I need another supplier desperately

Hello everyone....I'm a new CPAP user & don't have a clue what I'm doing. I've been depending on this site or advice from my daughter in-law to get me by & I'm livid right now because the equipment supplier I selected seems to be run by inefficient people or people that just don't seem to give a hoot.

Backing up for a moment...I was diagnosed with apnea back in August of this year while living in Georgia. We moved almost immediately back to California where I've been trying for A MONTH to get some equipment delivered that should have been here after the first phone call. I'm so disenchanted with Lincare right now, I could spit! According to them, they have ONE therapist & he only has one day a week to do his job. I haven't even been able to get an oxygen machine delivered & I was told that my oxygen level would drop to 58% at night. This from people who keep telling me that it's not a problem bringing me an oxygen machine. Where is it?

I'm on Medicare & have decided that I should get Lincare to pick up the CPAP equipment that I presently have & find another supplier that has some ethics. I've heard some really good things about Apria but they don't want just sleep study information to get set up with them. I got the distinct impression from them that they didn't want to deal with this because of all the information they say they have to have before I can even get equipment from them. There almost has to be a problem with me or my capacity to understand these people? Shouldn't it just be a matter of having the sleep study & the doctor's prescription on hand prior to setting someone up with the equipment?

Someone, please advise me, if you can about exactly what kind of information is required to get started with a supplier & what company you recommend I should deal with? I'd really appreciate it.

What does your insurance have listed for DME's? Can you see any of them?

Best advice is to stay away from the big chains... deal with the small mom and pop's. The smaller DME's are more receptive to dealing with people than the big chains are.

Jerry.... it would help if you would register and log into this forum. Also once you do that you can participate fully and be able to send and receive private messages, too. Take a few minutes to do this and fill in your profile and equipment. This will help us to advise you and communicate with you more efficiently. We have some folk on her who are very knowledgable about Medicare and cpap, and many other who live in CA and will be able to advise you.... Best of luck!

Oh, m'gawd!!!! You desat to as low as 58% and Lincare is screwing around about providing you w/02 equipment much less CPAP equipment????

You NEED to do a couple of things FAST, like ASAP!! Like yesterday!

FAX the CPAP/02 scripting doctor(s) in Georgia and request immediate submission of a copy of all doctor dictated results from all sleep evaluation studies, all PAP titration studies, all oximetry studies as well as the full scored data summary reports w/condensed graphs from these studies AND the equipment orders (scripts) to you. Give them a brief explanation of where you are at and the problem you are having.

Next I would contact Medicare and file a complaint w/them regarding this Lincare office. I would also climb up the corporate ladder at Lincare w/my complaints.

In addition, most all local DME providers accept Medicare. Assuming you do not have a secondary insurance for the Medicare copays, I would start shopping local DME providers, especially any that specialize in just Respiratory and CPAP supplies, I would explain your current predicament to them. See who seems most helpful, most interested, what they are willing to do for you, etc.

Good luck and God bless!!!

After thinking it over - I'd be inclined to provide a copy of my requests and complaints to HIPAA as well - just in case. It might be that the local doctors, scripting doctors, back in Georgie are the problem and they might be inclined to take their time about providing the information you request. Seeing that your request is CC'd to HIPAA should inspire all involved to move more quickly on your behalf. And that goes for your complaints that you file w/Lincare, etc. as well. Nothing like a paper trail to inspire action!!!

jerryo1941 wrote: I've heard some really good things about Apria but they don't want just sleep study information to get set up with them.

Someone, please advise me, if you can about exactly what kind of information is required to get started with a supplier & what company you recommend I should deal with? I'd really appreciate it.

jerryo1941,

I suggest you do a search again on the forum for "Apria" ( or "Crapria").

You m,ention you have heard good things about Apria, but based on MY experience and an overwhelming number of posts/stories from other CPAP users here, they are the the Most Evil of all DME suppliers.

Perhaps you will see a few good comments scattered about, and I have even had one decent experience, but they are SOOOOOO bad, I bought my own machine even though my insurance would have paid 100% if I bought it from them.

That should give you an idea of how terrible they are.

BTW.... I bought my machine from CPAP.COM.... they were excellent !

So, again, please do yourself a favor and search the forum and read the posts about Apria before you start to deal with them.

If anyone resides in the Northern, Central or Bay Area California please email me at mmcclendon at pulmonarysolutions dot net direct so I could assist you with your PAP or oxygen requests.

jerry01941,
Good heavens! What a mess. So sorry you are having a tough time! I live in the Midwest and have lots of good experiences with a "Mom and Pop" store in Rochester, NY called Cpap-Xpress. You can Goggle that name and find their number and store address. Started by a Respiratory therapist, all they sell is pap equipment. They will ship and my hubby's equipment was covered 80% by Medicare. They had no trouble with us being out of state, although we went in to be fitted. They were happy to take care of us and have since given us lots of personal attention after we walked out the door. Our Dr's faxed them the prescriptions.
Hope someone jumps on you problem soon!
Cindy

Jerry,
if you register, I can email you with a fabulous equipment provider in california..

or you can PM me.. they are the best, the owner started the business because he had OSA and was treated horribly when he was diagnosed..

they have been in business for ten years..

They do ship supplies..

Im so sorry you have had such a terrible struggle!

elena