Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
KarD786
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Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by KarD786 » Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:14 pm

Hello all,

I just had my titration study last Friday and am not waiting to get my CPAP. I haven't been contacted by anyone yet, and have not been assigned a DME yet. How would I go about contacting the DME? Also, will they release the information regarding the machine that I will be getting? And if the machine is not data capable, what is the normal process to requesting one? I want to do it ASAP because I don't want to wait three weeks to find out it is not data capable, and then have to wait another few weeks. I am so sleep deprived and depressed that I'm unable to carry out my normal life that at that point I know I will just take the non-data capable machine. Therefore I'd like to be proactive and get it squared away from now. Also, do they already have the machines in stock? Or do they order it from an out of state warehouse upon order? Fortunately my insurance plan is a very good one, and they usually cover 90-100% of everything. Thanks for any advice!

KarD786
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Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:50 pm

Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by KarD786 » Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:16 pm

Also, I know I am not special compared to any other patient, but the main reason I do want a data capable machine is so that if anything is wrong, I can get it fixed in a timely manner. I am in the last year of my undergrad Finance degree and really need to be on my A game everyday these next two semesters. I cannot afford for consecutive bad nights of sleep to affect my education that I've worked so hard for.

Guest

Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by Guest » Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:04 pm

KarD786 wrote:Also, will they release the information regarding the machine that I will be getting? And if the machine is not data capable, what is the normal process to requesting one? I want to do it ASAP because I don't want to wait three weeks to find out it is not data capable, and then have to wait another few weeks. I am so sleep deprived and depressed that I'm unable to carry out my normal life that at that point I know I will just take the non-data capable machine.
They will not likely tell you anything about the machine unless you ask but then you have to have the knowledge (some notes help) to understand which model does or does not have data.

If you rush you will end up with a brick (NO data machine).

They know you are sleep deprive and naive and willing to take anything = advantage DME. Don't tell them you are desperate.

Do you have a friend that can help? If not you need to get busy reading this forum.

Do you have any data from your study? A copy of the results would be most helpful to us and you.

KarD786
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Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:50 pm

Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by KarD786 » Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:16 pm

Guest wrote:
KarD786 wrote:Also, will they release the information regarding the machine that I will be getting? And if the machine is not data capable, what is the normal process to requesting one? I want to do it ASAP because I don't want to wait three weeks to find out it is not data capable, and then have to wait another few weeks. I am so sleep deprived and depressed that I'm unable to carry out my normal life that at that point I know I will just take the non-data capable machine.
They will not likely tell you anything about the machine unless you ask but then you have to have the knowledge (some notes help) to understand which model does or does not have data.

If you rush you will end up with a brick (NO data machine).

They know you are sleep deprive and naive and willing to take anything = advantage DME. Don't tell them you are desperate.

Do you have a friend that can help? If not you need to get busy reading this forum.

Do you have any data from your study? A copy of the results would be most helpful to us and you.
So should I wait till they call me in about two weeks to deliver for my machine, or should I contact the DME as soon as possible? I don't have results from my titration yet, but my AHI was 14, with only 2 central apneas the whole night. I figured they would try to dupe me with a sub-par machine, so I really need to put forth my best efforts to have a data capable machine in the same time that they were going to give me the originally scheduled machine. At this point, each day being sleep deprived is like a living hell. Therefore I would probably cave to their tactics, and accept whichever machine they give me. Even though I know it's an irrational choice, I can't take this much longer.

Guest

Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by Guest » Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:21 pm

You need to start with your insurance and find out which DME's you can deal with.

If you have the cash you may want to either buy a machine from a known forum member (not someone who just signed up) or from craigslist. But then you will have to know which machine is data capable. But if you get one cheap enuff to get you started in may not matter.

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archangle
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Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by archangle » Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:51 pm

Check the links in my signature line.

Don't let your doctor choose the DME. Get him to give you the prescription. Find out who is "in network" for your insurance. Call the DME yourself, and ask them what machine they're going to prescribe. If DME A won't give you a good CPAP, call DME B and ask if he wants your business.

Good luck.

_________________
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Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Also SleepyHead, PRS1 Auto, Respironics Auto M series, Legacy Auto, and Legacy Plus
Please enter your equipment in your profile so we can help you.
Click here for information on the most common alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check for yourself.

Useful Links.

Janknitz
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Location: Northern California

Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by Janknitz » Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:15 am

Don't sit around waiting for people to take care of you. They are more interested in their profit than YOUR health. If you care, take charge of the situation or they will not treat you well. Start with the blogpost in my signature below "What you need to know BEFORE you meet your DME".

