"Total Sleep Diagnostics" for testing or as a DME

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Bullwinkle
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:39 pm
Location: Dallas, Texas

"Total Sleep Diagnostics" for testing or as a DME

Post by Bullwinkle » Mon Mar 07, 2005 6:28 pm

OK, more questions from a temperamental lost newbie at this game.

TSD is a Dallas area sleep diagnostic center which also seems to be locking in the doctors they work with to act as either the DME directly to the patient or at least as a go-between between me and the actual DME.

Anybody have experience with this company or getting eventual insurance reimbursement for things they do?

I just got my Titration study results via phone, and my doc was also willing to write the prescription for an "auto CPAP with C-Flex" which pretty much limits the equipment choices the DME can make.

Am I doing the right things to get the equipment I want and still have hope of insurance reimbursement?

I did at least get assurances from my doc that he will generate another prescription for me independent of TSD if I decide I want to go the independent route.

Thanks in advance for any corrective advice...

-Jeff

Mikesus
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Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:50 pm

Post by Mikesus » Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:50 pm

By saying Auto Cpap with Cflex it limits it to ONE machine. FYI...

tater pie
Posts: 244
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:19 pm
Location: Dallas, Texas

Post by tater pie » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:46 am

Hello Bullwinkle from another fellow Dallasite. I have never heard of Total Sleep Diagnostics. What part of Dallas are they located in. You say the doctor prescribed an autopap with C-flex right off the bat. Wow, that sounds great to me. I might want to use them. I went to the Sleep Disorder Clinic of Dallas which has several metroplex locations. The sleep doc there is actually a neurologist and I think the sleep clinic is just a lucrative sideline for him. You get very little support and the DME he used will not let you have an autopap unless you can prove you cannot tolerate a straight c-pap. The DME was Sleepmed Therapy Services. Stay away from them. They are absolutely worthless. I don't know anything about insurance and reimbursement. My insurance is an HMO and I didn't have to pay any deductibles and only one $15.00 co-pay for the sleep study. Good luck to you and I hope everything works out o.k. and you get to feeling better soon!

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Bullwinkle
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:39 pm
Location: Dallas, Texas

Post by Bullwinkle » Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:36 pm

TSD is an offshoot of Plano Medical center. Seem to have locations from Flower Mound to Frisco and even McKinney. I will say that they are not in my insurance (UHC) but still asked for no money from me; say they will write-off any difference between what they file and what they get. With no out of pocket for me. Got that last part in writing before I went in.

SInce they play DME too, I'm not so sure yet how that will work with UHC with them being technically out of plan. My doc was going to be faxing them the prescription and statement of medical need late yesterday or this morning, so I have not heard from them to begin the actual equipment phase. So, that part of the experience is still pending.

My doctor managing this effort is my Family Practice doc, only. Haven't moved on to the pulmanologist or other sleep specialist --- yet at least. Doctor is Guy Culpepper; head of Bent Tree Family Physicians. Locations on North Dallas Tollway just souh of Trinity Mills, and up in Frisco due north of the big sports complex at DNT and 121. Mile or two from Stonebriar Mall. Culpepper is always near the top of the D magazine list of top metroplex doctors, and even made a couple national registries. Used to be a neighbor of mine when I lived in Plano is how I got hooked up with him. He has a dozen or so OSA patients at least cuz the sleep center knows of him, etc. Wasn't real familiar with auto CPAP devices, but when I gave him some literature I downloaded, he said "well, that's what I would want if I had to do this" and wrote the prescription the exact way I asked. I had it written specifically with c-flex wording because I don't want TSD to be in a position to decide make or model.

So, I have absolutely no idea how UHC is gonna react when TSD calls them for authorization for auto CPAP, we shall see. With all my illnesses, though, I am used to fighting with them.

-Jeff - It HAS to be true, I read it on the Internet!