Local DME - Apria

engrdad · Post by **engrdad** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:16 am

One of the DME's that was recommended by my insurance is called Apria. Does anyone have any experience with this company? good or bad...

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:30 am

[quote="engrdad"]One of the DME's that was recommended by my insurance is called Apria. Does anyone have any experience with this company? good or bad...

jqp · Post by **jqp** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:32 am

Run. Run away.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:19 am

Go up to the top of the page and do a Search on "Apria".
From all the stories, they're the worst of the bunch.....with Lincare close behind.

Most insurance providers have lists of DMEs as possible sources.....but that doesn't necessarily mean that you HAVE to use them. Sometimes the better options are some of the "mom & pop" (local) operations.....at least as far as helpful, friendly service.

Then, there are those of us who ordered all of our stuff from CPAP.COM and our insurance providers reimbursed us......and have been very happy with doing it that way.

It all depends on your insurance provider.

Den

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:58 am

engrdad wrote:One of the DME's that was recommended by my insurance is called Apria. Does anyone have any experience with this company? good or bad...

My insurance company, Cigna, has a national contract with Apria and they are the only DME I can use. Apria has worked fine for me and they are improving.

Oh there were some trying moments, but I am nicely/persistently/proactively assertive with them. I am sure they will sh** on meek people.

But they do recognize the problem and are improving. They have added a national Sleep Management Center, http://www.apria.com/services/1,2905,523,00.html.

I have developed a good relationship with two people in the local office and am also working with the national office. Both are doing a good job for me. I have even found out I can work one office against the other to get what I want (think Machiavellian!).

If you go in educated and ready to deal with them you may get good results. For the average person though, you are going to get the basics at best.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:17 pm

rooster wrote:I have developed a good relationship with two people in the local office and am also working with the national office. Both are doing a good job for me. I have even found out I can work one office against the other to get what I want (think Machiavellian!).

If you go in educated and ready to deal with them you may get good results. For the average person though, you are going to get the basics at best.

Gosh, rooster, if this is what you managed at an IQ of less than 80, you'll be a menace to all and sundry when your IQ grows.... I mean, the poor meek average persons does start out at a 100....

Must be your EQ.

Hope you're still painfree.

O.

engrdad · Post by **engrdad** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:05 pm

Thanks for the information.

Interesting... I am going through the list of DME's that are shown on my insurance's website as perferred providers and of the 10 given:

7- do not carry CPAP's
1- is no longer a preferred provider for UHC (my insurance)

AND the other two really really push Resmed over Respironices.

They state that ResMed provides much better service.
They hardly ever see a Respironics rep.
They can get a ResMed machine in a couple of days compared to weeks for a Respironics machine.
etc.. etc...

Guess from what I have seen on this site, I should assume this is more "profit" based than anything else. Anyone else experience this from the DME's.

She was honest about the APAP machines. She stated that the APAP's are more expensive and that the DME's get reimbursed the same for either machinie. Therefore, they push the CPAP's.....

The two DME's that were on the list are (may be local companies):
American Health Services
Equipped for Life

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:12 pm

engrdad wrote:Thanks for the information.

Interesting... I am going through the list of DME's that are shown on my insurance's website as perferred providers and of the 10 given:

7- do not carry CPAP's
1- is no longer a preferred provider for UHC (my insurance)

AND the other two really really push Resmed over Respironices.

They state that ResMed provides much better service.
They hardly ever see a Respironics rep.
They can get a ResMed machine in a couple of days compared to weeks for a Respironics machine.
etc.. etc...

Guess from what I have seen on this site, I should assume this is more "profit" based than anything else. Anyone else experience this from the DME's.

She was honest about the APAP machines. She stated that the APAP's are more expensive and that the DME's get reimbursed the same for either machinie. Therefore, they push the CPAP's.....

The two DME's that were on the list are (may be local companies):
American Health Services
Equipped for Life

Sounds like you may need to get yourself on your doc's favorable side. Talk to your doc about your desire to participate in your own education and monitoring treatment and that you would prefer an APAP over a CPAP. Remind him/her that PAP treatment is a lot like treatment for diabetics and you are willing and able to educate yourself about your treatment. If you meet resistance about not needing APAP, remind them that APAP can be set to run at single pressure just like a CPAP. If you can make it seem as though it is the doc's idea ... all the better.

