Whoppers I have been told from DME, techs, etc

This one was told to a friend of mine:

"Your prescription calls for a nasal mask. Since you need a full-face mask you will need to pay us an additional $200, since BCBS considers a full-face mask a 'luxury item'."

That made me mad. What was worse was that my friend would not listen to me and he just paid them the extra $200.

idamtnboy wrote:

Bandnuts wrote:I would think that a clinic that requires a lot of computers and computer programs to function properly would have someone there that knew a little about computers....

Believe it or not, the technician who read my S9 card at the sleep doc's office did not know how to download the detailed data.

The first time I went to the sleep doctor's office after starting CPAP they didn't even have the software. When they called to schedule I asked if they needed me to bring the card in and that's what I was told. I asked them if they wanted me to bring them copies of my reports from EncoreViewer.

Two years ago, when I told my DME that I wanted to be able to see my data, she promised me that I could when she convinced me to trade a data capable M-Series Pro for a dataless M-Series Plus, (since, then, I didn't know any better!). I quit using the machine out of frustration after finding that my $300 Encore Pro software had an error and wouldn't work. Just recently, after getting my software fixed and after I found this site, I called her on it. She told me she had no idea that the Plus didn't record data! I asked her, "Don't you get any kind of training on this stuff?" She said, "Who would train me on software?" I pulled out the specifications on both machines and showed her. After, thinking about it, (I'm not too good at thinking fast on my feet, especially being sleep deprived!), I WISH I would have said, You can read, CAN'T YOU?

She told me "You don't need to see your data, it's too much for you to worry about. I would NEVER recommend that a patient be able to see their data. All you need to do is comply." I told her, "I need to see my data IN ORDER TO COMPLY." She told me, "You're worrying too much. You should go to the doctor and get on anti-anxiety medication." !!!!

Also, she told me that the doctor tells them what machine to give you. On my sleep study that was faxed to the DME the the RX on it, it only said "CPAP." This DME only carries one type of machine, I have since found out, and at that time, two years ago, the M-Series Plus, which was already discontinued. NOW, the only machine they give out is the ResMed S8, which is already discontinued now. Adios, Walgreen's!!!! Let this be a warning, do NOT deal with WALGREEN'S DME division! They're CROOKS!

Lori Dawn wrote:NOW, the only machine they give out is the ResMed S8, which is already discontinued now. Adios, Walgreen's!!!! Let this be a warning, do NOT deal with WALGREEN'S DME division! They're CROOKS!

They are buying up discontinued stock at dirt cheap prices. Bet they aren't selling at prices to reflect the discounts for older models.

Crapria told me that "BY LAW" they could not make any pressure adjustments on my APAP since I did not purchase the machine from them.

Crapria told me that my machine would "LOCK UP" if "I" tried to make any changes in the settings and it would have to be returned to the factory to be "unlocked".

Crapira told me that it did not matter what my sleep Doc wrote on my Rx, they were not bound to fill it with anything other than what "they" deemed medically necessary.

Crapria told me that I was only allowed "BY LAW" to get a new mask once every two years ! (But they called me several times a week to try to "sell" me a new mask.)

The list goes on.

In reading this topic, I'm now of the opinion that a primary piece of advice we should provide to newbies (and to practice ourselves) is to take a voice recorder with us when we visit our doctor / DME and to advise them that we are recording the conversation. That way they will know that if they spout any lies or deceptions, they can be called on it at a later date. Any that are caught on tape should be referred to the appropriate licensing agency, and possibly to small claims court, too.

SOMETHING has to be done to weed these bad apples out of the industry.

Great idea; my cellphone has voice recording.
I can forward the file to insurance company or regulators.

Be very careful when recording conversations. In some states (PA is one) it is illegal to record a conversation if everyone isn't told that the conversation is being recorded. If you tape surreptitiously and then produce the tape it will be YOU that is punished!

