Rotech DME Opinions

I've seen much about Apria and Lincare, but not so much about Rotech. I know they are a national chain, but their offices use different names instead of all being called "Rotech" specifically. For those that use or have used a Rotech DME, what are your thoughts on them?

I have been a patient of a Rotech DME for fifteen or more years and have been treated quite well. I have especially appreciated their help when I experienced BiPAP machine problems while traveling. My hometown DME has twice arranged assistance when I was far away- once for a loaner machine when my machine failed in Montana, and another occasion when my nasal mask was broken in Florida.
I have no idea how many affiliates Rotech has, but I did certainly benefit from access to equipment while in rather remote locations.

The local office in my small town has cheerfully kept me stocked with consumable items-hoses, filters, etc.

TheDuke

wow! I have got to say, i have mixed opinions on them. First, my RT that works at our local office, says she is also on cpap therapy. So, you would think she would be more helpful and understanding. WRONG! I received my machine about 18 months ago, was told she would follow up in a couple of weeks, never seen her until I went back into their office 3 weeks ago. I wonder how they showed compliance to the insurance company? Especially since I wasn't compliant, never was able to use the mask more than 3 hours, before ripping it off! A little after a year, I decided I had to get my SA under control, and called to order a different mask made by innomed. They gave me a huge run-around, but finally ordered it for me. That is the first of any supplies I had received from them since I had started my treatment. I had signed up to have all supplies automatically sent to me every 90 days. I never got a new mask at 6 months, no new cushions, no filters, no new hose, no new water chamber for humidifier, nothing!

I had to return about a month ago to have my oxygen levels checked overnight, I went back 10 days after having my Oxygen tested, to see about getting a Resmed quattro FX mask and was told, my prescription had to state specifically that I needed that mask! They were trying to switch to Resperonics mask only. Then they turned around and fitted me for a Swift FX also by Resmed! Explain that one to me? Then the lady at the front desk let it slip that I was real close to needing oxygen while I slept, I said, "Really, I haven't been back to my Dr. yet to find out the results!" She, said, "Oops! Forget I said anything! I thought your Dr. would have told you by now." I had ordered a recording Oximeter for my own use, and it shows, that my oxygen levels are doing very well while I sleep. I'll see what the Dr. has to say next week, when I go back.

The one good thing I can say for them is, I was like probably 95% of all people and had no clue about the data capable machines, mask and all the other good stuff. They did set me up with a full data capable machine instead of a brick.

I did a Google search on them a couple of months ago, I found they were almost bankrupt a while back, and a lot of employees were upset with the company. A lot of complaints about low pay, hard to get parts for equipment, complaints that company wasn't worried about patients, just the bottom line...etc. Of course, your branch may be different!

I talked to the lady at my doc's office today and she said the local branch is a better choice than Apria (which is who I am trying to avoid).

grillhead wrote:I talked to the lady at my doc's office today and she said the local branch is a better choice than Apria (which is who I am trying to avoid).

My Dr. ask me how I liked my local Rotech (name not mentioned) office, I told him they were not much help, he said he had heard a lot of complaints about them and told me to check out another provider that is about an hour away. He said that they would deliver to my house, even this far away. Most of his patients were real happy with them, so I think i will be giving them a try soon. I'll just have to check with the insurance company to make sure they are in network.

woodworkerjunkie wrote:

grillhead wrote:I talked to the lady at my doc's office today and she said the local branch is a better choice than Apria (which is who I am trying to avoid).

My Dr. ask me how I liked my local Rotech (name not mentioned) office, I told him they were not much help, he said he had heard a lot of complaints about them and told me to check out another provider that is about an hour away. He said that they would deliver to my house, even this far away. Most of his patients were real happy with them, so I think i will be giving them a try soon. I'll just have to check with the insurance company to make sure they are in network.