Ask your doc that the Rx be written specifically for an APAP (Respironics M Auto w/ AFLEX) and the DME must fill the Rx as written.

pratzert · Post by **pratzert** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:30 pm

engrdad,

I have CIGNA insurance too and the only DME they have is APRIA.

In two words: THEY STINK !

When I was first diagnosed and called them about a machine, they said they were not even allowed to "talk" to me until they had a prescription from my sleep Doc. So I had it faxed to them.

Of course, they lost it several times and I had to have it re-faxed, much to the dismay of my sleep Doc.

When I finally got into the computer system, they AUTOMATICALLY sent me a CPAP machine that I did not order. My Doc had written the prescription for an APAP machine and NOT a CPAP.

I sent it back and it took over a year to get that mess straightened out with CIGNA and APRIA because APRIA would not tell CIGNA that I sent the machine back.

In the meantime... I went ahead and bought my own APAP machine from CPAP.com. If you want to get the machine that YOU want and that your sleep doc wants you to have, you will have to go this route.

APRIA will only send you the cheapest machine they can get there hands on.

I read in an above post that they are getting better, but not in my experience.

I had a call from one of APRIA's sales people 2 weeks ago who said I had not ordered any supplies or a mask from them and wanted to send me out a new mask. I asked how they can just send me a mask without knowing what I want or what will fit and the rep told me they send out what "most people get".

I said no thanks, I'll keep buying all of my CPAP supplies from CPAP.com.

Good luck... but i think you're in for a rough time with APRIA.

Tim

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, cpap.com, CPAP, DME, Prescription, APAP

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:54 pm

Two words.... "THEY SUCK"!!!!!!!!

nuff said.

good luck!!!!!!!!!

pratzert · Post by **pratzert** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:15 pm

wabmorgan wrote:Two words.... "THEY SUCK"!!!!!!!!

nuff said.

good luck!!!!!!!!!

YUP ! Those were REALLY the two words I meant to say.....

Tim

engrdad · Post by **engrdad** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:23 pm

I really appreciate the warning on Apria. I called the local rep for Apria and did not get a good feeling. She said that if the doctor did not specifically prescribe a machine that I would get a Respironics M-series Plus. She said that there would be no option for anything else unless specifically spelled out on the prescription. She also said that I must 'rent' the unit and did not have the option to buy. When I told her that I verified with my insurance that I was allowed to purchase the machine, she said that I was mistaken. I then called my insurance 'care coordinator' and confirmed that I was correct.

Luckily, I have two other DME options locally. Both have a preferred brands but stated they would work with me..... And, if these don't work out, I have always got cpap.com.

Really glad I found this site before my last sleep study. With the info available and the example scripts... I am ready for the doc...

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, DME, Prescription

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:10 pm

egerdad,

Hey... it's great you at least have some options available as far as a choice of a DME.

I think that is part of the problem with the poor service and poor attitude on the part of APRIA...... with CIGNA, they are the only game in town uless you want to spend the money yourself.

I was able to afford to purchase my own machine, but many are hard put to spend $500-$1000 for a machine.

To me.... APRIA is saying " Ya... your Doctor said you need a heart transplant.... but we aren't going to give you a GOOD heart... we get paid the same no matter if we give you a good heart or a bad heart... so tough."

Tim

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:30 pm

You aren't going to go wrong w/a Resmed CPAP as long as it is the fully data capable Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR or the Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage.

You do NOT want the Resmed S8 Compact or Resmed S8 Escape. They are NOT fully data capable.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:39 pm

So far you haven't mentioned how much your insurance is worth. Rule of thumb is if you copay is 30% or greater you may do better not using insurance at all and purchasing out of pocket on line.

You also may pay a deductable in both 2007 and 2008, and, unless you will meet your deductable due to other medical issues, you need to figure that cost in with the copays to truly know what is cheaper for you.

Don't take anything you don't want at a price you don't want. Figure out the total $$ you will pay over the rental and to finally own. Compare that to the cash online price before you do anything. You may be able to buy a better machine for the same $$.

Your cpap prescription is good for APAP online.

Do all the homework!!

Local DME - Apria

Local DME - Apria

Re: Local DME - Apria

Re: Local DME - Apria

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