DME Recommendations in SF North Bay (Calif)

[SleepyinWhineCountry]

Does anyone have recommendations for good DME in Marin, Sonoma, Napa or Solono counties in California?
I have read so many horror stories and so far not good feelings about those I have contacted. Any advice is much appreciated!

[chimp]

Hi.
I am not sure of any good DME's in the No. Bay, But Timberlake is in San Leandro (East Bay) and they have been very easy to deal with. My prescription was for a Cpap and I was able to get a Respironics M Series Auto W/ Aflex without any problems. They also added a heated humidifier even though it was not prescribed, as they said I would probably need one. On my first visit they gave me three masks to use for a couple of week to find out which one I would prefer. I have Blue Cross PPO and have been on xpap for two months and I have received two follow up phone calls from them to see how I was doing and to see if I had any questions for them. As of this time I am really happy with them. My brother is also on cpap and is with Apria and has nothing but trouble dealing with them. I hope this helps.

Timberlake
2953 Teagarden St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone (510) 895-4403
Fax (510) 895-4002



Mark

[sleepguide]

Sleepy in WC,

I'm not in the North Bay, but am down on the Peninsula. I know that in San Francisco SleepQuest just opened an office, and they're pretty good. You might also check out Somniquest in Alameda.

Let me know if you need any other Bay Area suggestions,

Mike

[RMV]

Hi There,

My sleep Dr. in Santa Rosa set me up with Peak Sleep in I believe Bakersfield. They always have a tech on standby so you can get some advice as you are starting all of this. I would guess if there was something a little closer to the North Bay he would have suggested it, but I have had no problems with dealing with this company from a distance.

They overnight everything and have been very good about calling me to order supplies. I moved to Dallas a couple of months ago and continue to use them.

Let me know if you would like their contact information.

Good luck! I have found new life since I started using the hose.

RMV

[SleepyinWhineCountry]

Mark,

Thanks so much for you feedback on your DME in San Leandro. Has anyone else been able to (or not been able to) get an Auto CPAP with a scrip that states "CPAP"?

[OldLincoln]

I second the opinion of SleepQuest. They have a field office in my home town which I've only been to twice. They are very helpful and based on my experience to date, I don't believe they are trying to get your wallet. I suggest that you check out their website and give them a call.

[SleepyinWhineCountry]

Thanks for the SleepQuest feedback. I am contacting them as well as Timberlake. Question for you SleepQuest users: Did you have to have auto CPAP writing explicitly on the script or do you think they will fill a "E0601 NU CPAP unit w/C-Flex and SmartCard" with a data capable autoCPAP?

Thanks for the help - I now at least know where to start...

[KristieCA]

I also use Timberlake in San Leandro, have recieved great service from them, very helpful. Since my insurance covers masks every 6 months, I purchase my extra masks and supplies here at CPAP.com-Kristie

[sleepguide]

i think SQ will either fill the script with the machine you want, or call your doctor on your behalf and work it out for you. i know they charge a small fee for reading smart cards on auto adjusting data capable machines, so maybe they're more open to it than most DMEs.

Mike

[SleepyinWhineCountry]

Update: SleepQuest says they will NOT give me an auto CPAP unless my prescription explicitly states AUTO cpap - they explained that it costs them more if they "give out" autos so they will not unless the doctor says they have to. My script said "E0601 NU CPAP unit w/C-flex and SmartCard"

Timberlake says I am outside of their "service area" so they will not deal with me unless I drive to San Leandro to do ALL business. They say that since I am not in their service area they will not even mail supplies. It is <1 hour drive so I said okay, since there are no DMEs that do CPAP in my little town - closest are SF area or Sacramento. She reluctantly said she would go ahead with the process (because I insisted). I had already faxed Medicare and Insurance info, Doctors reports on my diagnostic sleep study and CPAP titration study, prescription for CPAP, mask and supplies. She said that Medicare does not require preauthorization, they only need documentation on file. She now wants full Sleep lab reports and get this: office visit notes (she explained that is just what you said to dr prior to referral to sleep lab, something like: husband says you snore and you are sleepy during the day). Why that is important when they have analytical proof I have OSA by means of two very expensive hospital sleep studies is beyond me, especially since they just need to keep it on file, not send it to anyone?!?!?! They REALLY do not want to deal with me since I am outside of their service area. The problem is that I am outside of EVERYONE's service area so this is going to entail a drive on my part and dealing long distance.

