1. A feeder seat positioner and floor sitter wedge made out of a hunk of foam covered with plastic:
Answer: $154- $1080 (depending on seller)
2. A case of plastic bags for the Kagaroo Joey feeding pump (Case of 30):
Answer: $117- $314 (depending on supplier)
3. Jenx Monkey pediatric prone stander:
Answer: $2188
4. Special Tomato car seat:
Answer: $1270.06
5. Rifton pediatric bath chair:
Answer: $482
6. Kimberly Clark Mic-key button:
Answer: $140 - $349 (depending on supplier)
7. Kangaroo Joey enteral feeding pump:
Answer: $715 - $1220
8. Collection jars for suction machine (10 per case):
Answer: $12- $154
9. Mic-key extension set (a tube that attaches to the Mic-key button):
Answer: $19- $59
10. Rifton SoloLift (for transferring without manual lifting):
Answer: $4740 - $5267
10 comments:
Come on Down!
Actually, I was going to reiterate the theme of this post and the one before it: truly we are participating in the greatest healthcare system on Earth. So much bang for the buck!
We know people who own a medical supply company which serves the disabled and elderly. Parents and all children have great homes and all the money they need. They discontinued providing diapers to Medicaid kids/adults...the mark up was insufficient. DME is marked up at outrageous rates, at the expense of those who have no power. It's so very wrong...
Quite terrifying!
However, I'm sure most of them could be replaced by inventive use of duct tape and/or a foot pump... ;)
That was a good exercise.
I have audited medical supply companies more years ago than I can count. Two of them were rental companies (wheelchairs, oxygen, walkers, I can't remember it all.) They pretty much wrote off any equipment not covered by Medicaid at the time they sent out the equipment, never expecting to see any rental payments from the patient, just payments from Medicaid.
But gosh help you if you are not on Medicaid, and look middle class. You can pay for yours and ten others. Capitalism at its sorriest. Thus I can't afford most of my medical care.
Can't we send the Wall Street protestors to some of those high end companies you priced, and give the protestors some focus for corporate injustice?
It is insane. Somehow, something has to give soon. I can go down the list of craziness of our medical system.
Even without a chronic condition, the situation is insane. My one son is a "starving artist". If he has no insurance, then he can get things paid through Medicaid pretty much in full. Get him insurance and it almost certainly will only a fraction of the cost of care and then he is responsible for the rest. So he's better off with out the insurance.
It is very important to me that you know I think the system is bad, too. I do not, however, think all DME vendors are bad. I work with some very good persons who are DME vendors. They are a business and I depend on their expertise to know the latest equipment options and how to work within the system to be compensated so that they can stay in business. Since I do not receive compensation based on what is purchased, we complement each other.
In general, not specifically for Izzy, I make the following recommendations, and have many times on my blog:
The stander is worth the cost if used properly - to prevent the need for the Rifton Sololift. If a child can be taught, as early as possible to bear weight on her legs - then a standing pivot transfer is possible. (Actually standing is the first part of walking.)
See my comment here:
http://ryntales.blogspot.com/2011/11/you-dont-have-to-break-in-two-to-love.html
On bath chairs, I also have counter-intuitive opinions. Buy a small child's chair with armrests, lawn-type, cheap, and put a foam cushion on the seat; seatbelt it if you want.
Barbara
#occupymedicalequipmentsuppliers
#occupyinsurancecompanies
Erika, you might get a needed "hoot" about DME companies and toilet seats that I wrote awhile ago:
http://healingandempowerment.blogspot.com/2011/10/toilet-seats-cleaning-out-your-bank.html
Blessings...
Medical equipment is so unattractive!!
Wow. These price differences are irrational!
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