Oxygen suppliers & Medicare

By tigermom

1 min read

These are my biggest stressors. I get so stressed just preparing to call to order more oxygen tanks because there is always some problem with Medicare. They always need more information for some reason.

Healthcare team advocacy and support

I have two pulmonologists, my regular one and one at a local lung center. Both have sent all kinds of information that Medicare has required to my oxygen suppliers - numerous times because they are always saying they didn't receive it. It has been going on for 4 months. I have even been at my pulmonologists when they have faxed over the information they say they need and they still say they never received it. They call on the phone, they send me emails, they send me letters in the mail threatening to take away my oxygen supplies if they don't hear from my doctors. My doctors keep sending them the information and they still keep saying they're not receiving it.

Stress of dealing with Medicare

I have even called Medicare and they were no help. They couldn't seem to understand the problem. They called the supplier (while I was on the phone with them) and told them to not send threatening letters and to not take away my oxygen supplies. I don't believe the supplier even believed it was Medicare calling them. I'm at my wit's end and yes, very stressed out.

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twovillages Member
You're not alone. My oxygen provider continued to use oxygen orders from a doctor I hadn't seen for four years. The Medicare sheets showed the doctor were being reimbursed for doing so. Meanwhile, my new doctor's oxygen orders were being faxed to Lincare, but they said they didn't receive them. I finally drove to the oxygen provider's office with a copy of the order my treating doctor had just faxed them a couple months earlier. Oops, they couldn't believe it was never received. They said they'd never had this happen before. We'll see if this has worked. I use it at night, and things haven't changed. I wonder how a pulmonologist I hadn't seen for four years know how much oxygen I needed! Good luck.
1. anniewi Member
 <inline-mention username="tigermom" user-id="2430644"/> I know the bidding process changed so that the largest DME providers could get the contracts, but that was awhile back. They had the volume of customers to offer lower bids for service. An issue that I've seen is that service has gotten bad, and there must be no penalty. The smaller, local oxygen providers, some that gave better service, were not eligible to get the Medicare contracts so Medicare could save money. My Mom relied on an electric scooter extensively because of Polio. The local DME providers she'd worked with for years couldn't bid as low as a larger DME much further away from us. Nobody cared anymore about coming to provide a service call if her scooter needed repair. This resulted in her having to be bed-bound for long periods of time. She couldn't get to the dining room, or visit friends at the Assisted Living facility. I hope that you have positive results. Sadly I've heard some of the pulmonologists complain about oxygen providers, and they should be able to have some pull in correcting things. 
2. tigermom Member
 <inline-mention username="anniewi" user-id="2459498"/> I agree. I have been getting supplies from Montgomery Medical for 4 years, they had some problems but nothing major. Now that Adapt has taken over they are horrible. On top of everything else with them I am having a hard time getting oxygen tanks. They were supposed to deliver them yesterday but they never arrived. When I called they said they had to cancel and would bring them today. That is the first time that has ever happened. I am nervous about whether they will arrive today or not. Without them I am totally homebound to my concentrator. Could be worse, I guess, at least I am not bedbound like your poor Mom. It is ridiculous that disabled have to go through this just to survive. So sad about your mom. Hoping all the best for you and your family, anniewi
Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
I am so sorry that you are going through this! Have you tried another oxygen supplier? I'm glad that you are advocating for yourself and keep it up. Sometimes if we keep on them constantly they will finally get something done because they will get tired of the calls. If you go online to medicare you can look on the menu and find the resources tab. They may be able to help you. Keep us updated, please. Best, Jackie (moderator)
1. tigermom Member
 <inline-mention username="Jackie English" user-id="2415342"/> What is weird with the Medicare site is that they list National Heritage Insurance Company for Durable Medical Supply problems - when I click on the link it takes me to a page that is all in French and seems to be about nourishment of some sort? It's weird. They do list a toll free phone # that I will try to call to let them know their page may have been hacked. They did finally deliver my oxygen tanks yesterday, for that I am thankful. I am keeping track of everything that is happening and will file a complaint with Medicare if it continues. It's just frustrating. I need to learn more patience. Thank you so much for your concern, it means a lot to me.
2. Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="tigermom" user-id="2430644"/> oh wow! Yea, I would call and let them know. Great idea to keep track of things. So glad that you got your delivery. Best, Jackie(moderator)
anniewi Member
Thank you for your kind words tigermom. I'd feel very anxious about the delay in receiving oxygen tanks. When my parents lived in a high rise condo, they had an arrangement with the local authorities that they would receive immediate help if there was a power outage, or other event. My step-father was using oxygen tanks. Somebody would visit them right away, and help them get out of the building. I don't know your living situation, but some type of automatic alert might need to be set up just to make sure you get what is needed if power goes off. You might mention that you have had problems with your order being delivered in the past. If you can have a sandwich delivered you should be able to access oxygen at home. My mother lived a very full life, and never complained.
kloker Member
Tigermom - have you tried talking to your Doctor about him writing a prescription for you to get a portable concentrator? If you need it and he writes the scrip for it Medicare has to provide it (they will rent one ofr you, just as they rent everything the oxygen provider provides you). If that doesn't work, the are lots of online sellers out there who will sell you one on payments. I'm currently looking to an Inogen G5 from Inogen. A friend of mine bought one from them on payments. He loves it, no more lugging 02 bottles around, the G5 is small and light. Just a thought.
1. johnmarshall Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="kloker" user-id="4235094"/> Just tagging <inline-mention username="tigermom" user-id="2430644"/> so they see your kind response! - John M. (COPD.net Team) 
2. tigermom Member
 <inline-mention username="kloker" user-id="4235094"/> Thank you so much for your response. I actually have an Imogen 1 but it no longer can supply enough oxygen for me. I need something that can put out 6 lpm and none of the portables seem to go that high, unfortunately. I have 2 batteries for it and if push comes to shove in a power outage it would keep me alive as long as I didn't exert myself. At home I'm on a portable ventilator that runs off of 2 concentrators and a compressor. To use it outside it runs off of oxygen tanks. My one pulmonologist has spoken to my oxygen provider and I am hoping everything will be okay now. I'll find out when I order tanks later this week, I guess. Fingers crossed. 😀 Thank you so much for your caring. 😀

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