Am I the only one with a Modem on machine?

Is this a new Medicare requirement? 30 days with modem sending info to someone and can't use SD card until modem is removed after 30 days.

I have a modem too but have an SD card too which I have using in my PC to check my progress in Sleepyhead

The requirement is not new. The method to satisfy the requirement is rather new. Modems have been around for a while just not widely used. Kind of expensive but perhaps saves on time and labor for either a visit to the home to gather the card or using mail system and replacing a card.

You can still use the SD card to see your data. Just remove the modem..remove SD card (if you don't have one go buy a cheap generic SD card)...use the software...replace card..replace modem and no one is the wiser.

The RT said the modem had to be kept in place for 30 days so I feel like they will know if I remove it during the day and put it back at night. If the SD card isn't in the machine, how will it record my data? She was specific about not using the SD card at the same time as the modem. She made it seem like something bad would happen to the machine.

She lied to you. Big surprise huh?
Only way they can remotely tell if the modem has been removed is if they happen to "call it" for a data check while you have it off the machine. Chances of that is extremely remote especially if you take it off after regular business hours. It only takes a couple of minutes to get the card, import to SleepyHead, replace the SD card in the machine...then you can take your time looking at the reports.

Other forum members here have a modem, have a SD card and do just what I have said and the DME never knows unless someone tells them OR you happen to change something in your settings which you won't do if you don't go there.
Using SleepyHead has zero chance of harming any data on your machine.

What you need to know is whether or not you are paying for the modem. I don't believe insurance covers the cost and I've seen people charged $300 for its use when the SD card can collect the data just as well. The modem is not medically necessary, it's strictly for the convenience of your DME so they can collect the necessary data to get paid for your machine.

Here's the big news. There are NO CPAP police and you don't have to be afraid of accessing your own data and learning about your own health!!!

Besides...I am betting the only thing that the DME looks at with that modem is hours of use...what is needed to satisfy insurance requirements.

Should the modem happen to die? Guess what...the machine itself stores the data to satisfy insurance needs..with or without a SD card. The modem is strictly convenience for the DME and if they get paid anything for the monthly rental that is just gravy to them because they don't get anything extra from obtaining the compliance hours the old fashioned way with either the machine or SD card.

DMEs aren't noted for their honesty. They'll also tell you it's illegal to change your settings. It's not. It may be the best thing to do but you can change your settings.

newname wrote:The RT said the modem had to be kept in place for 30 days so I feel like they will know if I remove it during the day and put it back at night. If the SD card isn't in the machine, how will it record my data? She was specific about not using the SD card at the same time as the modem. She made it seem like something bad would happen to the machine.

It is a very good idea to unplug the power cord before removing anything--(modem, card)
This way, if they had a way of monitoring, they would only see a power outage. (probably work on the line. . . )
Besides, with power off, no way to mess up your card.

I'm past the thirty days, I still have a modem on my machine, and I remove my sd card every day, lock it and insert in my computer, run ResScan and SleepyHead, then unlock the sd card and return it to the machine.

Actually, the modem is rather convenient. I met with my MD the other day, we talked about changing my pressure setting, he called my DME right from his desk while I was sitting there, and when I got home the pressure change had already been made via the modem and it showed up as a new setting when I re-inserted my sd card, then took it out and plugged it into SleepyHead.

I didn't have to do anything.

PS - Luckily, not every DME is a problem as some have described. Mine is polite, interesting to talk to, helpful and most importantly very frank and honest.