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Do NOT trust your DME - my story
#51
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
Oh my, the Lebanon Keene Medical is the one I have used for the past 5 years. I think I must have been lucky - I hadn’t had any problems with them. Of course all the people I have used to get my APAP machine are long gone. I do have to say that the education was poor and not much time was spent fitting a mask etc. also, I always went to the offfice - never had a home visit. I also haven’t needed them for anything except replenished of supplies. But all that has been fine with me as I really don’t want them involved in my therapy- I’ve done all my own settings. 

However, I might change to another DME as I just ran into a situation where they refused to order me the Dreamwear gel pillow. I’ve bought it on my own from another provider via the web, as I wasn’t due for another pillow through insurance. My MD has given them a specific order for that pillow as they had said that was necessary before they would order it. Then they told me my insurance wouldn’t pay for it. So I called Medicare/Anthem. Not true. Went back to Keene Medical and confronted them with that so they then admitted that they just wouldn’t provide that pillow as “ they don’t get enough for it” . I then told them that I had already checked and that a competitor of theirs would supply it to me under insurance and that I would probably change to them - and I was due for a new APAP and they would lose the whole business. So, maybe they have gotten more sleazy . A shame!
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#52
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
About 10 minutes ago, Apria delivered me a new ASV unit, power brick, and water tank. The driver removed the pesky and "faulty" unit with more hours than I had used. Confirmed brand new device now. ZERO hours on the device. Got a 2nd ResMed SD card and a filter installed too.

I'll give Apria a kudos for making it right and rather painless in getting it resolved. Remember folks, we're dealing with DME's here...

like Eat-popcorn Coffee lots-o-coffee

Dave
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#53
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
Damn, reading all this I'm thankful all this stuff is free for me where I live in good old NZ. My local health board provides a machine, hoses, masks and servicing and annual checkups for free because I have asthma. I dread the day we follow the "private insurer healthcare" model the USA has.
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#54
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
(10-09-2017, 08:20 PM)ICZOscar Wrote: I’ve been mulling over how to respond in a public manner.  I gave him 3 times to correct/change the machine and had demonstrated I wasn’t totally ignorant but he blew it.  When I called and gave him the exact hours on the machine he immediately said it must have been a mix up (haha) and he would bring me a new one ASAP.  He knew.  The staff called me asking if everything was ok.

I did not react, no blame, no incriminations, they owe me.

But I don’t want anyone who isn’t a member here to get screwed.

I was thinking review instead of BBB.

The DME is National I think with two facilities in my area.

Thanks all.

DME is AeroCare.

Interesting I would see this now. I was considering switching from American Homepatient to AeroCare, but first I placed a a small order to see how fast their response would be. When it’s time for my supplies I don’t want to wait a month to get them after the order is placed. 

I ordered a hose cozy for my CPAP hose . It said they had them in two colors; charcoal and navy blue. I picked Navy blue because it would go better with the room decor. They charged my card and said that they would send me an email with tracking information when the item shipped. Five business days later I hadn’t received anything so I emailed them to see if maybe they had sent it but it didn’t come through. They emailed me back and said it was on back order and would send it as soon as they came in. Their website said it was in stock when I ordered it. The company offered to send the charcoal one instead, but I declined. If I had wanted that one I would have ordered it.

The hose cozy came in the mail the following week but I felt that if it was out of stock and back ordered they should have told me that instead of making me wait and wonder.

I chose Manor Healthcare as my new HME supplier. They were my original when I first started CPAP therapy and I was very sad when I had to find a new one because they lost their contract due to Medicare restructuring. American Homepatient used to be good too until they got bought by another company. After that their service went way down fast. I was ecstatic when I found out that Manor took my new insurance.

To be fair, AH has made strides recently to improve their customer service, but it was just too little too late for me.
RedBarron

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first for the Jew, and also for the Greek [Gentile]." Romans 1:16 CSB
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#55
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
Just so I know, how do you check to see if there is a difference between the hours I have used my machine and the total number of hours of use on the machine. My APAP make and model is in my information to the left.
RedBarron

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first for the Jew, and also for the Greek [Gentile]." Romans 1:16 CSB
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#56
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
Go into the clinic menu and look under about for total run hours on the machine. You can get your machines Clinic manual that explains all the options in the member's private files section.
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#57
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
(10-12-2017, 09:57 PM)SarcasticDave94 Wrote: Thanks, means lots. Feeling better than I've been for several days. My bad was that symptoms were hid by my other aches etc. Gotta wait till 10/24 to see cardiac doc so I'm guessing it's not super serious now.

First, glad you are feeling better.  I presume that your primary has already run some tests and sent them on to the cardiac doc. Otherwise, I'd be concerned that your appointment is months away.

I switched DMEs last year because (a) my bro could not get into their office (not wheelchair friendly) (b) they are more than 20 miles away and © their home visits were not specific times - which is a problem for me because I'm the one who handles his accounts. For me, I could change coverage and get my supplies free instead of with a 20% copay. The new DME only deals in Resmed, Respironics and F&P. If you want anything else, you need to buy it somewhere else, but their selection was fine with me. So, the new DME hasn't been perfect. They send my order right away, but not always the right stuff. Stuff gets left out or the wrong one is sent. My brother's orders have been perfect.

© their home visits were not specific times - as to this, the RTs visit folks just getting out of the hospital as well as oxygen patients. So I GET that they might have problems being at the house at specific times, but they never called to say that they won't be there at all. I'm the sole driver here and I can't hang around the house day-after-day waiting for them to come. The new DME advises me if they are running late or unable to come that day. The new DME actually has an office at the hospital, so I can bring him there easily - no home visit necessary.
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#58
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
(06-17-2018, 06:27 AM)Thanks for that information. I will go check out the manual.Walla Walla Wrote: Go into the clinic menu and look under about for total run hours on the machine. You can get your machines Clinic manual that explains all the options in the member's private files section.
RedBarron

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first for the Jew, and also for the Greek [Gentile]." Romans 1:16 CSB
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#59
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
Mosquitobait,

Yes, primary doc and cardiac specialist both wanted some testing. All were negative on heart attack. Likely chalking it to angina. I am now on 3 heart and BP related meds, one of which addresses the angina and tightness. BP has trended down into normal range for a few months. Mostly doing better in this area excepting the occasions of dizziness if I try to get up too fast or walk extended periods of time.

Thanks Coffee

FWIW Apria still gets an OK grade for the local office I deal with.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#60
RE: Do NOT trust your DME - my story
My head is swimming looking at posts here. I live near Toronto Canada. My long term sleep doc has retired. He told me there was nothing new in OSA treatment. I made a huge improvement buying a used machine from a friend who refuses treatment.

I have a lot of reading to do. Although I have been compliant more than 25 years, I'm only just learning how to read the data my machine reports.

I'll try reducing the exhalation pressure. Maybe my DME can help. ( I've finally found a good one

Dave
CPAP, humidifier, heated hose; nasal mask
DaveL
compliant for 35 years /// Still trying!

I'm just a cpap user like you. I don't give medical advice. Seek the advice of a physician before seeking treatment for medical conditions including sleep apnea. Sleep-well

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php..._The_Guide

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