Most here are much nicer than I am.
I would make an appointment and GO TO THEIR OFFICE.
Remind them that the doc prescriged and APAP and you want an APAP, not a CPAP.
Remind them that an APAP IS COVERED, even with a cpap order.
Remind them that their rep totally misled you and gave you incorrect info.
Insist and get an APAP.
Maybe even call your docs office and tell him/her about this before you go to the DME and see if the doc will be on your side.
Your money. Your choice.
Get nasty.
tom
Want some opinions on DME bill
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GrizzlyBear
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:11 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Hiya Carol.
That Slinky's very persuasive, and of course I'm very persuadable (if I can make up a word, and if it was good enough for Shakespeare, it's good enough for me).
Have you tried just phoning the DME and explaining the issue to them? They may back off if it is clear that you are convinced that you don't really owe them anything, as the bill is a result of their own stuff up.
Or am I just being completely naive?
It's so tempting to kick 'em in the goolies - but there's no point doing that if they respond by jumping up and down on your head until you scream.
Do you have some sort of small claims tribunal there? Perhaps you could pay, and then claim the money back. Mind you, here it costs about $60 to make a claim - over an $18.32 bill.
Oh, gee, perhaps Wulfman's just right after all. You seem to have been stressing about this for a while - perhaps it's just better to offload the whole thing and start worrying about the things that really matter (whatever they may be for you). There's enough stress in our lives as it is, I guess, without adding to it because of some thieving scumbag of a DME.
I still reckon the rabbit and the chopper is the best solution.
Regards,
Totally Useless GrizzlyBear
That Slinky's very persuasive, and of course I'm very persuadable (if I can make up a word, and if it was good enough for Shakespeare, it's good enough for me).
Have you tried just phoning the DME and explaining the issue to them? They may back off if it is clear that you are convinced that you don't really owe them anything, as the bill is a result of their own stuff up.
Or am I just being completely naive?
It's so tempting to kick 'em in the goolies - but there's no point doing that if they respond by jumping up and down on your head until you scream.
Do you have some sort of small claims tribunal there? Perhaps you could pay, and then claim the money back. Mind you, here it costs about $60 to make a claim - over an $18.32 bill.
Oh, gee, perhaps Wulfman's just right after all. You seem to have been stressing about this for a while - perhaps it's just better to offload the whole thing and start worrying about the things that really matter (whatever they may be for you). There's enough stress in our lives as it is, I guess, without adding to it because of some thieving scumbag of a DME.
I still reckon the rabbit and the chopper is the best solution.
Regards,
Totally Useless GrizzlyBear
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Guest
Carol,dllfo wrote:Call the agency that governs and/or regulates their business, ask what your rights are. THEN you have some options. Pay or not.
Good Luck....
I like this solution. You don't have to decide "up front" whether or not to pay. What I found in some situations, when you pay they won't listen to the complaint. A good deal depends on how much hassle you are willing to endure to make your point. As noted, you can repair a credit blemish but the bigger question is whether or not you want to go to the trouble. Decide that first.
And contacting your state's consumer protection office or attorney general's office would seem to me like a great idea!
Mindy
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DreamStalker
- Posts: 7509
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:58 am
- Location: Nowhere & Everywhere At Once
Just pay it and send the check in with a nasty-gram if it makes you feel better ... move on .... the damage to your body from stress hormones over fighting over less than $20 is not worth it!
President-pretender, J. Biden, said "the DNC has built the largest voter fraud organization in US history". Too bad they didn’t build the smartest voter fraud organization and got caught.
Carol,
I would not pay the bill. Because they did not give you the machine prescribed by your doctor, they did not uphold their end of the contract for services to be provided. IMO, they have NO legal basis for demanding payment. They should count themselves lucky you don’t sue them for malpractice!
The sleep lab misplaced the data from my titration study for almost a month. It was found only after I complained to my doctor and the doctor’s office followed up with them. When they billed me for the amount not covered by my insurance, I called them. I complained about the delay. I told them that losing data from a patient’s test was inexcusable. I proposed that they should waive the co-pay, something over $300, in exchange for my not hiring a lawyer to sue them for malpractice. They gave me a bunch of excuses (insurance company won’t let them waive co-pay, etc.) I stood my ground. In the end, they agreed to waive the payment.
Don’t worry about your credit report. First, it is unlikely that they would report it. If they do, you can dispute it. Worst case, it is a minor potential blemish.
Wayne
I would not pay the bill. Because they did not give you the machine prescribed by your doctor, they did not uphold their end of the contract for services to be provided. IMO, they have NO legal basis for demanding payment. They should count themselves lucky you don’t sue them for malpractice!
The sleep lab misplaced the data from my titration study for almost a month. It was found only after I complained to my doctor and the doctor’s office followed up with them. When they billed me for the amount not covered by my insurance, I called them. I complained about the delay. I told them that losing data from a patient’s test was inexcusable. I proposed that they should waive the co-pay, something over $300, in exchange for my not hiring a lawyer to sue them for malpractice. They gave me a bunch of excuses (insurance company won’t let them waive co-pay, etc.) I stood my ground. In the end, they agreed to waive the payment.
Don’t worry about your credit report. First, it is unlikely that they would report it. If they do, you can dispute it. Worst case, it is a minor potential blemish.
Wayne
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| Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: APAP w/CFlex @ 10 cm to 14 cm |
I would contact the insurance company that paid for the 1 month rental to let them know that they were charged for a product that was not what the DR ordered. Technically the DME changed a DR order which is a big no no. I would let your DR know that the DME does that. They are in effect saying that your DR was wrong and changing his order. If your Dr is outraged, meaning that he dosen't have an agreement with the DME that it is OK with him for them to do that, Then I would contact the insurance commissioner of your area and let them know what the DME is doing. We had a local DME that would Call the DR office and plead the "We don't make any money on APAP" we told them tough luck. Negotiate a better contract next time. DME's can say that they don't make any money, but someone had to sign the contract with the insurance company to OK the fee schedule. The big problem is that DME's continually get away with junk like that because no one turns them in. Or there is no one in authority that really cares. It is sick. It makes everyone else look bad.