wasting massive amounts of money on OSA. Whether it's uneeded testing in a lab or no-value added DMEs charging an arm and two legs, this industry is ripe for a reevaulation and price controls. Take me for instance, I knew I had OSA before testing. But I had to see a doctor, and take a test at a lab. That test cost over $1400, and most folks have to do two. Surely an in-home test would have been a whole lot cheaper.

And holy moly, my DME is apparently charging a small fortune to set me up. I could get the stuff OL here at CPAP.com for about half the price. Whether it's five bucks for a single resmed s8 filter (6 for $14 OL) or over $30 for a hose ($10 OL), it appears my insurance company would save a lot by letting me manage my therapy.

The number one effect from the pricing policy is that DMEs can sell ResMeds and rake in the dough without patients realizing how overpriced this equipment is. This makes ResMed the ultra-super preferred brand for DMEs, where the vast majority of equipment sales are made.

As for the software, I guess that's the same thing to the doctors. Meaning, keeping the software out of the patients hands means patients have to go to the doctor and pay him to read their data.

Buncha #@&^ thieves.

[Rabid1]

I talked with my sleep doc last week and he had a different take on ResMed's policy change.

He said ResMed wants CPAP's & supplies to be available to the general public without a prescription. When the FDA balked at that, ResMed's strategy was to raise their prices and make their products more difficult to obtain online. They are basically saying "if you won't let us sell our products the way we want, we will make the government pay through the nose".

That explains the reason for the discrepancy from the US compared to the rest of the world.

[TGregg]

I talked with my sleep doc last week and he had a different take on ResMed's policy change.

He said ResMed wants CPAP's & supplies to be available to the general public without a prescription. When the FDA balked at that, ResMed's strategy was to raise their prices and make their products more difficult to obtain online. They are basically saying "if you won't let us sell our products the way we want, we will make the government pay through the nose".

ResMed wants to put the power in the hands of the people, but since the feds won't let them, they stopped selling their card readers and software to the public?

And your doctor believes this? Yikes.

EDIT: That's not to say that ResMed never lobbied to have CPAP equipment removed from the FDA prescribed list, they may well have and could still be doing so. However their pricing and marketing policies are clearly not part of that effort. Rather than sell openly to anybody they restrict the sale of software and readers, despite the fact that the FDA does not require this.

[blarg]

They're trying to cater to the b & m's even though (supposedly) the Internet sales only made up a small part of the sales.

"Follow the money". If they REALLY cared about the ultimate users (US), they'd be cutting prices to get as many of these machines to the needy users as possible. More volume = more income.

I think if you look at both of those statements, you'll see what they see. They're catering to B & Ms BECAUSE it gets them more volume.

That's my hypothesis anyway.

[rested gal]

Has anybody else noticed (recently) how many new users on this forum are relating how their DMEs are really pushing ResMad machines? Something's going on.....

yep.

[TGregg]

Has anybody else noticed (recently) how many new users on this forum are relating how their DMEs are really pushing ResMad machines? Something's going on.....

yep.

My DME even said they used to suggest Respironics machines, but now they do F&P or ResMed and prefer ResMed.

[Wulfman]

Has anybody else noticed (recently) how many new users on this forum are relating how their DMEs are really pushing ResMad machines? Something's going on.....

yep.

My DME even said they used to suggest Respironics machines, but now they do F&P or ResMed and prefer ResMed.

I repeat......SOMETHING'S going on......

So much for going into a B & M and asking to do a trial for a month or three on all three brands of machines.

Who said this wasn't a cutthroat business?

Den

[TGregg]

They're trying to cater to the b & m's even though (supposedly) the Internet sales only made up a small part of the sales.

"Follow the money". If they REALLY cared about the ultimate users (US), they'd be cutting prices to get as many of these machines to the needy users as possible. More volume = more income.

I think if you look at both of those statements, you'll see what they see. They're catering to B & Ms BECAUSE it gets them more volume.

That's my hypothesis anyway.

Plus, which group would you rather be in? Ones who sell online and compete partially on price, where profits are low, customers very informed and competition fierce? Or through DMEs to a captive audience at massive profit? If you are selling OL, and some problem shows up in a widely distributed product, everybody will know and remember. But if you sell to the quiet majority that don't read the forums, they'll never know. The DME certainly won't spill the beans.

Fact is, for the short term ResMed's "Bring Big Bucks to B&Ms" strategy will work. They'll be able to deliver inferior products at much higher prices, and only patients who do their homework will get the better machines.

[blarg]

They'll be able to deliver inferior products at much higher prices, and only patients who do their homework will get the better machines.

I just want to be very clear that I don't think ResMed's machines are inferior. They just should be equally priced IMHO.

And ANY business is a cutthroat business. It's business.

An easy way to debunk your doctor's theory is to ask a simple question of our Aussie board members. Do you have to have a scrip to buy a ResMed machine in Australia? If so, then they should be punishing the Aussie government just like they're punishing the US gov.

[TGregg]

I don't think ResMed's machines are inferior. They just should be equally priced IMHO.

. . .

An easy way to debunk your doctor's theory is to ask a simple question of our Aussie board members.

I agree that ResMed's machines are not inferior. Not yet, anyway, merely pointing out that their new model will allow them to become so. I really do like my S8 Elite.

But it's Rabid1's doctor's theory about punishing the government, not mine.