Now here is the rest of my post! Juno decided to send it before
I finished writing it. <?>
As I was saying, Medicare nows prefers to rent vents instead of
buying them. I suppose this is some short-sighted dipstick at HCFA's
idea of cost-efficiency! Go figure! For those who don't know, HCFA
(Health Care Financing Agency) is the governmental body that makes and
enforces (at least is supposed to) Medicare/Medicaid regulations.
However, there is also a rule (HCFA also I think) that says they
(Medicare/Medicaid) must rent two vents for a client. One vent is
intended to be an emergency back-up. This is what most people mount on
their wheelchairs. (Psst, don't tell HCFA because they might find out
we're not all "homebound") ;->
You also might want to check out the rental agreement your
supplier has with Medicare/Medicaid. A rental "package" is supposed to
cover service to the vent. If your supplier doesn't have such a package,
you should contact Medicare or maybe even HCFA. They are probably
breaking some rule. It sounds like you could be getting jerked around
from two directions, your supplier and/or Medicare. My suggestion, fight
them! Good luck, brother!
Blane
:-)
On Sun, 30 Nov 1997 16:13:41 -0800 James Lubin <jlubin(AT)eskimo.com>
writes:
>I have 2 PLV-100 vents that my insurance purchased 8 years ago when I
>first
>came home from rehab. I no longer have insurance, just
>medicare/medicaid.
>Since my vents are old and medicare will not pay for the maintanance,
>they
>have been paying for the rental of another PLV-100.
>
>This week was time for the PM for the rental, but my supply company
>only
>had an LP-10 in stock as a replacement. I decided to just use my other
>PLV-100 instead. It was working fine, then suddenly started pressuring
>before giving a full breathe. Ended up having to use the LP-10 on my
>wheelchair (still using my PLV-100 bedside).
>
>The LP-10 is sure noisey! There is a contstant low pitch humming and
>such a
>mechanical sound with every breath. Hope I get the other PLV-100 back
>soon.
>
>Now I don't know what to do with my other PLV-100. We can't aford to
>get it
>fixed.
>
>
>----
>Jim Lubin jlubin(AT)eskimo.com
>Bothell, WA, USA <http://www.eskimo.com/~jlubin>
>disAbility Resources: <http://www.eskimo.com/~jlubin/disabled>
>
>