Best Medicare CPAP supplier?

Hi Folks,
I went to the web site that Chunky Frog gave me, typed in my zip and got the 33 companies below.
I have a script for a ResMed S-9 Autoset CPAP machine.
I've heard a lot of negative comments about Apria but it's the only one within an acceptable driving distance that I can conveniently visit instead of doing everything by mail.
I called the local number and got someone in a call center in Connecticut. I got a young woman and to be very kind, lets pretend that it was her first day because she didn't know the answers to some very basic questions. She was on a chatline to her supervisor and she had to type out my question and wait for the sup. to type out the answer. She said I couldn't talk directly to the sup. I've been on the machine for a little over 5 yrs. and have read a lot about the topic on this forum. My past supplier did not win the competitive bid and no longer sells machines.
So my question is have any of you dealt with any of the companies below and had a wonderful experience? 5 stars out of 5.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Ed

Medicare Supplier Directory
CPAP Devices, Respiratory Assist Devices, and Related Supplies and Accessories
Supplier Information
Distance
APRIA HEALTHCARE LLC / APRIA HEALTHCARE LLC
1074 PULASKI ST 1
RIVERHEAD, NY 11901
(631) 727-5490
No toll-free number provided
11.02
Miles
PRIME CARE MEDICAL SUPPLIES INC. / PRIME CARE MEDICAL SUPPLIES INC
25 CORPORATE DR
HOLTSVILLE, NY 11742
(631) 447-0093
No toll-free number provided
36.18
Miles
LINCARE INC. / LINCARE INC
70 HOWARD ST STE A-1
NEW LONDON, CT 06320
(860) 442-8252
1-800-821-3164
41.92
Miles
PASSAIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES LLC / ALLCARE MEDICAL
125 NEWTOWN ROAD SUITE 300
PLAINVIEW, NY 11803
(800) 244-4660
1-800-244-4660
61.64
Miles
APRIA HEALTHCARE LLC / APRIA HEALTHCARE LLC
265 EXECUTIVE DR
PLAINVIEW, NY 11803
(631) 727-5490
No toll-free number provided
62.07
Miles
LINCARE INC. / PEDIATRIC SPECIALISTS
100 TERMINAL DR STE 104
PLAINVIEW, NY 11803
(516) 576-0605
1-888-776-0605
62.35
Miles
CONVA AIDS INC / CONVA-AIDS INC.
30 HOPPER ST
WESTBURY, NY 11590
(516) 333-2473
No toll-free number provided
69.42
Miles
ULTRA MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC. / ULTRA MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC.
246 WEST 231ST STREET
BRONX, NY 10463
(718) 796-7555
No toll-free number provided
88.86
Miles
AMERICAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS INC / AMERICAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS INC
1405 FIFTH AVE
NEW YORK, NY 10029
(718) 565-7553
No toll-free number provided
90.88
Miles
RITE SURGICAL SUPPLIES INC / RITECARE MEDICAL PRODUCTS
266 47TH ST
BROOKLYN, NY 11220
(718) 439-6500
1-877-748-3227
100.18
Miles
AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT, INC. / AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT
3 NANCY COURT SUITE 3
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
(845) 223-7016
1-866-463-7501
104.24
Miles
AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT, INC. / AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT
919 HIGHWAY 33 BUILDING 6 SUITE 51
FREEHOLD, NJ 07728
(732) 206-1600
1-888-748-8787
129.71
Miles
OCEAN HOME HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC / OCEAN HOME HEALTH SUPPLY LLC
1000 AIRPORT RD STE 205
LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701
(732) 961-1301
1-888-294-3352
134.63
Miles
AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT, INC. / AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT
3448 PROGRESS DRIVE STE B
BENSALEM, PA 19020
(215) 396-9009
1-800-341-1122
174.66
Miles
BOARDMAN MEDICAL SUPPLY CO / BOARDMAN MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY
300 N STATE ST
GIRARD, OH 44420
(330) 545-6700
No toll-free number provided
530.87
Miles
AEROFLOW INC. / AEROFLOW INC
3165 SWEETEN CREEK RD
ASHEVILLE, NC 28803
(828) 277-1400
1-888-345-1780
826.73
Miles
PALMETTO OXYGEN, LLC / PALMETTO OXYGEN LLC
104 CORPORATE BLVD STE 402
WEST COLUMBIA, SC 29169
(803) 926-0252
No toll-free number provided
842.53
Miles
ESTEEMCARE INC / ESTEEMCARE INC
3223 SUNSET BLVD STE 104
WEST COLUMBIA, SC 29169
(803) 936-9376
No toll-free number provided
842.76
Miles
AHP KNOXVILLE PARTNERSHIP / AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT
10301 COGDILL RD 305
KNOXVILLE, TN 37932
(865) 777-2802
1-800-866-3675
897.66
Miles
AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT, INC. / AMERICAN HOMEPATIENT
5213 LINBAR DR STE 400
NASHVILLE, TN 37211
(615) 591-0389
1-877-221-8763
1,045.17
Miles
CPAP CARE CLUB, LLC / CPAP CARE CLUB LLC
6840 CAROTHERS PARKWAY SUITE 400
FRANKLIN, TN 37067
(800) 487-5566
1-800-487-5566
1,057.58
Miles
OPTIGEN INCORPORATED / OPTIGEN INC
1351 13TH AVE STE 100
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL 32250
(904) 249-1046
No toll-free number provided
1,115.01
Miles
MRB ACQUISITION CORP / MRB ACQUISITION CORP
1124 BEVILLE RD STE C
DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114
(866) 387-2668
1-866-387-2668
1,186.52
Miles
FLORIDA HOME MEDICAL SUPPLY, INC. / COLONIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES
614 E ALTAMONTE DR
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL 32701
(407) 849-6455
No toll-free number provided
1,235.23
Miles
MEDPROS OF THE TREASURE COAST / ION MY HEALTH
185 E INDIANTOWN RD SUITE 205
JUPITER, FL 33477
(800) 660-7094
1-800-660-7094
1,329.67
Miles
AM-MED DIABETIC SUPPLIES, INC. / AM-MED DIABETIC SUPPLIES INC
5180W ATLANTIC AVE 107
DELRAY BEACH, FL 33484
(561) 900-3541
1-800-787-6410
1,369.15
Miles
QUALITY MEDICAL PRODUCTS, LLC / QUALITY MEDICAL PRODUCTS
5180W ATLANTIC AVE 105
DELRAY BEACH, FL 33484
(800) 356-0685
1-888-716-6567
1,369.15
Miles
MED-CARE DIABETIC AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES / MED-CARE DIABETIC AND MEDICAL SUPPL
933 CLINT MOORE RD
BOCA RATON, FL 33487
(800) 407-0109
1-888-484-2261
1,372.43
Miles
US MED INC / US MED INC
1480 NW 79TH AVE
DORAL, FL 33126
(305) 592-8353
1-800-787-6331
1,428.68
Miles
DUSARA CORPORATION / UNIVERSALMED SUPPLY
111 W DANIELDALE RD
DUNCANVILLE, TX 75137
(972) 228-1820
1-866-864-6332
1,826.46
Miles
MONITOR MEDICAL, INC. / MONITOR MEDICAL INC
12705 S KIRKWOOD RD STE 203
STAFFORD, TX 77477
(281) 240-7222
1-877-569-9436
1,889.65
Miles
ORBIT MEDICAL OF PORTLAND, INC / TIBRO MEDICAL
4424 SOUTH 700 EAST STE 200
MURRAY, UT 84107
(866) 389-2782
2,549.69
Miles
NATIONWIDE MEDICAL, INC. / NATIONWIDE MEDICAL, INC.
29901 AGOURA RD
AGOURA HILLS, CA 91301
(818) 338-3500
1-877-307-2727

