Apria bought out my DME

[allend]

I really liked my DME, HCS Praxair (Home Care Supply) on Long Island. I posted that a little while back. They really bent over backwards to help me and now I am getting very good results. Unfortunately, Apria bought them.

I have read on here about some really crappy things Apria does. With Home Care Supply, I could go there and try on different masks or if I took one for a week and it didn't work out they exchanged it for me. They got me a card reader from Resmed. They had my bipap auto m fixed for free and got me a replacement flow generator (vpap auto 25).

I called Apria yesterday and discovered about the takeover. I need a new mask, supplies and I can't find my chin strap, so that I needed immediately and I said I'd pick it up at the Plainview office. They didn't have the Ultra Mirage FF Mask and they had no chin straps there and they said it would be mailed to me in 7 to 10 business days. That never would have happened with Home Care Supply, as I would have been able to drive over to Garden City Park and pick up the chin strap. The mask was no big deal but I started mouth breathing again, sinceI lost the chin strap a few weeks ago, and that I could have used right away. I'm not sure if they wanted to process the insurance first, since this was a Saturday & the insurance company might not be open (but I thought that was all done electronically). How could they not stock chinstraps?

So, just in case things don't go well, I wonder if any Long Islanders have discovered a better choice than Apria.

Alan

[DreamDiver]

I really liked my DME, HCS Praxair (Home Care Supply) on Long Island. ...
So, just in case things don't go well, I wonder if any Long Islanders have discovered a better choice than Apria.

Alan

Chances are, if the same staff will be staying, you may still have a reasonable experience. There are a few who have had good service from their local Apria branch. It all comes down to people -- who's running things.

If they buy into the Apria corporatocracy, then it's time to move on. If they leave because Apria demands compliance to the corporate ethic (if you can call it that), find out where the staffer you prefer is headed.

[LarryD]

I agree with DreamDiver. The staff may stay on. Unfortunately, once the company has people by the pay check their hearts and minds soon follow. I would be asking my insurance if there are any other providers in the network.

My experience with Apria began with my original CPAP 10 years ago. They completely soured me on DME's. I don't trust any of them any more. I use them only when it will provide a clear advantage to me. Otherwise, I shop on line.

[Janknitz]

My condolences on the demise of another good DME.

[DreamDiver]

My condolences on the demise of another good DME.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgYEuJ5 ... ure=fvwrel

[Janknitz]

LOL, Dreamdriver, that is funny!

We went to the Madrigal Dinner put on by my daughter's HS this December and the diners were greeted in line by a group of kids dressed as monks and singing a mournful dirge as they hit themselves in the head with clipboards. I didn't get the reference, even though I'm sure I saw the movie when it came out, 100 years ago! How come my husband memorized and still remembers every line in evey MP episode and movie? Must be my apnea!

It really is a sad day when a good local DME is bought out by Crapria or one of the other corporate DME's. Crapria acts like an online supplier in terms of drop shipping equipment and supplies rather than working with patients face to face, but gets paid like a full-service Brick and Mortar DME. You can bet that the people who worked for the local DME won't be there one year from now and when you call for supplies or help you will find yourself routed to a national call center to talk to someone who has NO clue about apnea and CPAP's other than how to collect the co-pay up front and how to bill you. Very sad.

[EricinNC]

I just switched to Apria DME, for mask/filter/hose resupplies. I have decided with regard to machines I am not getting anymore thru DMEs and buying out of pocket from Internet dealer, its too much hassle going thru the DME for new machines.

I look forward to giving my local Apria DME as much trouble as I can and causing them as much stress as I can. As I sincerely believe in "what goes around, comes around."

Eric

[jdm2857]

I look forward to giving my local Apria DME as much trouble as I can and causing them as much stress as I can. As I sincerely believe in "what goes around, comes around."
Eric

Eric, maybe you should re-read the second sentence.

[EricinNC]

I look forward to giving my local Apria DME as much trouble as I can and causing them as much stress as I can. As I sincerely believe in "what goes around, comes around."
Eric

Eric, maybe you should re-read the second sentence.

I was being fascitious. After reading about "crapria" on here several places, and my already jaded attitude with regards to DMEs generally, I am not expecting much of Apria. Like I already mentioned, Ive already figured out that its much, much much easier and less hassle to just buy off the Internet and pay out of pocket than play phone tag with dufus DME people, argue about what my insurance will pay for and what it wont pay for, play insurance "chess" with DMEs and health insurance...Im flat tired of it.

Eric