Dealing with Lincare
I took some advice here and am geting a new machine. My provider is Lincare and I don't know if they will try to give me a brick or a good fully data capable machine.
I know I should have told my DR. what to write the perscriction for but my Dr. is a
*$** . When I called his office and broached the idea of a new machine the office girl said why is your's broken? I then told her it will be 10 years old 1/25/17 and it
is indead starting to fail. She told me I would have to come in and talk to the DR. even though I was in last month. Then he would order a new sleep study ect. Well I called Lincare and they got this ironed out and ordered me a machine. But I wonder when it gets in in a day or two if I am likely to get a good one or a brick. Ok I know if it's a brick I can refuse it but wonder what to expect from good old Lincare ? And I think I need to hunt for a good Dr not this looser I currently have.
RE: Dealing with Lincare
EW, when you go to pick up the machine, I suspect you will get an auto machine. That is what you had previously, your pressure prescription is a range, not a single pressure, and you have not had anything that would change your need for an auto machine. In the event they offer a fixed pressure CPAP, you have a right of refusal. You should use these points mentioned above as rationale for an upgrade to auto, and you should refuse to accept anything less. They will probably dispense an auto anyway, but just in case, you are in control until you actually accept the machine.
RE: Dealing with Lincare
Well actually I was prescribed a brick and had picked up a used auto off craig's list. So who know what they will give me. It wasn't till I bought an auto and looked at the data that I knew my therapy wasn't where it should be. If I absolutely have to I may just buy a good one out of pocket but will try this rout first.
RE: Dealing with Lincare
The DME gets reimbursed profitably either way. Refuse a brick, accept an auto. You are the customer and you should make your wishes clear. Accepting anything less than what you expect only hurts you. Lincare is well known here, and they will fill your prescription with a better machine, but you may have to be assertive.
01-22-2017, 06:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-22-2017, 06:46 PM by Mosquitobait.)
RE: Dealing with Lincare
EW, don't wait. Call up Lincare and tell them what machine you want. If they need a different script, then either they can get it for you or you can call the doctor's office and they will send a new one. Ultimately, you pay for it (either with cash your your health insurance), so get the cpap that YOU want as you will have that for the next 5 or more years. Don't waste your time going to an appointment only to have the wrong machine. I told them I wanted a Resmed For Her. I got it. I had to wait extra time for it, but it's what I wanted (I now have 2!).
The thing is, a lot of people aren't interested in their care. They have NO DESIRE to maximize their therapy for whatever reason. Fine, they can have the bricks. Some people want a brick as a backup machine. No problem with that either. But if you are seeking to make sure that you have the best therapy possible for you, you want to have an auto machine that has the data capability that allows you to see exactly what is happening.
RE: Dealing with Lincare
I need to go down there to pick out a new mask anyway . If it's
not a good one I will turn it down and take your advice. Shoot I
already have 2 autos that give me some data that old remstarauto
and the Resmed S8. I realy was disapointed when I found out the
S8 Vantage didn't have detailed data I thought it would.