CPAP CARE CLUB, LLC is mentioned on this forum. If you search for Care Club, you'll find the threads. I haven't purchased from them, but I have had favorable conversations with them on the phone in case I needed a backup to my closer Medicare DME, who so far is doing ok. If I'm not mistaken, the competitive bid plan was put into place in July, 2013, at least it was in California, and I applied for my new equipment in September. In general the only complaint I have with contracted DME's that were chosen for the competitive bid is that they can be slow in processing the paperwork and insurance verification since so many Medicare patients have had to switch to the competitive bid companies, thus overwhelming them with transferring patients. I hope you find one to your liking.

Your problem probably centered around asking question on far to difficult a level, like What is your first name?

If you could have found more basic questions maybe you could have gotten better answers.

You can not expect Apria's entire staff to be trained to answer such technical questions.

Now, all of this occurred BEFORE the newest round of competitive bidding AND my area is still NOT in a competitive bid area.

In early 2013 I helped someone else get a replacement machine from Medicare.

I gave all of the information I mention below to this person & then she in turn gave it to & dealt with a local office of Apria. I accompanied her to her visit to Apria to pick up her S9 AutoSet.

A written list of each item she wanted WITH the ResMed Item Number of each item AND the Insurance Code of each item was E-Mailed to Apria AFTER she had talked to them by telephone telling them that you would only accept what was on the list - NO substitutions whatsoever!

AFTER Apria called & said they could provide what she wanted, she provided them with her Medicare & Secondary Insurance information for Apria to verify her coverage. That took only 2 days.

An appointment was made by Apria for her to go in the next day to pick up the machine, etc.

