So much negative sentiment towards Apria but not Lincare?

cpapnewby · Post by **cpapnewby** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:13 am

Can't help wondering why there is so much negative sentiment towards Apria and their attitude towards CPAP patients and CPAP equipment manufacturers but I hardly read anything negative about Lincare?

Recently, so many CPAP users have expressed angst at Apria for not being able to provide them with Hybrid, Twilight NP etc etc. Various theories have been circulated including some that potray Apria as purely profit driven. An Apria employee who posts on this forum defends Apria (full credit to him/her for defending the employer) saying that because Apria is a national provider, the process for getting a "niche" product is complicated, some products like Hybrid have temporarily lost reimburement, they have contracts with larger manufacturers such as Respironics etc etc.

Isn't Lincare an equally large or larger national provider? If so, shouldn't they face the same issues? Is it that they are more patient friendly? Or is it just that users who post on this forum for some reason use Apria a lot more than Lincare for their CPAP needs?

Any thoughts?

Jim

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:56 am

Oh, I've read many complaints, similar to those about Apria, about Lincare in this and other forums!!!

Maybe its a matter of more insurance companies moving AWAY from Lincare due to prior complaints and ending up w/Apria (aren't THEY in for a surprise when they get the same and as many complaints against Apria?)

And maybe, Apria is just starting to give or offer the insurance companies a better financial "deal" than Lincare. Who knows for sure why the wind blows in one direction today and another tomorrow?

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:27 pm

The insurance co has to know that 15 minutes of a Tech's time and a Hybrid mask is grossly overpriced at 422.00.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:16 pm

As I've posted before, Lincare never gets it right. It's a cross between the keystone cops & the three stooges, except it's not funny. Now I've learned to put in my order, and take the supprise when it's delivered, and you never have a hard time opening the product, because someone has been in it before. Jim

DrowzyDave · Post by **DrowzyDave** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:35 pm

Goofproof wrote:and you never have a hard time opening the product, because someone has been in it before. Jim

Like to remove the small and large cushions for the F&P 431 so they can charge your insurance for another trip to your house AND another seal when you decide you want to try the large instead which is then delivered in a ziploc bag -- not an F&P box!!

Then if you try a 432 medium and decide to try a large, they will tell you that you need a whole new mask because (they say) the seal, foam cushion AND the shell are different sizes but I am pretty the shell is the same size and the seal and foam cushion are interchangeable.

I doubt Lincare is any better, you just are not hearing as much about them.

Dave

leonardlake · Post by **leonardlake** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:42 pm

I tried to find someone else besides Apria but they have a monopoly in this town.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:11 pm

Apria gets slammed because they've earned it!

I can only speak for my small areas of knowledge, but in the three geographic areas I either live in or have cpap friends living in, Apria outlets outnumber Lincare 4 to 1. That's not to say that Lincare isn't big, or nationwide. It just reflects my knowledge base.

Refugee · Post by **Refugee** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:12 pm

I started with Lincare but have dumped them for a local provider. The guy that did all my fittings is a moron and we've had nothing but problems with them. I'm glad we were able to find another DME in network.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:55 pm

I've read posts from people who've written that their insurance company's "force" them to use Apria. Is that also the case with Lincare?

My only local DME (within 30 miles) is Lincare. Four years ago when I was diagnosed, I went into Lincare. The only machines they had were some old dusty dinosaurs. I told them I wanted a Respironics Remstar Auto and they acted like they had never heard of it, and that they only had these -- pointing to the dusty shelf.

Needless to say, I walked out and bought my equipment online.

When I go on Medicare next year, do I have to use a DME for masks, etc, if I want insurance to pay? Guess I am in for a rude awakening. Yuk.

linda b · Post by **linda b** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:59 pm

I started on oxygen therapy about 6 months before being diagnosed with sleep apnea. Lincare was great at providing my oxygen needs.

And they were great in getting me set up with my APAP stuff and mask. Got exactly what I wanted. Of course it helped that my doctor ordered an APAP rather than CPAP!!

HOWEVER, the service since then has been terrible. Ditto what Goofproof said about them getting orders wrong. Not one single order i've placed for xPAP supplies has been delivered with the stuff I actually ordered -- even when I give them the exact manufacturer's product numbers. And the process of getting stuff returned to them, not to mention getting the bill straightened out is next to impossible.

The ONLY reason I stay with them is because they are a large national chain and we travel quite a bit. But that brings up a whole other set of problems, like getting all kinds of flack when I asked for two E-size oxygen tanks to be delivered to my daughter's house when I was visiting there. They took great umbrage that I didn't give them TWO WEEKS notice!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:22 am

From what I've read, LINCARE service varies widely from office to office. Those offices on the ball provide great service and good products but you can get poorly treated elsewhere. The office I visited was OK as far as I can tell, providing a new S8 and humidifier along with the mask I requested. They recommended the S8 because they said they don't get returns from dissatisfied customers on that model. They do need to open the CPAP box to set the pressure per prescription.