I now understand why so many pay out of pocket. These insurance policies have cost us so much it doesn't seem right to not use it just because they are all being so difficult and it is a lot of money that I am supposed to be covered for. If I were not so tired and sleep deprived, I might actually pull my hair out. I sometimes wonder what is worse: the hundreds of incidents of oxygen deprevation that wakes me up every 2-3 minutes all night long, every night or dealing with DMEs.

The truely bright side is the information and support I have found on this forum. The responses have all been extremely helpful and though I have spend many hours reading and learning, I still have questions and you all have been kind and gentle dealing with this ignorant newbie. For this I am most grateful and I hope soon I will be reaping the benefit of all of your information and support. Thank you all so much for taking the time to help someone you do not even know. In the meantime, I am still:

Sleepy in Whine Country

[OldLincoln]

I have heard only of a couple here who got autos without a specific Rx. I already had my auto when I switched to SQ and their supply handling is great for me. Even if you get your machine from the San Leandro shop, you can still get your supplies from SQ by delivery rather than drive.

As for the machine, once you have a machine, getting an upgrade is very difficult. I suggest considering the out of pocket upgrade to an auto as long as they will do the warranty stuff.

[Guest]

Does anyone have recommendations for good DME in Marin, Sonoma, Napa or Solono counties in California?
I have read so many horror stories and so far not good feelings about those I have contacted. Any advice is much appreciated!

[awake in sf]

Does anyone have recommendations for good DME in Marin, Sonoma, Napa or Solono counties in California?
I have read so many horror stories and so far not good feelings about those I have contacted. Any advice is much appreciated!

[awake in sf]

It has become very scarey with the DME"s in the Bay Area.
I have had trouble with a few being down right dishonest to me & insurances.
Stay away from certain ones in the smaller boroughs!
I am afraid to mention names but the ones mentioned by others have been more than dishonest.
Peninsula sleep Clinic has a list of some that i have not heard before. I am going to give them a try.

[riverdreamer]

I use Pulmonary Solutions. They are in Santa Rosa, Santa Clara, and several other locations in CA area. My script says "patient's choice of CPAP pressure 7 or APAP pressure 5-15, data capable, with humidification, choice of mask, headgear, chinstrap, etc." I was allowed to choose my machine, a Resmed Autoset II, with a swift LT mask. They carry both a range of machines in a variety of brands. I wasn't given any grief for choosing the top of the line. I have Medicare, and they gave me absolutely no problems.

http://www.pulmonarysolutions.net/index.html

They are not always so great at returning phone calls, and they have made some mistakes with supplies, and my first report. However, they have always corrected any mistakes. You are allowed to exchange masks, if needed, in the first month. The RT is only in Santa Clara, and even though the local person fitting my FF mask tried, it was not a good fit. If I had known more, they did have a set up that would work to get the mask fitted. There are recliner chairs so you can try on the mask lying down, with your CPAP running. They did give a Liberty to me gratis, as I had a period of congestion, but didn't want to trade my Swift in. I think they are OK if you are persistent in doing your own research, and asking for what you need. Not as good if you need them to figure things out for you. They carry all kinds of extras, like hose covers, and CPAP pillows. They do fill my supplies every month, according to the limitations of my policy.

They also have very good paperwork. In addition to the booklet that comes with your machine, they have a booklet with instructions on machine use, care and cleaning, plus all of their policies, refill schedule, all the questions you might have are answered. They even gave me the clinical set-up, after checking with my doctor for approval to do so. While the techs are a little lacking, it is not in desire to help, just experience, possibly training. If you ask for something, they are pretty good about doing their best. Not the perfect DME, but way up there compared to many I have heard of.