Re: Apria and Bid Process for Durable Medical Equipment

[Guest guest]

We do have one piece of potentially good news. Several major hospital

groups and medical suppliers including such as Lincare and Scooter Store

have been appealing to congress and even filing suits.

The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Improvements for

Patients and Providers Act of 2008 by a wide margin on Wednesday, and

the Senate was expected to take up the bill Thursday. Bush did say he

might veto it so we need it to carry the Senate as overwhelmingly as it

did the house.

Among other things the bill requires prompt payment to pharmacies under

the Medicare prescription drug program, delays competitive bid

requirements for medical equipment companies, and proposes no cuts to

home oxygen or wheelchair providers. This can undo much of the damage

underway although I would not see it changing Apria's move.

> > >

> > > Hello everyone

> > > Just a note about Apria. You know how much trouble some of us have

> had

> > with them...especially me and Joyce. Well, something new has

happened.

> > >

> > > Apria states it was a Corporate decision:

> > > Apria will no longer provide liquid oxygen to patients. Because of

> the

> > increased fuel and delivery men wages. It is not profitable for

them.

> > So, they have made the decision that if you are now on liquid

oxygen,

> > that they will replace liquid with a new concentrator which will

> handle

> > high flow. That way it will not have to be refilled etc.

> > >

> > > Here's my problem with this. Concentrated oxygen was not good

enough

> > for me. I needed and still need liquid. And, portable oxygen tanks

do

> > not go high enough or last long enough for anyone to go to the Dr.,

> > church, etc. Apria states that if you need this much oxygen, then

you

> do

> > not need to be leaving the house.

> > >

> > > Well...if they think we will just let them arbitrarily make us

> > housebound..well they need to think again. My husband will go to the

> > local TV station, write letters and do whatever is necessary. He has

> > already called Cigna to complain and he is writing a letter. He will

> > also contact an attorney.

> > >

> > > Apria said a letter will be delivered to us probably tomorrow, and

> > will tell us how much time we have to appeal, although they do not

> think

> > an appeal will do anything. As we were told. THIS IS A CORPORATE

> > DECISION!

> > >

> > > Apria!!!! I get so tired of fighting with them. So very tired.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

We do have one piece of potentially good news. Several major hospital

groups and medical suppliers including such as Lincare and Scooter Store

have been appealing to congress and even filing suits.

The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Improvements for

Patients and Providers Act of 2008 by a wide margin on Wednesday, and

the Senate was expected to take up the bill Thursday. Bush did say he

might veto it so we need it to carry the Senate as overwhelmingly as it

did the house.

Among other things the bill requires prompt payment to pharmacies under

the Medicare prescription drug program, delays competitive bid

requirements for medical equipment companies, and proposes no cuts to

home oxygen or wheelchair providers. This can undo much of the damage

underway although I would not see it changing Apria's move.

> > >

> > > Hello everyone

> > > Just a note about Apria. You know how much trouble some of us have

> had

> > with them...especially me and Joyce. Well, something new has

happened.

> > >

> > > Apria states it was a Corporate decision:

> > > Apria will no longer provide liquid oxygen to patients. Because of

> the

> > increased fuel and delivery men wages. It is not profitable for

them.

> > So, they have made the decision that if you are now on liquid

oxygen,

> > that they will replace liquid with a new concentrator which will

> handle

> > high flow. That way it will not have to be refilled etc.

> > >

> > > Here's my problem with this. Concentrated oxygen was not good

enough

> > for me. I needed and still need liquid. And, portable oxygen tanks

do

> > not go high enough or last long enough for anyone to go to the Dr.,

> > church, etc. Apria states that if you need this much oxygen, then

you

> do

> > not need to be leaving the house.

> > >

> > > Well...if they think we will just let them arbitrarily make us

> > housebound..well they need to think again. My husband will go to the

> > local TV station, write letters and do whatever is necessary. He has

> > already called Cigna to complain and he is writing a letter. He will

> > also contact an attorney.

> > >

> > > Apria said a letter will be delivered to us probably tomorrow, and

> > will tell us how much time we have to appeal, although they do not

> think

> > an appeal will do anything. As we were told. THIS IS A CORPORATE

> > DECISION!

> > >

> > > Apria!!!! I get so tired of fighting with them. So very tired.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

We do have one piece of potentially good news. Several major hospital

groups and medical suppliers including such as Lincare and Scooter Store

have been appealing to congress and even filing suits.

The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Improvements for

Patients and Providers Act of 2008 by a wide margin on Wednesday, and

the Senate was expected to take up the bill Thursday. Bush did say he

might veto it so we need it to carry the Senate as overwhelmingly as it

did the house.

Among other things the bill requires prompt payment to pharmacies under

the Medicare prescription drug program, delays competitive bid

requirements for medical equipment companies, and proposes no cuts to

home oxygen or wheelchair providers. This can undo much of the damage

underway although I would not see it changing Apria's move.

> > >

> > > Hello everyone

> > > Just a note about Apria. You know how much trouble some of us have

> had

> > with them...especially me and Joyce. Well, something new has

happened.

> > >

> > > Apria states it was a Corporate decision:

> > > Apria will no longer provide liquid oxygen to patients. Because of

> the

> > increased fuel and delivery men wages. It is not profitable for

them.

> > So, they have made the decision that if you are now on liquid

oxygen,

> > that they will replace liquid with a new concentrator which will

> handle

> > high flow. That way it will not have to be refilled etc.

> > >

> > > Here's my problem with this. Concentrated oxygen was not good

enough

> > for me. I needed and still need liquid. And, portable oxygen tanks

do

> > not go high enough or last long enough for anyone to go to the Dr.,

> > church, etc. Apria states that if you need this much oxygen, then

you

> do

> > not need to be leaving the house.

> > >

> > > Well...if they think we will just let them arbitrarily make us

> > housebound..well they need to think again. My husband will go to the

> > local TV station, write letters and do whatever is necessary. He has

> > already called Cigna to complain and he is writing a letter. He will

> > also contact an attorney.

> > >

> > > Apria said a letter will be delivered to us probably tomorrow, and

> > will tell us how much time we have to appeal, although they do not

> think

> > an appeal will do anything. As we were told. THIS IS A CORPORATE

> > DECISION!

> > >

> > > Apria!!!! I get so tired of fighting with them. So very tired.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>