There are two other competing DMEs nearby, and that may be giving this office incentive to keep on the ball. Apria doesn't service this area.

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:43 am

When I started this whole journey I was using Lincare with a GP that didn't know anything about Sleep Disorders at all. So I kept trying to get info out of the RT at Lincare. After awhile he foisted me of on somebody that was very patronizing (the kind of thing where he wanted to pat me on the head and tell me to not worry about anything). When I bought my machine elsewhere, they got nasty. I don't go near them anymore... even for supplies.

Any of their decent RT's never seem to stay around very long.

All that I can say about Apria is that when my insurance came out with a letter saying that I could get X of a discount by dealing with them... I laughed, said "Not likely" and threw it out.

I've found a decent local place and I'll stick with them, even if it comes down to me buying stuff out of my own pocket. At least they'll talk to me!

oldvaham · Post by **oldvaham** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:32 am

I've been using LinCare for the past six months because my doctor faxed my prescription to them. In my first visit, they set me up with a ResMed Escape, mask, a travel bag and a resupply schedula. O.K. What did I know at the time. Two weeks later and the good people on this site, I went back for the S8 Vantage, a better fitting mask, software and card reader. Of course, there was the, "You don't need an ACPAP", "The doctor didn't order it." Blah, blah, blah. I said my replies and got the facts correct.

Well, within 15 minutes I left with everything I requested with one exception. They had an old copy of the software. I had already ordered the latest version online and had it available. To date, they - LinCare - have been helpful and provided just about everything I requested. However, when it comes to supplies, I've been provided the wrong mask inserts three times and four hoses, (just about one per month), and two complete masks - wrong size. I have returned these extra and requested schedule change twice. I am waiting to see if the last schedule change will actually go into effect.

I hope this makes you feel better.

Ken

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:54 am

I resently worked for Lincare until one of the friends of upper management had me let go. I had a great boss at Lincare who has personally spoken with many clients to insure their needs were met. I was very disappointed with Lincare. They are a very big company that focuses at least in one of the eastern states, on profit. I believe in giving the patient the greatest quality of care possible. Especially when it comes to their breathing. this company whould not allow my boss to have enough drivers, they rarley purchased new machines other than after a machine had been run for tens of thousands of hours or they just couldn't go anymore. Quite a few of these machines were taken from one home where there were roaches throughout the home, pet dander, flees, and other unsanitary conditions that I would not even live in much less my parents. These machines would run at an average of 90% - 92.5% oxygen levels many times when I would read them. After these machines would be taken out of the home, we would clean them on the outside, maybe change a little filter on the inside, and then get them ready to right back out to someone elses house. Our office had hundreds of patients and not enough drivers half the time. Espcially since we had to then help another office an hour away where upper management many times visited because all the drivers were either fired constantly or not hired. They included a trainer who knew the area well, would not go and help a patient out when my bosses office was pushed to the limit and people were tired and working til 1pm or later sometimes, including those same drivers being on call. I was very disappointed in the company and asked my boss what I could do? I gave some suggest to her but she said that they have been telling the company for a couple of years aobut the hepl they needed. They have a lot of politics going on in the office and I just hope that many of the patients have not in some cases had their condition worsend due to what may have been inside some of the machines. There is a lot I could say about this company. They affected the production of their employees and the quality of their service and the expense of the clients just to make another dollar and to increase their profit margins. Their were a lot of compalints by clients, espcially when they would get the wrond product, not enough, scheduling a delivery whithout the clients notice prior to final test results at the doctor, clients receiving product at 8pm to 9pm and soetimes later. I could go on and on about what I saw and heard. Since, I heard one of the great bosses with this company was finally fired after a long persnally fight from upper management to let her go. It is a shame. I hope someone investigates all of their centers. you don't tell clients your coming and then because of the enfluence certain people in the comapny has her are still under that boss, cause her to quick what she is doing for her patients, drop them for the moment, and then at 11 am and 12 pm tell them to go and help their patience at their office were they refuse to higher,properly train, and keep new drivers.

Lincare can only proft and increase their profit margins so long. Hundreds of patience lives are at stake and she don't keep making the same mistake or postponing them for another day or two because you don't have a big enough work force and all the equipment they need. There were many other things like not training employees properly based on laws by Medicare, Medicaid, FDA, etc. You don't have a driver, etc. complete several pages of Medicare paperwork until you know they understand exactly what they are doing, but when your are forced to based on the position you are put in by your boss, what do you say. They knew what they were doing. They "legal" got away with.... I hope they are investigated soon.

allen476 · Post by **allen476** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:46 pm

In this area, Lincare is the only DME supplier. However they are still on the ball. My supply orders are right and the people in the office are friendly and helpful as well. I don't like the RT there though as I know more about XPAP (and that is very limited) than she does.

Allen

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

So much negative sentiment towards Apria but not Lincare?

So much negative sentiment towards Apria but not Lincare?

Lincare does not even offer CPAP equipment in my town.

Lincare