You can choose to be their victim or take responsibility for yourself.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

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sc0ttt
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Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by sc0ttt » Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:25 am

Usually your sleep study makes a report that they give to your doctor, and the doctor writes the prescription. The doctor may have a favorite DME to deal with and the preference may be money or it may be good service. So you'd start by reviewing your report with your doctor, and trying to convince him/her to write the prescription for a data capable machine. Then you call the doctor's favorite DME and say you're going to insist on a data-capable machine (maybe you already know the exact one you want) and you want to know which one they'd give you, and if you don't get straight answers and a good feeling then you shop around to the other DMEs that your insurance deals with.

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KarD786
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Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by KarD786 » Thu Jul 03, 2014 10:13 am

Ok great. Regarding the last post, do I need to make another appointment with my doctor after the titration study? I was under the assumption that since I already had one appointment after the first study diagnosing me, that now I would just wait to get my CPAP. I am going to start calling around today. I read the links, but will a doctor ever go out of his way to make a special note that I get a basic cpap? And if he just writes cpap, would the DME have to get doctor authorization before giving me a data capable machine? Thanks for all of your guys' help

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sc0ttt
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Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by sc0ttt » Thu Jul 03, 2014 10:53 am

KarD786 wrote:Ok great. Regarding the last post, do I need to make another appointment with my doctor after the titration study?
The doctor would write the prescription after the titration study and use the report to pick the machine and settings. Maybe the doctor would write the prescription without a visit but it'd be a good idea to have a visit anyway. That's when you can show how much you understand and why you don't want a brick. On my prescription there were specific machines and the doctor makes a checkmark on the one he was prescribing - that's a strong position you can bring to the DME

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Additional Comments: 14-cm wg, Model 460, Serial Number: P10175579 4E22 SleepyHead v0.9.6 (testing)

Guest

Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by Guest » Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:43 pm

Do read the thread called "$$$ issues DME Compliance Monitoring and Insurance".

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bwexler
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Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by bwexler » Fri Jul 04, 2014 10:16 pm

You will need to contact your doctors office once you have determined exactly which machine YOU want. Usually the doctor will have a staff person to deal with prescriptions. Talk to that person and tell them you want your prescription to specify a Resmed S9 Autoset with h5i humidifier and climateline heated tubing and your choice of mask, or PRS1 DS560TS APAP machine with humidifier and heated tubing. These 2 machines are roughly equivalent ( Cadillac vs Lincoln). Then they should include the words "dispense exactly as written". These are the only two machines I would accept unless for some reason I needed a Bilevel or ASV machine, which is unlikely in your case with the diagnosis you provided here.

Next, request a complete copy of your sleep study and titration report and a copy of your prescription.
Now ask which DME the doctor recommends so you can call them and ask if they have the machine on your prescription in stock. No need to ask them what they recommend. You have already instructed the doctor to write the prescription for the exact equipment you want and no other.
Now you can ask how soon you can get the appointment to pick up you new machine.
If their answers are not what you want to hear, tell them and call the next name on the list.

Please notice you need to be proactive and take charge at every step, which is why you need to read the information at the links at the top of this forum to get yourself prepared for Monday.

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drwtn
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Re: Process of Contacting DME and Requesting Data Capable Machin

Post by drwtn » Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:13 pm

Do not believe what your DME tells you. Get the information from the doctor! I just got my first CPAP a week ago. Unfortunately there is only one DME in my are that takes my insurance. It's a great plan, just not a lot of providers. Anyway, my doctor sent my prescription a week ago Monday and told me he was requesting same day set up. The DME told me I had to wait until my insurance company authorized it which could be two weeks. After waiting four days and struggling more and more to sleep I started calling the doctor, Blue Cross and finally the DME. The DME rep finally told me I could get the machine if I signed saying I would pay if my insurance company wouldn't. She told me the that my doctor prescribed the Res Med S9 Auto.

The next day I went for the mask fitting. I asked about data linking and was told that the machine didn't come with one and that my doctor didn't prescribe it and that my insurance didn't cover it and they were very expensive. After 5 days of struggling I called the doctor and he informed me that he did not order the Res Med, he ordered the PRS1 DS560TS APAP with a modem so he could check my progress and make adjustments without me having to have office visits. He called the DME and minutes later they called to tell me to pick up the new machine tomorrow. I can not wait to go into that store and ask them what gives them the right to screw with my health care and go against my prescription. What a bunch of crooks. It's unfortunate they are the only DME reasonably close. Guess I'll mail order my supplies each month.