Re: Noisey vent: LP-10
Mark Geisler (mgeisler(AT)capecod.net)
Mon, 01 Dec 1997 20:31:08 +0000
Valerie Brew-Parrish wrote:
>
> Jim,
> Gosh that's so frustrating that medicare/medicaid won't pay for the
> maintenance of the plv-100's. Like you, I own both of my vents. My
> insurance co. bought a plv-100 in 1985 and last yr. they bought me a
> back-up. Most vent-users rent the vents so maintenance isn't so much of a
> problem. Even though I have insurance, it's still expensive having the
> vent. I have a bill for $92.00 for the vent filters. When the vent needs
> service, I get socked with a whopper bill. May be Joan Headley would have
> some good ideas on how to get the vent repaired. This is a serious
> situation. Perhaps we could ban together and all write letters to the
> govt. agency Blane talked about. If there is any way I can help, please
> let me know!
> Val
So! I hear the story of more of us vent users being screwed by
medicaid/medicare. I do not understand why medicaid/medicare and other
insurance companies do not aggree to buying ventilators and then paying
for a maintenance contracts through the vent company. I do not get why
they would rather pay rent on ventilators at $1,000.00 plus a month.
Certainly it would be more cost effective for the insurance company or
medicaid/medicare to buy the vents outright and pay a yearly fee for a
maintenance contract. A Lifecare Vent sells for around the ,$8,000.00
mark so that is the cost of a vent every eight months per person. That
is totaly NUTS! I know for a fact that Respironics; the mother company
of Lifecare has a maintenance contract. How come the funding sources do
not concider this alternative? They must be thick in the head "Thick as
a Brick!"
Mark