dme provider prices?

[Wulfman]

I am the manager of a DME and these prices quoted are waaaaaaaaaay outside the norm. Yes, if you do give good RT service and good follow up it is worth the extra money. Yes, the cost of billing is built in to these costs. Also, a stat from the AASM, compliance from patients using DME companies is 60% while patient compliance using on-line companies is 3%. I think this 3% is the people on this website. You are the 3% that have the brain power and a little bit of luck to still be successful.

I know that there are some very poor DME providers but I would like to think that most do it right. I wonder if you compared the "mom and pops" to the "nationals" who would be rated higher?

I'm actually glad to see well-intentioned and open-minded DMEs come to this forum. They usually get an education in how things SHOULD be. After all, "education" is the key to making this therapy successful (and not just users being compliant). Unfortunately, there's a great divide when it comes to comparing the information put forth by the established (typical) medical (doctors) and supply (DMEs) entities to what knowledge the users gain from the forums (particularly THIS one).

I don't know how or where the AASM got their fraudulent (3%) figures from, but if they would have said that 3% of users BOUGHT their equipment online, I'd be more inclined to believe them. Typically, online buyers are either frustrated with the status quo system or they've been long-time users and have figured most of this our on their own......and don't feel the need to be jerked around by the local B&M's.
And, as far as the 60% figure goes.......THAT is a horrible compliance number, too.
Somebody needs to take the AASM to task with how they came up with those figures.

With regard to the extra money being charged by a "good" DME being worth it.......what about the extra money being charged by the "bad" DMEs? That AIN'T worth it!

I really don't have any history with local DMEs (other than to borrow a couple of pulse-ox recorders for one weekend, early on).......I bypassed them and purchased my equipment from CPAP.COM........so, I can't bad-mouth them from my own experiences. BUT......from what I've read from 4 1/2 yrs. of reading this forum.......there are far too many that shouldn't be doing what they're doing.


Den

[cinco777]

leejgbt wrote

Also, a stat from the AASM, compliance from patients using DME companies is 60% while patient compliance using on-line companies is 3%.

You expect us to believe this questionable survey result! I would bet my house that the vast majority (99% or more) of the users on this forum who have purchased their machine(s) online have never been contacted by anyone asking about their CPAP compliance. Structuring a statistically supportable survey, as you suggest was done by the AASM, would require customer purchase information from online DMEs. No other party - Insurance companies, Sleep Clinics, Sleep Drs., family Drs., etc., know that a CPAP user has purchased their machine online (unless the patient tells them and, if you read this forum, you know that few tell). Give us a break.

[potholerepairman]

I would think the 60% and 3% should be reversed.I wonder if its people who use dme's online and get reimbursed thru insurance that are suppose to be the 3%.Equating it to people paying for their kids schooling if you pay out of pocket Johnny does all of his homework ,would think people who pay 100% for cpap would use it more not less.I havent read any surveys so this is all guess work but if its true I want to meet these custumers and sell em bumper fluid for their cars.

[leejgbt]

Whether the AASM study was statistically correct and accurate I suppose could be debated based on the methodology used. Most times the patients are derived from various sleep clinics/sleep phyisician patient bases. As I have participated in some of these studies (as I am also a CPAP user) it is based on patients who volunteer based on contact from the physician. The vast majority of patients are not contacted but the studies have to be statistically significant to be valid and publishable.

Believe it or not, people on this website who do not use a DME are in the minority as far as compliance is concerned. The confounding variable here is probably that one strong indicator of compliance is participating is support groups. The info gleaned from the questions here are invaluable as no one knows more about USAGE that the user.

Try not to let your bad experience cloud your ability to be opened minded about good practices from good providers. We are out there.

[cinco777]

leejgbt wrote

The vast majority of patients are not contacted but the studies have to be statistically significant to be valid and publishable.

Actually/realistically/honestly, studies, such as the one (AASM compliance survey) you referenced, only need to be funded to be publishable. There are NO government regulations for this type of study and, therefore, no legal (not even any knuckle rapping) consequences in promoting/claiming/hyping, for your own self-interests, Invalid and statistically unsupportable survey results.

[cpapmask]

May I add again to this.. The discussion about DME providers over chargeing for eqiptment. and the reference that the RT contact patients for there compliance. I have had sleep apnea for 10 yrs now. In that 10 yr time span never and will i say it again never, never, never has anyone from the DME company ever contated me about my machine, my compliance, or the need for supplies or anything. I know they billed my Insurance co over 1300.00 plus dollars for the machine and mask. That was the last time I ever heard from them, and it was in a larger city and they had vans running around all over town.. They were no small mom and pop location. But they took over charged money from me and my insurance and ran. So why would i ever use them again.. This new DME who has ordered my new machine if they play games they will not ever get me to purchase another item from there store. The crap has to stop somewhere. People need to call around and find themself a provider they feel is not ripping them and there insurance co. off... We are the ones who have to suffer, with crappy equiptment they try to push to increase there profit margins, and higher health insurance premiums we have to pay because for years places have ripped of or at lesat try to rip off insurance co. People treat your insurance as tho those dollars that are being payed out are comming out of your pocket. A sorry buch of DME providers are not going to rip me off and make me like it.........