She got EVERYTHING just as we (ahem, she) had listed it.
And everything was checked to make sure it was all BRAND NEW.
Even the mask was still in a sealed ResMed bag.

Since her Secondary paid all of her 2013 Medicare deductible plus the 20% that Medicare did not pay, she did NOT have to pay anything out of pocket.

Apria billed Medicare & her Secondary for 100% of the Humidifier, mask, & other supplies, plus the 1st of 13 Months Rental on the machine.

Both of us were pleased with Apria's handling of her case, but I do have to emphasize that Apria recognized from the very beginning that she would accept ONLY what we listed.

bwexler wrote:Your problem probably centered around asking question on far to difficult a level, like What is your first name?

If you could have found more basic questions maybe you could have gotten better answers.

You can not expect Apria's entire staff to be trained to answer such technical questions.

Asking any DME Questions is A WASTE OF TIME.
So, is asking Questions of your insurer.

I always research & determine what "I" need & want & then tell them "if you can provide this EXACTLY, we can do business".

i deal with the american homepatient nashville distribution center in your list. they have a local office here, but when i need something i deal directly with nashville. i have nothing bad to say about them. they are very helpful.

violetpro wrote:CPAP CARE CLUB, LLC is mentioned on this forum. If you search for Care Club, you'll find the threads. I haven't purchased from them, but I have had favorable conversations with them on the phone in case I needed a backup to my closer Medicare DME, who so far is doing ok. If I'm not mistaken, the competitive bid plan was put into place in July, 2013, at least it was in California, and I applied for my new equipment in September. In general the only complaint I have with contracted DME's that were chosen for the competitive bid is that they can be slow in processing the paperwork and insurance verification since so many Medicare patients have had to switch to the competitive bid companies, thus overwhelming them with transferring patients. I hope you find one to your liking.

Thank you for your suggestion Violet. I just called CPAP CARE CLUB in TN and they said that Medicare has a new policy. In the past, they would pay for a new machine every 5 years,(which I wanted so I could use my old one for a backup) Now they will only pay for a new machine if mine is broken beyond repair. They were very knowledgeable and helpful.
Take care,
Ed

UPDATE Just called American Homepatient and they said they could send me a new machine paid by Medicare. NO PROBLEM!!!!! What a confusing mess but the outcome looks good.
Ed

greatunclebill wrote:I deal with the American Homepatient Nashville distribution center in your list. they have a local office here, but when I need something I deal directly with nashville. i have nothing bad to say about them. they are very helpful.

Thanks Uncle Bill. I called the local number for American Homepatient in Nashville and they were very helpful. After I talked to her for a while and told her how much I liked Nashville she said she was in Texas.

Apria is the ONLY contracted provider within 50 miles of my house.
I have an appointment for a "mask fitting" for a Wisp.
I'm prepared to "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" a little to get them on my side to provide supplies in a timely manner.
My Part B supplement is Plan F, so it doesn't cost ME a cent more.
Let me see, now; how long have I been wearing my Wisp?
(Edit) answer: Since April!
Edit: apria is no longer contracted with Medicare in my area.
I changed to the supplier who is. (August, 2014)

I have American Home Patient in TN. It takes me forever to get anything from them. If they wasn't so slow maybe I could like them. It took 3 months to get a mask. If you open a mask it can't be returned. How could you tell if you like it without opening it?

IMHO Nationwide. Example I got a F&P Icon CPAP from them last Oct. My Dr wanted me to have a PR S1 560 in March, so they sent one right away. No problem, no extra bill. When I was trying lots of different masks they sent me a different one as mask time to try - I just told them which one I wanted to try - no problem. Now I do buy masks out of my own pocket when I want to try something in between mask time. I always had a good experience with them.

Jen

The AHP location is about 500 feet away from the Apria here, and they are also Medicare providers, but not contracted;
With my supplement, they could collect slightly more from my insurance, and if Apria "can't" get something I need--
I don't have far to go. I have my fingers crossed--with optimism.

I visited Apria today. The lady was very helpful. Due to previous calls they had 3 of the four items I needed on hand.
I ordered a Wisp, which I got with all 3 of my size cushions, instead of the 2 that don't fit.
I got a new heated hose and good tank.
The only thing she said they couldn't get was the hypoallergenic filters, so I'll see what the regulars are like when they arrive.

chunkyfrog wrote:I visited Apria today. The lady was very helpful. Due to previous calls they had 3 of the four items I needed on hand.
I ordered a Wisp, which I got with all 3 of my size cushions, instead of the 2 that don't fit.
I got a new heated hose and good tank.
The only thing she said they couldn't get was the hypoallergenic filters, so I'll see what the regulars are like when they arrive.

So the local Apria actually stock supplies?

The local Apria told someone all supplies & accessories had to be ordered through their National Supply Center (or whatever it is called).

.