DME Contractors refusing me as a patient

[VikingGnome]

There is only ONE FF mask that works for me and that's the Hans Rudolph 7600 V2 in size Extra Small or Petite. I have had my doctor submit all required document to three different DME Medicare Contractors to be my CPAP Supplier. All three have refused to be my supplier because they don't stock it and it's not cost effective to special order it for me.

Medicare regulations say that if the doctor writes a specific brand name on the prescription, the DME contractor must order it, find a source for it, or refer me to a contractor that can. This third DME "prescreens" Medicare patients and then don't accept those that need supplies they don't have in their warehouse. According the manager of this DME, I was not formally accepted as a patient (even though they have all my documentation) so they have no obligation to do anything for me. She suggested I try Apria or Lincare. <barf>

Can all DME contractors cherry pick Medicare patients that give them the most profit and refuse to serve patients that have equipment needs they don't get dirt cheap from manufacturer?

If I cannot find a DME contractor that will be my supplier, Medicare will not cover any of my supplies.

[greatunclebill]

it's time to make some complaints directly to medicare or better yet, your us senators that approved all of this.

[chunkyfrog]

This might be a case for getting Medicare to reimburse the Patient for an online purchase.
I would most definitely contact your senator, governor, or representative.
It's not a crime to be hard to fit; not yet, anyway!
What does Hans Rudolph think about this?

[VikingGnome]

I called the Competitive Bid specialist at Medicare. At first she totally unsympathetic and said "I'll send you a list of 200 contract suppliers in the South and you can call around and find one that might have that mask in stock." She really did not want to address the problem of local DME's refusing to serve me because I need a mask they don't stock. After about 10 minutes of frustration, she said she would try to find a contractor that has my mask in stock. I waited about 10 minutes and she gave the name of a contractor in Franklin, TN (I'm near Jackson, MS) that had the mask and was more than willing to be my CPAP supplier because the things I need at this point can all be mailed. She gave me his name and direct dial phone number.

He was very pleasant and helpful. Got all the information from me he needed. He sent me an email so I could reply with copies of my Rx, Sleep Study, and first face-to-face visit with my sleep doc. It was such a breath of fresh air to talk to a DME that was so nice and helpful. He has the Hans Rudolph which he will ship with "3 month supply pack" which includes filters, new climate line hose. They will call me every 90 days to confirm what I need. They will never ship without talking to me first.

I am very pleased. The DME is CPAP Care Club and they even have their own company assistance program for people on fixed income that are having trouble paying their 20% copay.

He said under Medicare, the DME contractor sends a paper to the sleep doctor to check off all the items she prescribes for me and then signs and returns by FAX. Why couldn't any of the local contractors tell me what they needed? He doesn't need compliance reports as I am past the 60-Day check period. Why should medicare patients under competitive bidding have different eligibility requirements that medicare patients NOT under competitive bidding yet?

[jencat824]

Just a suggestion, my DME is Nationwide Medical, the link below is for your mask (I think). Hope this might help. I have used this DME (mail order) for several years & have been quite satisfied with them. Good luck,

http://www.nationwidemedical.com/produc ... parentID=7

Jen