wnbresn wrote:Sorry Mattman but DME's such as your self are going to go the way of the dinosaurs in time. Why should I waste my time with getting incorrect or biased info from DME's such as yourselves when with a little effort I can find all the info I need and much better service on the web?
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You brick and mortar DME's can either wise up or get out of our way.
A couple of things to respond to here.
1) It is your opinion that my statements have been "incorrect or biased" when in fact they have been neither. You are most assuredly welcome to your opinion but please refrain from attempting to state it as fact.
2) The fact that you obviously had an unpleasant experience with your particular DME provider has absolutely ZERO bearing on my business nor the hundreds and hundreds (If not thousands by now) patients whom I have provided care that most rate as "exceptional or better.". Now, you can choose to either believe that or not but don't you
DARE try and state as fact that I have ever provided otherwise when you use phrases like 'DMEs such as yourself'. Thank you.
3) I will never argue with the fact that many users, and you are obviously one of them, would be much better served by the system by being able to purchase your equipment online as a cash sale and avoid all the hassles of insurance and without the hands-on care available through most traditional DME providers. In fact, since the first day I've ever come to these boards I've advocated a system that allows and accounts for both types of patients so I again tell you that I take extreme issue with those (yourself included) that try to claim as fact that I am biased. I am nothing of the sort.
4) Your assertion by Am. Hmpt that you need a prescription for a chin strap is absolutely correct if you want it to go through insurance and is technically correct if you wanted to pay cash for it. You may think it's a stupid law. I happen to agree
wholeheartedly that it's a stupid law. However, disagreeing with the law DOES NOT change the fact that it's correct. A lot of people here love to take something they disagree with and hold it up as an example of DME stupidity. I'm sorry, but that just isn't the case and in my opinion, shows the bias of the poster, NOT the DME company.
5) Again, something else I've said from day 1 - poor care (such as taking 6 months to provide an item)
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. However, individual cases of poor customer service do not equate to an entire industry failing it's customers. No one here likes to remember this but guys - even if you take all the pissed off people here... even if you DON'T remove the cases of misunderstandings or just disagreements (like our chin strap case above) this still only equates to a
tiny fraction of the total DME business out there and an even smaller fraction of patient interactions. And it's always been my opinion that by it's very nature websites such as these are going to attract those who are unhappy with thier care so the picture is even further out of whack.
6) We aren't going to go anywhere anytime soon. To be sure there will be changes. There always have been and there always will be. I wouldn't be supprised to eventually see a system like I mentioned above that allows for both types of patient interaction. What you forget though is that CPAPs and supplies are only a small aspect of the care that a DME company provides. Everything from rehab equipment, custom mobility products, premie/infant/child medical care, physical therapy care, IV therapy, Respiratory products, allergy products, oxygen, aids to daily living, skin care, wound care, ostomy products, nutritional care, diabetic and insulin therapy. and many more.
I would NEVER, EVER wish on anyone the sort of life-altering experiences that so often bring someone to us. Most patients who end up dealing with a DME company have just had one of the most horrible, life changing and often life ending experiences before they see us. We are an unusual business in that we tend to meet people when they are at thier worst - very often at a simply horrific time. It is those patients who make up the vast bulk of our business. And it is with those patients for whom our type of business shines. Where our ability to provide very specialized, very hands on care is so much more needed, desired, and effective than with the types of patients that frequent here. Those who know what they want, how they want it and don't want any interference from anyone else.
We aren't going away, and I really honestly hope that you never have the sort of needs to find out for yourself first-hand why that statement is so true.
It has nothing to do with the oft-repeated "legal prey" or "legal license to steal" that is so regularly repeated here. Again while no one likes to accept it the simple fact is that when taken as a big picture - reimbursements are not
all that great. People can make a profit, of course.
There isn't anything wrong with making a profit. There is something wrong with a crappy provider, yes. That doesn't equate to an entire industry doing something awful.
To illustrate - I have another question. Why doesn't anyone ever get this irate over this forums owner being paid the the same amount I do for CPAP equipment? Everyone is fine with it when he gets those amounts. Yet when I do, I'm "preying on the innocent". Why the double standard? To me, the answer is because you are happy with the service from him. Okay, great. So then is the issue is NOT the money involved but the customer serivce? Remember before you answer that I've constantly stated my position that CPAP reimbursement is currently too high. However, it NEEDS to be high to help offset the crappy reimbursement for other items (Hence the 'big picture' comment I made above - it evens out). I think it should be even across the board without having to have spikes in certain areas to account for dips in others.
Very Respectfully,
mattman