General question about RX refill

Just have a question about refilling a prescription for masks, headgear, tubing, and filters. Do any of you get your refill from your PCP or do you have to go back to your Pulmonologist. My initial prescription from my Pulmonologist has lapsed and I need a new mask. I have to go to my PCP on Monday for something unrelated and am going to ask him if he will refill it. I'm afraid to ask my Pulmonologist because I know what she's going to say. "I need to see you before I'll refill it", which translates to I'll refill it but not until you visit my office so I can charge you $400. So basically my question is do any of you get your prescription filled by your PCP? Thanks for your help!!!!

billgamble wrote:Just have a question about refilling a prescription for masks, headgear, tubing, and filters. Do any of you get your refill from your PCP or do you have to go back to your Pulmonologist. My initial prescription from my Pulmonologist has lapsed and I need a new mask. I have to go to my PCP on Monday for something unrelated and am going to ask him if he will refill it. I'm afraid to ask my Pulmonologist because I know what she's going to say. "I need to see you before I'll refill it", which translates to I'll refill it but not until you visit my office so I can charge you $400. So basically my question is do any of you get your prescription filled by your PCP? Thanks for your help!!!!

I just went to a new PCP for me, and she had no problem writing me a new prescription. I mentioned I use a cpap machine and need a new prescription and she said "for supplies?" And when she later wrote out my new prescriptions (for medicine changes), the new cpap prescription was there. I didn't have to ask twice.

Mine has never lapsed? My DME has used my 3 year old RX and has never asked for an update. I was not aware that a CPAP RX ever lapsed.

billgamble wrote:Just have a question about refilling a prescription for masks, headgear, tubing, and filters. Do any of you get your refill from your PCP or do you have to go back to your Pulmonologist. My initial prescription from my Pulmonologist has lapsed and I need a new mask. I have to go to my PCP on Monday for something unrelated and am going to ask him if he will refill it. I'm afraid to ask my Pulmonologist because I know what she's going to say. "I need to see you before I'll refill it", which translates to I'll refill it but not until you visit my office so I can charge you $400. So basically my question is do any of you get your prescription filled by your PCP? Thanks for your help!!!!

This is why I've always purchased everything out-of-pocket and from online DMEs.......CPAP-dot-COM in particular. Other than the first year, I never met my deductible and I could buy LOTS of supplies for that amount of money.
I uploaded my original prescription to CPAP-dot-COM in 2005 and have never had to get it renewed.
Only if the prescription has an actual expiration date on it does it have to be renewed.


Den

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LSAT wrote:Mine has never lapsed? My DME has used my 3 year old RX and has never asked for an update. I was not aware that a CPAP RX ever lapsed.

Depends on the doc. Some are a year, some (like mine) are indefinite. I didn't ask for it, it is just what he wrote!

DME keeps telling me that I need to see my sleep doctor periodically (like once a year) so that Medicare will continue to pay for supplies. I assume that my sleep doctor puts a check in the compliance checkbox, or whatever. Sleep doctor just has me bring in the SD card, pretty simple, and we talk about any issues that I have. Don't know if anyone's putting me on about that to wring a little more money out of Medicare, but my supplemental has no copay at this point, so I just do it, beats arguing with the DME. Due for my 8-month checkup at the end of April again. That 8 months just seems to fly by *smile*.

My PCP wrote my Rx; my specialist is there for backup, and to work on getting hubby back on the hose.

Mine was written for 99 years length of use, does not need renewed

I got all my scripts from my PCP. NO PROBLEMS AND THEY DONT EXPIRE.

I get mine from my Primary care provider. It said 99 years on it, so it will be good for awhile. My DME want's a new one each year and they request and receive it from my PCP.

My RX also said 99 years....

I have used the same local DME for 15 years, and they have never questioned needing a new prescription for supplies of any kind-as a matter of fact they have been overeager to issue supplies. New machines have required retest and sleep doctor's orders. I have never seen my actual prescriptions, so I have no idea of the stated duration.

TheDuke

I did get my PCP to give me an RX for my CPAP supplies. He did it for 99 years but when I went to the DME to pickup my mask she told me that my script was only good for a year because that's the way some insurance companies operate. She said my insurance allows for a new mask every six months so I should get one in six months and then come back again just before this RX expires in a year.

Some states require that the prescription be for no more than 1 year, but most do not.

The DME can also contact the doctor to update the RX. CPAP.com will do that for you, if you are going to order through them.