That's the crapper of it all... there's a local I would like to use but they aren't in-network, and I don't know if I can afford the difference between in- and out-

I found one--44 miles away. They do not accept Medicare assignment.
Not much point.

lets hope your branch is better but i have been with mine for 4 yrs and it has been filled with misinformation and outright lies and then there is incompetence. the turn over rate seems extremely high too
and there has been wrong masks, wrong sized masks, and lies about masks lies about how often you can get a masks even, now why would they lie about that?
talking with the location manager and even calling rotech corp hqs proved useless
then they label you as a problem cuz you expected them to keep their word
i like them best when they just leave me alone

When I called the local branch today, the lady I talked to was really nice. She tried to answer the questions I had, but deferred me to the therapist for some of them as well. The therapist wasn't in today but she told me I could call her on Monday for further questions and clarification, which I did appreciate that she didn't try to BS me with answers if she didn't know. She did make mention that if I went with them and had any problems, to call ASAP and they would do what they could to fix it because they wanted me to have a good experience and stay compliant (which I also appreciated). She said they would get information from the machine for leaks, etc. which told me that they use full data, which is good as well.

read this BEFORE you go to any DME:
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Already have, a couple of times I've already given my doc's office the exact machine that I want with instructions to dispense as written (plus the nurse there will fight for whatever I want). Right now I've just been testing the waters to see what places my insurance would cover and this Rotech place is one of them. After my test is scored next week is when they will send the stuff to the DME and I'll get to the nitty-gritty if necessary.

I have had a bad experience with Apria. No direct knowledge of Rotech, but have had NO customer service from 2 local companies, one of which might be associated with Rotech, not sure but will call on Monday to check, will post if I find out. I've been using a mailorder company last 2 yrs, Nationwide Medical. I have had good luck with them, I recently got a new machine, local company gave me NO customer service on that machine. New machine is a F&P Icon Premo, great machine so far. Nationwide sends me masks, supplies, tubing, filters and just about anything I need without asking. When I ask, they send whatever I need ASAP. When I've been trying out new masks, I ordered online out of my pocket, then filed cost with FSA accnt. Once I found the one I wanted to go with, called Nationwide and they told me if I wanted to try new mask, let them know and they will send me one to try, with my Drs Rx of course (that was my problem, Dr not so easy to get RX from, so I ordered from site that did not requre one). In short, I've had great luck with Nationwide. Local company left me with a machine that had more electrical tape than it had wiring (no kidding!) and had to buy my own supplies (used same mask for 3 yrs before I found I could get online without RX). I learned my way around on my own before I found this wonderful board. If I had known this resource existed I could have saved myself a lot of money & headaches. (Yes, I did rewire my CPAP machine myself, with help of an electrical manual purchased at Lowes. Unplugged it daily when I got up & slept witth a fire extingusher by my bed.)
Jen

grillhead wrote:I talked to the lady at my doc's office today and she said the local branch is a better choice than Apria (which is who I am trying to avoid).

That info is useful, but remember that keeping the lady at the doc's office happy may not have much bearing on keeping the patient happy, providing them with good, data capable machines, or providing good therapy. They may just be good at answering questions for the doctor's office, doing the paperwork, and keeping the patients fat, dumb, and happy so the patient doesn't bother the doctor.

Realize a lot of doctors don't realize that dataless CPAPs qualify as a crime against humanity.

Good luck.

I think it all depends upon the local affiliate. When I was diagnosed with compSA and received rx for asv, Lincare gave me a HUGE run-around. They wanted all of the diagnostic sleep data sent to them so that they could do their own diagnosis. Huh? I thought the dr did the diagnosing. That went on forever and my doc finally referred me to a Rotech company. I then received the ASV very quickly, no questions asked.

The local company has been pretty good with follow-up, but not perfect. I think a good cpap education via Cpaptalk.com is really essential to give you enough knowledge to help prevent some of the delays and mistakes. This prevents the DME from taking advantage of you as an uninformed consumer.

I say switch to another DME when things get out of hand. The DME world is not perfect, but then what is.

We all know that there are some good ones and some really bad ones. I think it depends more on the local provider than the umbrella corporate entity.

My local Rotech provider does take Medicare assignments.

it is common in fact routine for the DME to paint a rosey picture until you have signed the no escape contract read everything before signing anything and ask lots of questions (here) search read discover