Did the rules change?

I see Amazon are selling CPAPs, and I thought they required prescriptions??

englandsf wrote:I see Amazon are selling CPAPs, and I thought they required prescriptions??

Rules are always made to be broken. That's why we make jails and spend more per year to house law breakers, than honest hard working citizens have to live on.

It's a game of Cat and Mouse, the government makes the Laws, (Making themselves exempt first) Paying to breed a faster mouse chasing Cat. Then another group in the government, funds a study to breed a stronger and faster mouse. Keeping a status quo, and spending our tax money, while siphoning a huge portion for them and their friends. No LOL on this one folks. Jim

As far as I know, the rules are the same.
Enforcement is woefully inadequate, maybe no one really cares.
It is the wild, wild West. The quick or the dead--which are you?
Remember, fines are just another form of tax.

I don't know that there was ever any real enforcement maybe except by DMEs who wouldn't sell without the RX paperwork and maybe that was just so they could get insurance to pay.
I am thinking that the machines seen on Amazon are DMEs selling out the back door to make extra money but I have zero proof. Just my own personal opinion.

Besides...who in their right mind would be buying this stuff if they didn't have a medical need?

There's no DEA version of law enforcement for people who buy or sell these things that I know of. We joke about the cpap police but I don't think anyone really cares enough to do anything about the gray market sale of cpap stuff.

If you will sell it, they will come! Jim

I saw a half dozen S9 machines on e-bay too.

I've started buying masks and mask parts on Amazon (screw you, Crapria!!!!). They are the real thing, not samples out of the backs of trucks. Decent prices, no hassle, free shipping. Love it.

I'm beginning to suspect that these are 2nd point of sale and thus not subject to the same situation as 1st point of sale machines at DME. These may be returns. Even if never used, they could be considered 'used' if they went to a patient and it was returned. Only California regulates used machines (considers them 'dangerous medical devices ). The rest of the states don't have a law/policy/rule regarding used xpaps. On the other hand, someone elsewhere on this board reported that the machine he bought from Craigslist was actually a drop ship from the manufacturer. Do these folks actually get a warranty? I know Resmed states on their website that only 1st sale gets the warranty.

As far as I know, FDA regulations for xpaps only control manufacturers, not DMEs. States (except CA) regulate who can change your settings other than yourself.

SewTired wrote:I'm beginning to suspect that these are 2nd point of sale and thus not subject to the same situation as 1st point of sale machines at DME. These may be returns. Even if never used, they could be considered 'used' if they went to a patient and it was returned. Only California regulates used machines (considers them 'dangerous medical devices ). The rest of the states don't have a law/policy/rule regarding used xpaps. On the other hand, someone elsewhere on this board reported that the machine he bought from Craigslist was actually a drop ship from the manufacturer. Do these folks actually get a warranty? I know Resmed states on their website that only 1st sale gets the warranty.

As far as I know, FDA regulations for xpaps only control manufacturers, not DMEs. States (except CA) regulate who can change your settings other than yourself.

The machine and mask that I bought off of craigslist was mailed to me from the manufacturer (from two separate sites) and all packaging was originally sealed. They were not used. The manufacturer's warrantee applies.

It is pretty simple, if you have the cash some DME's are willing to drop ship, no questions asked. The market meets the need.

If you are worried about customer support, return policy, seller warrantee, then buying blind is not for you.

One of the Amazon sellers is working out of his house. If you buy off his website, then you need an Rx. I don't know about his Amazon sells though. His machines are without warranty.

I'm watchin'

Don't nobody do nuthin'

I'm watchin'!!

Don't make come outta' retirement!!

Sheriff

I don't know what the rules are, but I've bought all three of my PAP machines off of Amazon without a prescription. All three have been brand new, worked perfectly, and I saved a heap of money compared with what my local DME wanted to charge.

Then again I am self-pay due to a high insurance deductible and don't take into consideration whether I can get reimbursed.

You're suppose to have a prescription for masks and cpap machines. For masks, my DME has the same original prescription that my doctor wrote in 2010. Even tho he died (God rest his soul), they have never asked for another one.... when ordering supplies. For the machine, the DME requests a specific prescription every time. As far as buying masks on line, no one has asked for a script. The rules are there, but no one enforces them.

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote:You're suppose to have a prescription for masks and cpap machines.

Where can I find those rules in published form?

The rules are in several different government regulations. You cannot find the rules in one single document.