[rested gal]

the way i got my family dr. to write me a script for an auto is another story for another day. Some may like they way and others may not. Will share that story later.

I think I'd probably enjoy that story very much. I hope you will share it soon.

[chrisp]

Like I always say............BEWARE OF THE EVIL DME HAHAHA

TWIS TED

But not to worry. These things last a long time no matter what $ you paid.

[cinco777]

leejgbt wrote

Whether the AASM study was statistically correct and accurate I suppose could be debated based on the methodology used.

Please provide a URL link or the full descriptive name of the AASM compliance study that you referenced. I searched the AASM site and was unable to find a CPAP Compliance Study that compared compliance of users when a B&M DME provided their CPAP machines to compliance of users when an online DME provided their CPAP machines. Thanks.

[rise&shiner]

Here's a nother suggestion. If the company offers a healthinsurance flex plan (this is when you have money taken out pre-taxes that you can use for out of pocket medical expenses, ie. doctors over the counter drugs, prescription medications, eye glasses,hearing aids, physcial therapy and of course cpap supplies) its another way of having your dollar go farther.

[tonycog]

Here's a nother suggestion. If the company offers a healthinsurance flex plan (this is when you have money taken out pre-taxes that you can use for out of pocket medical expenses, ie. doctors over the counter drugs, prescription medications, eye glasses,hearing aids, physcial therapy and of course cpap supplies) its another way of having your dollar go farther.

That's not a bad suggestion in general, and in many circumstances. But it's not the issue here. Even with a flex plan, the DME provider originally mentioned would get $580 of those flex dollars. Even tax-free that is outrageous. Our cowardly, trolling guest has hit-and-run and will not attempt to answer the questions posed to him here.

Tony

[sleeplessinnorcal]

May I add again to this.. The discussion about DME providers over chargeing for eqiptment. and the reference that the RT contact patients for there compliance. I have had sleep apnea for 10 yrs now. In that 10 yr time span never and will i say it again never, never, never has anyone from the DME company ever contated me about my machine, my compliance, or the need for supplies or anything. I know they billed my Insurance co over 1300.00 plus dollars for the machine and mask. That was the last time I ever heard from them, and it was in a larger city and they had vans running around all over town.. They were no small mom and pop location. But they took over charged money from me and my insurance and ran. So why would i ever use them again.. This new DME who has ordered my new machine if they play games they will not ever get me to purchase another item from there store. The crap has to stop somewhere. People need to call around and find themself a provider they feel is not ripping them and there insurance co. off... We are the ones who have to suffer, with crappy equiptment they try to push to increase there profit margins, and higher health insurance premiums we have to pay because for years places have ripped of or at lesat try to rip off insurance co. People treat your insurance as tho those dollars that are being payed out are comming out of your pocket. A sorry buch of DME providers are not going to rip me off and make me like it.........

my dme calls me once a month. And they want me to order everything. and i will say no!! my company insurance will pay 65% for a non-provider equipment. better alternative.

[cpapmask]

MINE TOOK THE MONEY AND RAN. You may have a careing DME. I am sure they are some careing one out there. The DME I have my new machined odrered from seems to care, at least that is how they portray themselfs. I will how see how things go with them after my mcahines comes in next week. Another thing I don't really care for is I called the manufacture to see whats actually shipped in the box with the new machine. Now the machines come shipped with a hose for your mask. When they bill your insurance then bill them for a hose, will they hose price was included with the price of the machine when they purchased it. Is that fair and the right way to treat a customer. To me that is like if u buy a car and they were to charge u extra because it has tires on it. Tires were on that car when the dealer bought it. So should u as a customer have to pay more because it has tires....

[leejgbt]

I will find the reference to the study I quoted here. As it has been awhile since I have read the entire study it might take me some time. There is strict criteria as to the methodology used when publishing these types of studies and the inferences gleaned from these studies. These are not getting published in National Enquirer. The studies may have flaws but that is why they are published, so they can be TESTED and DUPLICATED. Do not let your bad experiences cloud your objectivity.

[DreamOn]

Now the machines come shipped with a hose for your mask. When they bill your insurance then bill them for a hose, will they hose price was included with the price of the machine when they purchased it. Is that fair and the right way to treat a customer. To me that is like if u buy a car and they were to charge u extra because it has tires on it. Tires were on that car when the dealer bought it. So should u as a customer have to pay more because it has tires....

My DME charged my insurance separately for the hose too. And I saw him remove it directly from the CPAP machine box. They also charged for two filters. The machine came with one already.

The DME charged my insurance $1266 for the CPAP, humidifier, hose, 2 filters, headgear and mask. I pay 20%. The same items can be purchased for $683 at https://www.cpap.com. I do respect that a brick and mortar DME has higher overhead and employee expenses than an internet-only supplier. And I appreciate in-person attention to mask fitting, which my DME has been very good with. But the prices they are charging are way too high. I assume they all do it. This is what is wrong with our healthcare system.

~ DreamOn