Why do I need a Perscription to buy TAP PAP?

My sleep center I am affiliated with only carry Oracle. Other CPAP masks you can just buy on Amazon. I am confused....

You need one if sold by a licensed sleep professional... which, of course, Amazon is not. Neither is Craig's list. The sleep 'police' can't monitor every 2nd hand sale of every piece of equipment.

andrasnm wrote:My sleep center I am affiliated with only carry Oracle. Other CPAP masks you can just buy on Amazon. I am confused....

complete masks, humidifiers and machines are a prescription item.

whole masks on amazon or ebay are basically "black market'.

Did you have a prescription to get your machine? I think most prescriptions are for machine and mask, you could check and see - as long as a particular mask wasn't specified. Ideally it should say Mask of Choice.

Yes, your mask prescription should be more generic than naming a single mask. To me, that's the sign of a sleep doctor that really hasn't been around *smile*. Most people need to try more than one mask when they start, and over time needs change. And new masks come out that are improved in various ways and could work better for you (or someone you sleep in close proximity to).

If your prescription doesn't allow you to use whatever cpap mask you need to use, if it were me, I'd talk with my sleep doctor and get a more generic mask prescription from them. They should know how to do that.

My original prescription specified the machine I was to get, heated and not heated hose (patients choice), filters and mask of patients choice.

Okie bipap wrote:My original prescription specified the machine I was to get, heated and not heated hose (patients choice), filters and mask of patients choice.

You should be able to use that same prescription if you can locate it. I gave 1 prescription to CPAP.com and they use that for all the masks I've ordered from them

I have it and I have used it at cpap.com. My current DME insists on a new prescription once a year. It took some digging, but I finally found a reference for the one year limit on prescriptions for Medicare patients. Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 5, paragraph 5.8.2 reads in part: "For example, even though a face-to-face encounter is required for the initial provision of the CPAP device, it is not needed for replacement of a CPAP mask for a patient-owned CPAP device covered by Medicare in the past. However, documentation from the physician or treating practitioner that indicates the CPAP or RAD which requires replacement accessories continues to be medically necessary is required. For this purpose, documentation is considered timely when it is on record in the preceding 12 months, unless otherwise specified in relevant Medicare policy." My original prescription is sufficient if I want to purchase masks or other supplies out of pocket, but not sufficient if I want Medicare to pay for them. While my DME adheres to the 12 month reporting requirement, other DME suppliers do not.

Thanks for the replies. I am using the Sleep center my PCP sent me to. They only use certain equipment but the good news is , I have ZERO out of pocket costs. MY psychiatrist, who happens to be a sleep apnea patient can, in theory give me prescription to what ever I need. (After all most my problems revolve around insomnia or apnea)

P.S. Other than the report and observation I have not even seen my sleep doc. (that pisses me off)

andrasnm wrote:P.S. Other than the report and observation I have not even seen my sleep doc. (that pisses me off)

Unfortunately that's not all that uncommon. The good news is, you really don't need him any more if you've got a good gp who's willing to update your script when necessary.