Guest guest Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 I'd heard rumors it was coming but unconfirmed and not sure at that time if nationwide. Other firms are doing the same with the medicare cuts in the test markets already in place. Now, the first thing I would advise is the prescription. Get the doctor to prescribe in detail exactly what you want. Although Apria won't respond that at least puts them in a less favorable light still. My prescription reads " Liquid Stationary oxygen at home " and " Helios Marathon " for portable. They would argue that makes no sense. Why the Marathon? Actually sound medical reason as the Helios Plus doesn't have multiple continuous settings and when my sinuses are congested demand doesn't work. Fortunately, I don't have to have the Companion quite yet. As to liquid at home versus concentrators, with the extent of my allergies, while it may be insignificant to most, the liquid does create less sinus issues than the concentrator. It's logical as the concentrator at 90% requires a higher volume of airflow to get the same oxygen as a liquid performing at 100% would. I applaud your husband's efforts and urge you to get a rewritten prescription and then insist Cigna has to provide and that since their exclusive provider refuses to honor it they have to approve another provider. I hate to bring bad tidings but everyone needs to be prepared for battles ahead. The bidding process reduced total payments for the bid medical equipment by 26%. Companies are going to be figuring out how to cut costs and it expands to 70 markets January 1. There will also be fewer suppliers. Only 35 in DFW can now provide oxygen to new medicare patients. Without medicare the others will not survive. > > 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. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 I'd heard rumors it was coming but unconfirmed and not sure at that time if nationwide. Other firms are doing the same with the medicare cuts in the test markets already in place. Now, the first thing I would advise is the prescription. Get the doctor to prescribe in detail exactly what you want. Although Apria won't respond that at least puts them in a less favorable light still. My prescription reads " Liquid Stationary oxygen at home " and " Helios Marathon " for portable. They would argue that makes no sense. Why the Marathon? Actually sound medical reason as the Helios Plus doesn't have multiple continuous settings and when my sinuses are congested demand doesn't work. Fortunately, I don't have to have the Companion quite yet. As to liquid at home versus concentrators, with the extent of my allergies, while it may be insignificant to most, the liquid does create less sinus issues than the concentrator. It's logical as the concentrator at 90% requires a higher volume of airflow to get the same oxygen as a liquid performing at 100% would. I applaud your husband's efforts and urge you to get a rewritten prescription and then insist Cigna has to provide and that since their exclusive provider refuses to honor it they have to approve another provider. I hate to bring bad tidings but everyone needs to be prepared for battles ahead. The bidding process reduced total payments for the bid medical equipment by 26%. Companies are going to be figuring out how to cut costs and it expands to 70 markets January 1. There will also be fewer suppliers. Only 35 in DFW can now provide oxygen to new medicare patients. Without medicare the others will not survive. > > 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. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 I'd heard rumors it was coming but unconfirmed and not sure at that time if nationwide. Other firms are doing the same with the medicare cuts in the test markets already in place. Now, the first thing I would advise is the prescription. Get the doctor to prescribe in detail exactly what you want. Although Apria won't respond that at least puts them in a less favorable light still. My prescription reads " Liquid Stationary oxygen at home " and " Helios Marathon " for portable. They would argue that makes no sense. Why the Marathon? Actually sound medical reason as the Helios Plus doesn't have multiple continuous settings and when my sinuses are congested demand doesn't work. Fortunately, I don't have to have the Companion quite yet. As to liquid at home versus concentrators, with the extent of my allergies, while it may be insignificant to most, the liquid does create less sinus issues than the concentrator. It's logical as the concentrator at 90% requires a higher volume of airflow to get the same oxygen as a liquid performing at 100% would. I applaud your husband's efforts and urge you to get a rewritten prescription and then insist Cigna has to provide and that since their exclusive provider refuses to honor it they have to approve another provider. I hate to bring bad tidings but everyone needs to be prepared for battles ahead. The bidding process reduced total payments for the bid medical equipment by 26%. Companies are going to be figuring out how to cut costs and it expands to 70 markets January 1. There will also be fewer suppliers. Only 35 in DFW can now provide oxygen to new medicare patients. Without medicare the others will not survive. > > 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. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 The impetus for the move nationwide at this time was the buyout of Apria by a private investment company, Blackstone Group. This is also typical as they apply additional pressure for profits. > > > > 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. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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