How much of a premium would you pay for a local DME?

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:42 pm

From some of the posts I've read about crummy DMEs I'm guessing the answer for some is even $0.00 would be too much.

I live in the SF Bay Area and have a number of CPAP only DME's to choose from.

One sounds like they have really great customer service, but they want $1100 for a a Resmed S8 Vantage HH or Respironics A-Flex "with mask"--though seems like they have an incentive to cheap out on the mask given the variability in price--though they'll exchange it for another within 30 days at no extra charge. They'll also let you come in to the store and hear how loud the units are and such so you can know in advance.

Another wants $1000 for a Respironics HH with a Nasal mask--but they haven't called me back yet (bad DME, no biscuit...) or 920 for a ResMed S8 Vantage HH.

I'm sold on the idea that cpap.com will be a great source for some if not all of my CPAP needs going forward but I haven't decided how much a local DME will be worth. Right now the delta seems to anywhere from a small savings (thanks to ResMed jacking up the rates with Mandatory Minimums) to about $350 more for a ResMed via a local DME. Not too bad but I don't just want to throw that money away. I kind of wish I could just pay for advice by the hour rather than pay an additional mark up...

How much, if anything, would you pay for a local DME?I

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roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:03 pm

ApNoob wrote:............

How much, if anything, do would you pay for a local DME?

Bob: Did you hear about the new local pub where for $2 you get lunch, a tall beer and then they take you .........

Oh never mind.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): DME

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:53 pm

I'd be willing to pay them what they are worth, would $1.00 be too much? In the case of mine that would be too much. Jim

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:14 pm

Did you mean how much would I pay FOR one, or how much would I pay to GET RID OF ONE????

Sorry, couldn't resist that one......
Just my experience..

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:14 pm

From some of the stories I've read it seems some of the DME's wouldn't even be worth a discount over a good web seller like cpap.com. I'm hoping that the independent CPAP specialist in my area will be better than the average giant corporate DME.

Somni Health and CPAP Success both seem like solid providers who work one on one with patients. I still haven't decided but what I do know is to stay away from giant suppliers like Apria--there is no benefit to me as a cash patient to using them as far as I can see, just downside. I figure if the phone isn't answered by a human it isn't the provider for me...

It seems like living where I do gives me more options than a lot of cpaptalk posters have given how much lousy service people seem to get in their locales. If I can get excellent service from one of these "boutique" vendors without losing my shirt I'm thinking it may make sense for my first purchase.

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snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:28 pm

I have to disagree with you. I live in a populated area with plenty of DME choices yet any amount of money for one is too much. They are useless, and lie to you. Better to get your stuff online and deal with it yourself and with the help of this board.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:47 pm

When I was about to start this "adventure in sleeping", I couldn't figure out WHY I would need a local DME. I STILL can't after 2 1/2 years. I purchased all of my equipment from CPAP.COM and haven't looked back.
I was prepared to purchase all of it with my own cold, hard cash if necessary......but my insurance provider DID reimburse me for 80% of my out-of-pocket purchase (which was actually MY money from premiums taken out of my paycheck each month).

Den

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:48 pm

snoregirl wrote:I have to disagree with you. I live in a populated area with plenty of DME choices yet any amount of money for one is too much. They are useless, and lie to you. Better to get your stuff online and deal with it yourself and with the help of this board.

Well, I'm only "supposing" at this point And input like yours is what I'm interested in.

I think my biggest worry is mask fit. The doc suggested a comfort gel or activa but that wasn't based on measurements or anything and the cpap.com system didn't include either of those in the ones that they would recommend based on my measurements.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:55 pm

Because I've spent a lot of time on this board, I seem to know way more than any of the DME's and DME reps I've talked with. I stopped in to chat with one that's rather new and is local. They were eager to learn (the RT, the manager, and another employee were there). They were writing down the names of masks I knew about and they hadn't heard of, what these mask were good for, plus the name of the Papillow.

So, how is it that I work at a job more than 40 hrs a week at a day job (cpap is my main hobby right now) and here are three people who work at providing cpaps 40 hrs a week, and I know more than they do?

My conclusion: They should pay me

What do medical consultants charge per hour? .

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Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:06 pm

I'm bucking the trend here, but I'm inclined to go along w/your thinking, ApNoob. IF you find a local DME supplier that you find helpful, you feel comfortable with, feel some confidence in and they will work w/you and maybe even negotiate some prices, go w/them. Get that mask that works for you via their exchange policy. In the future you can go the saving route at cpap.com.

The key is your gut instinct about how much you can rely on their expertise and advice.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:51 pm

RosemaryB wrote:Because I've spent a lot of time on this board, I seem to know way more than any of the DME's and DME reps I've talked with. I stopped in to chat with one that's rather new and is local. They were eager to learn (the RT, the manager, and another employee were there). They were writing down the names of masks I knew about and they hadn't heard of, what these mask were good for, plus the name of the Papillow.

