APRIA Healthcare Fraudulent Billing USA Nationwide

Several years ago I was prescribed a CPAP machine by my PCP.  Apria was a contract provider of equipment with Aetna and came to my home to deliver and set up the machine.  I was informed that the machine was being purchased by me and that after the payments I was acknowledging and agreeing to make the machine would be mine.  I was told that I would thereafter receive no bills.

Oddly, the bills kept coming even after the payment schedule was complete.  I called several times and dealt with pathetically bad customer service.  I was repeated assured that I did not own the machine, that I misunderstood the nurse and that these charges were "rental".

It was easier to pay then argue.  About a year later the charges changed.  I called again and was told that Apria's new agreement with Aetna resulted in my rental charges going down.  Wonderful.

When the charges changed yet again I called again.  Now, however, while they are describing the charges as "rental" they slipped up and told me these actually were "maintenance" charges.  I questioned why I would be paying them to maintain a machine that I was already renting from them (according to them).  They claim I need to take this up with Aetna.  I called Aetna and they confirm that I owe "maintenance".  Well, now I am not paying anyone.

If it is my machine, the only way I am paying maintenance is if I contract for it and I haven't.  If it is their machine and I am renting it, then I am not paying maintenance in addition to rent.

So I jumped on ropoff report.  Lo and behlold there are dozens of similar complaints.  The Aetna supervisor told me he has fielded hundreds of calls like this and that the lack of understanding of benefits by members keeps him earning a paycheck.called Aetna and was passed to a supervisor who took offense to my telling him that this was a scam.  When I told him I was a consumer advocate lawyer that has been doing insurance claims litigation for 25 years he began to change his tone.

Now I will be pursuing a Class Action lawsuit and complaints with the AG's office.