BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:44 pm

Just got off the phone with a blue cross blue shield rep.

Apparently the replacement schedules for medical equipment were reviewed and changed in October 2010.

A7033 - Pair of nasal pillows is now every 180 days

This is crazy I used to be able to get a pair a month when i first started out.

Also A7034 - New mask is also 180 days

It doesn't make sense, i asked him to double check and he did. Anyone else notice this change?

Lizzzabeth · Post by **Lizzzabeth** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:08 pm

Wow, if that is true, it will probably mean a boon to our hosts here. I've only been at this a month, and I wore out at least one set of pillows. If I have to pay for them out of pocket, you'd better believe my DME isn't getting my business at their rates! The mask I can live with, since I can only get headgear every 180 days anyway.

msradar65 · Post by **msradar65** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:17 pm

Sheesh, I am glad I built up a stockpile. I get most of my supplies off e-bay. Much cheaper.

squid13 · Post by **squid13** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:36 pm

Guess there will be a whole bunch of pillow boiling going on.

Emilia · Post by **Emilia** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:47 pm

Keep an eye on the ebay auctions..... you can get some great deal on nasal pillows there.

squid13 · Post by **squid13** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:00 pm

If that was changed in Oct. of 2010 that was a year ago. Has anybody got there replacements since then at 2 per month?

Emilia · Post by **Emilia** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:04 pm

It may not be a BCBS rule across all plans and in all states... there are many different BCBS plans even within a state. Each person should check their own insurance plan.

Uncle_Bob · Post by **Uncle_Bob** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:40 pm

It looks like the coverages do vary by state. mine is out of alabama and looks like someone else has confirmed their repacement schedule in this thread

viewtopic/t60174/BCBS-of-AL-HCPCS-Insurance-Codes.html

1 pair every 6 months, thats miles worse than medicare which allows a pair every month.

I had called my new DME about this and they said they would look into it.

They got back to me within 2 hours and said they didn't realize i was not in BCBS of Arizona.

They given me one pair of LT pillows and a climateline hose (which i also was not due for replacement) for no charge

BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days

Re: BCBS nasal pillows now every 180 days