So, how is it that I work at a job more than 40 hrs a week at a day job (cpap is my main hobby right now) and here are three people who work at providing cpaps 40 hrs a week, and I know more than they do?

My conclusion: They should pay me

What do medical consultants charge per hour? .

At this point in time you aren't qualifyed, you need shock treatments (EST), to forget what you know about CPAP, and you would need to take a course in "Bullshitting", then you could earn that consulting fee. Jim

stevoreno · Post by **stevoreno** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:57 pm

If you did purchase a new machine through CPAP.com with a doctor's prescription order would your machine be shipped to you already set at whatever pressure setting your doctor ordered and if it would how would you know what the pressure setting was on your new machine once you received it from CPAP.com since you wouldn't be dealing directly with a local DME? Do the new machines have a display on them which will let you know what your machine setting is when you unpack it and fire it up for the first time? Will you know what your machine's setting is later at any given time?

My CPAP machine is an 8 years old Sullivan V Series which I got from a local DME who would check my machine out once a year with their machine of some kind which would let their tech know and me know what my machine's setting was when they checked it out. My machine's setting since I got it for the first time in August 1999 is "16". In 3 weeks I'm scheduled to have a new 2 night sleep study test and hopefully I'll be able to get a new machine and a new humidifier as well.

Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
10/04/07

ApNoob · Post by **ApNoob** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:23 pm

Stevoreno wrote:If you did purchase a new machine through CPAP.com with a doctor's prescription order would your machine be shipped to you already set at whatever pressure setting your doctor ordered and if it would how would you know what the pressure setting was on your new machine once you received it from CPAP.com since you wouldn't be dealing directly with a local DME? Do the new machines have a display on them which will let you know what your machine setting is when you unpack it and fire it up for the first time? Will you know what your machine's setting is later at any given time?

Well, I'm probably getting Respironics with A-Flex, so I'm hoping that I can check the settings with help from the CPAP hackers at cpaptalk.com--otherwise I'd really have to use a local DME.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:31 pm

Stevoreno wrote:If you did purchase a new machine through CPAP.com with a doctor's prescription order would your machine be shipped to you already set at whatever pressure setting your doctor ordered and if it would how would you know what the pressure setting was on your new machine once you received it from CPAP.com since you wouldn't be dealing directly with a local DME? Do the new machines have a display on them which will let you know what your machine setting is when you unpack it and fire it up for the first time? Will you know what your machine's setting is later at any given time?

My CPAP machine is an 8 years old Sullivan V Series which I got from a local DME who would check my machine out once a year with their machine of some kind which would let their tech know and me know what my machine's setting was when they checked it out. My machine's setting since I got it for the first time in August 1999 is "16". In 3 weeks I'm scheduled to have a new 2 night sleep study test and hopefully I'll be able to get a new machine and a new humidifier as well.

Stevoreno
Biloxi, Mississippi
10/04/07

CPAP.COM sets your machine according to your prescription. The pressure is displayed in the LCD screen when it's started.
If you get an Auto and your prescription is for CPAP and a specific pressure, the machine will arrive set to 4 - 20 cm. They also enclose the instructions for getting into the Setup menu. When in Auto mode, whatever pressure it is running at will be displayed on the screen......and in Auto mode, that will change throughout the night.

Den

extremeliver · Post by **extremeliver** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:45 pm

The difficulty here is that the vast majority of DME are just plain bad. Yet there are some really good ones out there.

For instance, I was able to get an Auto bipap machine (my second machine) this past spring because my DME let me try one out (at no charge) and then he guided me as to how to get my own through my insurance. This machine has greatly helped my therapy and I didn't pay a penny for it.

My father lives 100 miles from me and has been on a cheap (no data) unit since May. He has struggled with keeping the mask on for more than a few hours a night. The cheap machine came from another DME in my Dad's town. Anyway, my DME loaned me an auto unit for him to use and we discovered that his pressure was way too low. What a shocker. NOT. With the help on my DME (and what I learned from all of you on this forum!), I walked my dad through the steps to get an A-flex Auto machine from his own DME. My guy would have been happy to step in and provide one if the other DME refused, but was just as happy to just support our efforts.

Bottom line, yes, I would pay more to do business with a great DME. That is, one that is out to help their customers, not just put extra bucks in the bank.

BTW, 1) he is a hosehead himself, and 2) he does not give out machines that do not record data, and is a huge fan of the Auto. Wish more could be like him.

How much of a premium would you pay for a local DME?

How much of a premium would you pay for a local DME?

Re: How much of a premium would you pay for a local DME?