I hate Lincare

dav3502 · Post by **dav3502** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:52 am

Hello all..Happy Holidays..Iam new to this forum..I just wanted to vent a little regarding my dealings with Lincare (DME). I have been a hosehead for about 9 years now and my old Auto CPAP bit the dust. Called the doc's office who set me up quick with a re-titration and BOOM....my pressure goes up to 13. They originally write the Rx for a standard CPAP but I politley tell them that I had a standard CPAP that I did not do well with. I specifically told them that I use an Auto CPAP and they re-wrote the script the same day for a Remstar Auto with A flex (I was specific with the machine I wanted). Well they send it to the DME, Lincare. I call three times to make sure they have got the Rx with the specific brand of CPAP and heated humidifier. Lady on the other end of the phone read it back to me, at my request, and stated "yes, this is the machine you will be getting, insurance pays for 100%, and it will definitely be in by Thursday of the following week. I schedule an appointment for 8:30AM that day. After working untill 1:00AM the night before I wind up with 4 hours of un-treated sleep. Getting excited to pick up my new machine and looking forward to quality sleep again. At 7:55AM my phone rings and the Lincare Rep says..."Sir, you needed a Remstar Auto with A-flex correct? Yes....Im sorry , your insurance wont pay for that and it needs to special ordered anyway....We don't carry those...I'm sorry"
LONG STORY...I APOLOGIZE
However, I am super steamed and march down there...speak to the manager who gives me the run around...Boils down to the Auto cuts into their profit margin and they avoid issuing Auto Cpap's(I told the lady this and she looked at me with very wide eyes)...She tried to convince me to try a standard CPAP ...Anyway..I walked out with a standard only to try and get some decent sleep until I get this mess sqaured away...I know that the insurance company does not differentiate between auto vs standard as far as the coding is concerned...I hate being treated like garbage!!!
Any suggestions???[/b]

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:36 pm

Buy what you want from CPAP.COM and get your insurance provider to reimburse you.

Den

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:45 pm

Your prescription has to say Auto Pap or the make and model you need.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:01 pm

neverbetter wrote:Your prescription has to say Auto Pap or the make and model you need.

The way I read his post, his doctor wrote the prescription specifically for the REMstar Auto with A-Flex. You don't need that specific of a prescription to buy a CPAP or APAP from CPAP.COM......any (generic) CPAP prescription will get either a CPAP or APAP.

Den

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:07 pm

To be reimbursed. You need the perscription to say auto....

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:15 pm

Maybe.....

But they're both the same billing code.

Doesn't hurt to have your bases covered.

Den

grybeard77 · Post by **grybeard77** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:04 pm

I also just had a run in with Lincare. My six months for a new mask was up and I was due for a new one. I asked for a F & P Infinity 481, which is a fairly new mask. After 4 weeks of hemming and hawing, I was finally told the new supervisor wouldn't approve it as it wasn't one they stocked in inventory.

I asked who she thought she was decideing what I was to get had to be some thing they had in stock..I was told, "That's the way it is. "

I then said,"She had better order one as I am going to get a Rx for this mask even though I shouldn't have to get one."

So , I have written another letter to Medicare relating this scenario and am awaiting their reply as to when a new supervisor could decide what I needed for me to comply with the treatment the Doctor ordered.

Should be interesting. I also told them to stop paying maintenance payments to Lincare on a machine I hadn't used in over 3 years as I had purchased a machine that would record full data so that I could monitor my progress and that Lincare had not bothered in 3 years to check me out to see if I was complying. I also stated I woud provide my own maintenance on my machine if needed....

Any bets on the outcome????

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:17 pm

So when does billing for a service that is not being provided qualify as Medicare fraud?

I also told them to stop paying maintenance payments to Lincare on a machine I hadn't used in over 3 years as I had purchased a machine that would record full data so that I could monitor my progress and that Lincare had not bothered in 3 years to check me out to see if I was complying. I also stated I woud provide my own maintenance on my machine if needed....

dav3502 · Post by **dav3502** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:30 pm

Well...after all of the hemmin and hawin I did they found me a remstar auto with C flex and a heated humidifier......It's amazing how going into their office and knwoing what you're talking about makes them change their minds....I attribute that to everything learned from reading these posts....This forum is a tremendous asset...Thanks for everyone's replies...

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:23 pm

I have been using Lincare and haven't had any problems so far with them. I had a script for a "smart cpap with c-flex" and I was given an M series Auto with c-flex without any squabbles or fuss.

In my experience they have been great to work with so far.

The only thing I was dissappointed in was the only nasal pillow system they handle is the Optilife.