DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Mask2sleep · Post by **Mask2sleep** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:05 am

Good Morning!

I found out that the DME that my insurance company is going to work with by default is 1st Class Medical Inc., Durable Medical Equipment & Medical Supplies, located in Virginia. I can't find any information about them on the web. I was curious if anyone had any experience with this DME?

Thanks.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:28 am

What type of information are you looking for?

http://va-fairfax.doctors.at/dr/1st-cla ... medicalinc

http://www.e-physician.info/NPI-1760568513-VA

Den

Mask2sleep · Post by **Mask2sleep** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:45 am

Anything I can get really, I like to go into a situation with all the facts possible. Some specifics would be what brand of products they offer, the turn around time on services from when they are requested, billing, reviews by customers, that sort of thing. Thanks for the links.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:19 am

Call and ask them.

Den

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:18 am

I typed in the name of the company then "sucks"
couldnt find anything, that is always a good sign!

Mask2sleep · Post by **Mask2sleep** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:46 pm

Elena, That's reassuring, thanks!

Den, that so crazy it might work!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:06 pm

Mask2sleep wrote:Den, that so crazy it might work!

In the weeks between my sleep study (I was tipped off that I had OSA) and getting the final results back (and receiving my prescription), I visited or called most of the local DME shops in this area.........then bought all my stuff from CPAP.COM.......of which my insurance provider reimbursed me 80% when I billed them.

Den

who · Post by **who** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:14 pm

elena88 wrote:I typed in the name of the company then "sucks"
couldnt find anything, that is always a good sign!

I LIKE that!

I took the phone number from Den's link and then entered that info at bbb.org, which led me to this:

http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?natio ... =230036038

Using that name then led me to this:

http://www.1stclasssleepcenter.com/

Must be connected somehow, since they have the same phone number.

Mask2sleep · Post by **Mask2sleep** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:56 pm

We've got some Sherlock Holmes here on this forum, and there's no doubt about it. Also, me thinks something smells in the state of Denmark.

I looked around the sight you posted (http://www.1stclasssleepcenter.com/index.asp), and thought "Hey, that's funny, the rooms look very similar to the ones I was in." Then I looked at the Key Staff page (http://www.1stclasssleepcenter.com/key-staff.asp) and the top doctor there is a Yash Mehndiratta, MD. Now that's a name you don't soon forget. I look at my results from my study from Quality Diagnostics Sleep Center (http://qualitydiagnostics.vpweb.com/default.html) and who do you think was the doctor who reviewed the study was? Why, one Yash Mehndiratta, MD. Say it isn't so!

I assume the base company is this 1st Class Medical / 1st Class Sleep Center in Virginia and the one I went to in Maryland is a expansion office under a different name. And they also run a DME apparently, now known thanks to y'alls fine sleuthing. Sneaky, sneaky! Very good information to have!

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:58 pm

and the insurance says only with these ppl?

you call them and ask? not just take what you were told second hand

who · Post by **who** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:07 pm

As stated, you may be able to call your insurance directly in order to get a list of everyone in your state who is in-network for you.

What you describe may, or may not, be fishy. Oftentimes, respected sleep doctors are associated with multiple sleep centers. And sleep doctors know how bad some DMEs are and thus may be quick to steer patients to suppliers who have shown some competence and who know that they had better treat that doctor's patients well, or else. It might be to your advantage to benefit from that kind of relationship. On the other hand, I think that full disclosure would sure be nice when businesses are joined at the hip. In this case, it seems to me that the naming of the companies makes it clear that they are not trying to hide the connection, at least.

That all being said, knowing your options is always better than not knowing them. If you are locked in, you are locked in. But if you aren't, only your insurance people would know for sure, and they should have less of a reason to care which DME you used.

It is always good to have as much intel as possible before the mission is underway.

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:03 pm

well, whoever you think can get you what you want..

bring them some cookies..

cookies always works.

but they have to be homemade!

lovecpap · Post by **lovecpap** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:41 pm

Scam artists!!! RUN!!!!! NO RT's on staff. Bring you in for a sleep study every year so they can collect money. Respironics units only. List goes on and on. What insurance do you have??

Mask2sleep · Post by **Mask2sleep** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:30 pm

I like cookies!... Oh, sorry, I got distracted due to my fatigue as a result of my current untreated apnea... c'mon sleep center, call me!

Ahem,

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Government, which is the best you can get with your a Fed. I'll likely give them a call and find out if I have any other options for DMEs for this.

The person who did my study was a sleep technican, but the person who did my CPAP titration on Monday night was a RT, so I feel a bit better than that.

Oh well, tommorow is another day!

lovecpAP · Post by **lovecpAP** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:00 pm

With Fed BCBS in-network options: Lincare, Apria. Other options that I'm not sure are in-network....BayState Medical, Roberts Home Medical. Not sure what area of MD your in, but all of the above serve all of the DC area.

DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA

Re: DME: 1st Class Medical Inc., located in VA