COPD Information Forum

COPD Information Forum
[ COPD Information Forum ]

Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by Chris M. on 4/8/2008, 1:27 am
199.232.88.222

Over the last approx. 5 months, my driver has tested my concentrator at least three times. Big deal writing down results, too.

In way of conversation I asked if he'd heard anything about the possibility of the coming ownership of equipment. He replied that "I could be waiting a long time as the oxygen companies have taken it, Medicares requirement, to court. It could be years".

Now I know that this man isn't the brightest light on the road, so I won't take it for gospel, but I wonder if folks have heard similar.

I don't want a long political response, but am curious if anyone knows if there is a stalemate due to a lawsuit over the issue.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by CarolcA on 4/9/2008, 12:40 am, in reply to "Oxygen and comment by driver"
67.164.118.40

I get the idea that they are not paying much attention to this as when I had a problem they just exchanged the concentrator. Nothing about fixing the other one and bringing it back.

As for the Homefill, that is what Penny has and she loves it. Now she gets some extra E tanks for emergency, I think, but other than that she uses the Homefill or at least one that she fills at home and not LOX.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by Martha on 4/8/2008, 11:38 pm, in reply to "Oxygen and comment by driver"
68.12.93.211

Chris, I don't know of any lawsuits. Perhaps he is referring to the House and Senate bills proposed to rescind the changes. The House Bill H.R. 621 was introduced 1/22/07 and is currently in the Subcommittee on Trade. The Senate Bill S. 1484 was introduced 5/24/07 and is currently in the Finance Committee. It would be nice if they would get busy and pass these bills. For people who have had the same concentrator since January 1, 2006, the 36 months will be up January 1, 2009.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by ConnieAZ on 4/8/2008, 1:16 pm, in reply to "Oxygen and comment by driver"
71.209.188.114

Apria delivers our o2, and last week they tried to bring in a refill system that works with our concentrators. Instead of the little take- along tanks, they were going to leave a huge tank that was to be used at home for emergencies, so they wouldn't have to deliver 02. When I spoke to an employee on the phone previously, I was told to expect small tanks to be used outside the home. No more home delivery of 02. I'm on 3-4 liters so don't qualify for that, but hubby does. We refused the big tank thingy, and the driver said that most people are refusing them. Talk about mass confusion??? To top it off, the unit does not shut off automatically and you have to babysit this thing! But the paper work says different. So everyone would save bucks but us. Its our dime filling the darned things and our dime cooling the house, as if the concentrator alone doesn't make enough heat.
Wish someone knew what was going on. Afraid its going to be bad news no matter how it goes.
Years ago, when I mentioned to my dad about the air still being free, he said, "give it time, someone will figure out a way to put a meter on our backs".

Post a Response

Another fill at home system

Posted by JoeO FL on 4/9/2008, 4:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
65.9.100.113

This unit is made by Chad, and it comes as one device. it will fill any size tank, even the E tank. However, the output of the concentrator is limited to 3 LPM.

http://www.portablenebs.com/concentratorT.htm

JoeO

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by John O. on 4/8/2008, 1:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
69.129.197.8

Connie, are you talking about the Homefill system?

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by ConnieAZ on 4/8/2008, 2:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
71.209.188.114

The video they left us is labeled HomeFill II PCP. It is for gas 02 not liquid. Just don't know what's going on with Apria. Told one thing on the phone and another when the stuff is brought out. It was to be placed on top of our existing concentrators and plugged into them by tubing. I didn't even try to call them, its a nightmare trying to get through.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by Chris M. on 4/8/2008, 9:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
199.232.90.180

Are there two of you on this one concentrator, Connie?
I considered asking for the Homefill system a few years ago, but the bottles for Homefill are self contained in that each bottle has an adapter for the refill, and I couldn't picture how they would keep me refilling 10-20 bottles a month. (They,Apria, the O2 company, only pop in now, each 30 days)If they believe that I can survive with 2 homefill bottles, they overestimate my health, and willingness, a lot.

My Pulmo is 105 miles away, and we use a combo E tank and C tank setup for long trips like that.

I understood that Homefill systems use M6 or so size tanks which might help a light user of O2, but not folks like you or I.

I would consider it IF they also leave at least 20 C tanks, and 6 E tanks in reserve, in case of forest fire,power losses,monsoon season, illness, (needing to see the Doc more often or staying with my hubby in a distant hospital)
This suggestion that they only need to be called, belies the fact that they cannot predict what time they will come on delivery day, even with only one day a month now.

With all this, I wonder if our representative for Medicare for our area is aware of what they are trying to pull. The more folks they can get off regular delivery is less gasoline and fewer stops and or drivers...It says nothing about tubing, water bottles, cannulas, etc. I'd bet dollars they would still bill for portable system. I guess they are not as flush as they were before this new ruling has come down.
For what it's worth, at least keep some E tanks for emergency use. At least you can sleep at night, if all else fails.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by ConnieAZ on 4/9/2008, 2:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
71.209.188.114

We each have our own concentrator. I use e tanks for portables, and they didn't say that this new system would fill them. But its supposed to fill a much larger tank. Who knows whats going on? The driver wasn't given any portable tanks for the new stuff either. All I know is that the e tanks they bring has purer air than the concentrator does. You can tell as soon as you start to use it. The standards for the concentraters are not high enough.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by muffin on 4/8/2008, 9:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
67.185.76.125

Chris M, my supplier wanted to do the same here with me. Supply me with a home fill unit, but did offer E tanks as a backup, now they didn't say how many a month as I told them no and didn't want to hear anymore. My doctor and Respirtory therapist also said they do not think the homefill system is a good idea as you just don't know the purity of the O2 going into the bottles either. They said they have some kind of a unit in them that is suppose to go off but most of the time don't work until it is well below whatever it should go and I don't remember the numbers he gave me. They had tried to get the doctor to sign off on it and he wouldn't.

Post a Response

Re: Oxygen and comment by driver

Posted by Chris M. on 4/9/2008, 2:13 am, in reply to "Re: Oxygen and comment by driver"
199.232.90.193

That's a good point, Muffin. I became suspicious when they've been checking my concentrator so often. This one is relatively new, and they have checked it often, getting 97% or more oxygen.

We are 52 miles at least from their office and I know they wish they didn't need to come down our road. I also know they cannot refuse basic service, so, they are stuck.
Whe there was much talk about owning our own, I wondered about Homefill, but decided I'd be short on tanks too quickly and would probably have to buy several if all they could give me would be two setup tanks. They are expensive too, as the fill device doesn't work on regular bottles.
As you say tho, who will certify that the homefill is dispensing adequately. Thanks.

If I had my druthers, we'd all be using the composite tanks which are used for scuba, which are much lighter. The oxygen companies wouldn't invest in those either.

Post a Response

«Back to thread

[ COPD Information Forum ]