When I picked up my first machine back then, I was surprised that my doctor (at a major urban hospital sleep clinic) allowed a DME vendor (themselves or Norco perhaps?) to sit in the office and sell me DME. Is that allowed?
Regardless, I seem to have muddled through getting supplies (hose, air filters, nasal pillows), sometimes through them or Norco, other times just spending my own money.
I don't get new stuff very often (as per discussions I've seen here...) Sometimes I buy online. Other times I've used Norco.
Recently Norco (after they wore me down by robo-dialing me monthly for six months) walked me through buying a chinstrap, headgear, pillows, etc.
The products arrived. I'm happy.
But, I can't figure out who paid for them! My Medicare Part B Summary Notice lists them with the (inflated) $271 vendor charge. But, they flag the items as not approved and that the "Maximum You May Be Billed" is $0.00.
I'm pretty sure I hadn't bought any DME for at least six months, so I doubt I bought "too early" for them to be covered by Medicare.
My Medigap (Regence) doesn't seem to know anything about DME (maybe a bill is still weaving its way through their system?)
So, what's going on here? Did Norco mess up somehow, causing Medicare to refuse to pay? Can Norco bill me (they haven't...) if Medicare says "Maximum Amount I can be billed" is 0?
Is there an FAQ or threads here (I couldn't find any) that discuss various strategies for buying DME?
Because it's only $100 a year or so, it's tempting just to skip the insurance BS and buy it with my own money at Supplier #1 as I did yesterday. I'm not a bargain hunter. I just don't need the hassle of bureaucracy. (Does that mean they won?!) Maybe I'll submit a claim to whomever, but if it takes more then 10 minutes, it's just not worth the hassle to me given my schedule.
Tom
PS How do you, oh members, buy your DME?
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