Looking for a Sleep Center

Hi all,

I am looking for a good sleep center and sleep doc in Massachusetts. I was originally diagnosed thru the sleed study center at the Lahey Burlington, but never saw an actual sleep doc. All I talked to was the tech. A copy of the summary report was sent to me and my PCP wrote a script for my machine.

I want to find someplace that I am more comfortable at then Lahey. The set-up there is a very sterile hospital environment which I didn't really care for. Also, I want to hook up with a good sleep doc or neurologist who specializes in sleep disorders (specifically OSA) so I have an expert to talk with and better understand how I am doing and what changes I could/should make to improve. Also, I think my wife also has OSA and I want to be sure she gets started on a better note than I did.

Also, I am looking for a good DME here. I currently don't have one. I have been using cpap.com, directhomemedical.com, and ebay to get my CPAP stuff. If it helps in the suggestion, my insurance is thru BS/BC. Thanks

Inkdesigner

BC/BS has an excellent website which should provide you with a search engine to find doctors of every speciality affiliated with your specific policy type and group. The DME's they work with should also be available via the search engine. If your BC/BS is an HMO policy, it will probably be quite limited whereas a PPO will have more to offer. Since you are in MA, I presume there are other limits or features due to your state's health care law.

You will probably get much faster answers via the site than a phone call. I utilize my BC/BS site all the time to ask questions, find doctors or support facilities, as well as few claims and payments. Any time I've submitted a question via their messaging platform, I have a comprehensive answer and sometimes, attachments, within a day or two at most. They also have a good section for my policy here in FL that offers good discounts on a variety of health related services such as gyms. My policy here in FL happens to be an HMO so while I had excellent coverage for my study and found an excellent sleep specialist on the list of doctors, I am not using them for my equipment since they would not approve anything other than a data-less brick machine. I bought my own machine... They do, however, provide my supplies at 100%.

Thanks for the hint about their website. When looking for a doctor, should I look for a specialist in neurology or pulmonary disease?

IMO, if you have an existing condition (other than sleep apnea) that's dealing with breathing... you should go with a pulmy. Otherwise it doesn't really matter.

I have actually gotten very good information over the phone from BCBSNE,
but it requires a sometimes lengthy wait on 'hold'.
In my case, it was worth it--even though there is no documentation.
Of course, I make it a habit to be pleasant to the operators.
If working online, use that printer to create documentation.

My sleep doc is a pulmonologist to whom I was referred by a cardiologist. I was very pleased with him and he, in turn, was 110% supportive of my hands on approach to my own therapy.... providing me with good education, listening to me, supporting my choices on machine/mask/and even using software, and just being open to hearing what I had to say. I was super lucky to find him!

I hope you are as lucky as I