Lyn

My first DME who I did fire quickly told me the FP 604 was the very best machine out there. I asked how I would know if the therapy was working or if I needed a pressure change and was told that "I would know!" As a first time user I wondered HOW I would know. I asked about centrals being covered and was told "no problem with this machine" When I was asking about an auto and told the DME I would just contact my own doctor about writing a script for it, she had enough nerve to actually call my primary doctor and gave him reasons I would NOT benefit from an auto. My doctor was floored and pissed to get this call and wrote me a script for the machine I wanted………… I can't fault the FP machine but did not like the fact that I could not access any data. Now I am happy with my M-series Apap with auto flex, although have never used the flex's of any sort.

BusyLyn wrote:Be very careful when recording conversations. In some states (PA is one) it is illegal to record a conversation if everyone isn't told that the conversation is being recorded. If you tape surreptitiously and then produce the tape it will be YOU that is punished!

Lyn

As I previously posted, when recording them, tell them you are doing so. If you do, it's unlikely that they will be anything more than completely professional and truthful. If they are subsequently caught in a lie or deception, they will deserve what they get as comeuppance.

If they refuse to let you record them, then just go elsewhere because that's a certain clue of what they were planning to do to you.

Actually, when my family doctor died and I was doctor shopping I encountered one doctor who carried a small hand held tape recorder in his smock pocket and at the end of the consult pulled it out and did his dictation whilst we sat there. I liked that, you knew his impression of the visit right away, could correct any misinterpretations, had your memory refreshed for the advice given, etc., etc. I didn't like him and didn't stay w/him but I was most impressed w/the tape recorder idea.

Sleep Doc: Don't overanalyze the data. I can assure you it's 100% accurate.

Me: You're sure about that?

Sleep Doc: Guaranteed.

Me: Then please tell me how I had a minimum O-Sat% of zero? Did someone forget to tell me something?

FYI - I'm sure this was when the oximeter fell off, but "0" was NOT my minimum percentage ... can't "overanalyze" zero

I had my sleep study done September, 2009. At the same time, my son who lives in Seattle and works for Microsoft, also had a sleep study done.
Both of us have insurance. Mine is "Pretty good" his is stellar.

I had my sleep study done September, 2009. At the same time, my son who lives in Seattle and works for Microsoft, also had a sleep study done.
Both of us have insurance. Mine is "Pretty good" his is stellar.

CPAP people gave me a M-Series Cpap machine.
My son was given an S8 Autoset.
I was told I didn't need that machine.

It's now 1.5 years later. I am having issues with the humidifier my M-series. I call my insurance company and ask when I can get a replacement CPAP machine. They tell me if my doctor says I need it, that's good enough for them. After doing research on this group and talking to my son who loves his autoset, I ask my doctor if I can have an S9 Autoset. He says "Fine" They give me an S9, I go home fat, dumb and happy. Seems to work great the first night. I download Rescan and the clinician's guide so I can look at the settings. Hello, what's this? There is a LOT of things that are different. Some features that are supposed to be here aren't. The machine LOOKS like and S9, ??? I post my findings here, the people on this group figure it out in a hot New York Minute; You have an S9 Escape. The stripped down version of the Autoset!

I call my clinician and ask him what I have. After some hesitation, some hold time, a little "him-hawing etc" he says I have an S9 Escape. I tell him that I really wanted an Autoset. He says that he doesn't sell those, has never ordered one and does not know if there will be a problem with insurance coding. (All BS as was pointed out be various knowledgeable members of this group). I was sitting in the clinician's office when he laid the Insurance coding issue on me, I said "really? I thought E0601 worked for all CPAP machines. The look on his face was priceless!
So, they now know they are not dealing with a moron. (hey, they haven't talked to my wife, so I am safe) and they tell me they will special order me an Autoset.
I get the machine Friday, I ask my DME Clinician why they don't sell more of these because they seem to be the standard of the industry, he says:

"The reason we don't sell these is because when they are set to vary pressure, they can cause heart problems for people who sleep on their sides."He now has the Autoset configured (CPAP mode instead of Autoset) He gives me the machine and says "These are really nice, I have one at home"
Apparently, he had forgot what he told me a week ago!!! I there anything worse than a liar who can't remember is own lies?

Aw, come on, maybe he ordered one for himself AFTER you told him about them??? Yeah, right!

And, DME provider's aren't "liars". They just, sometimes, tend to be "less than truthful".