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Suggested Specific CPAP Equipment Scripts (Slinky) (Diagnosis and Prescription)
(Editor's note: a doctor's prescription is required for a PAP machine whether through a local DME or online. Online, a generic CPAP prescription will work for either a CPAP or APAP. At a local DME, a prescription specific for APAP will probably be required. A prescription is not required for a mask. However, if you want to insurance to cover your mask, a prescription will be required for billing purposes. See prescription advice and requirements at https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescriptions.html#FGID-130 ) If your equipment order (script) will be for "just" a straight CPAP and not one of the more sophisticated bi-levels (Bi-PAP) or SV, etc. most doctors write a fairly genetic script and then most DMEs will take advantage and provide you with a bare-bones CPAP. I would suggest that you ask your doctor to write a very explicit equipment order so that you get EXACTLY what you want and really need. The following are some suggested orders (not that I am recommending one machine over the other, just to give you and your doctor an idea). 1] Respironics REMstar M Series Pro w/C-Flex (w/heated humidifer if you prefer) 2] Pressure ---- cms (whatever your pressure is) 3] C-flex setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests) 4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on) 5] Show AHI/Leak feature On 6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the REMstar Pro" 7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice. 1] Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR (w/heated humidifer if you prefer) 2] Pressure ---- cms (whatever your pressure is) 3] EPR setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests) 4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on) 5] Efficacy & Usage Data access 6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the Resmed S8 Elite) 7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice. 1] Respironics REMstar M Series Auto w/A-Flex (w/heated humidifer if you prefer) 2a] Minimum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined) 2b] Maximum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined) 3] A-Flex setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests) 4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on) 5] Show AHI/Leak feature On 6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the REMstar Auto w/A-Flex" 7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice. 1] ResMed S8 AutoSet Vantage (w/heated humidifer if you prefer) 2a] Minimum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined) 2b] Maximum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined) 3] EPR setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests) 4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on) 5] Efficacy & Usage Data access 6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the REMstar Auto w/A-Flex" 7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice. You will notice the similarities to each suggestion. 1] Exact brand and model of machine 2] Scripted pressure (the autoPAPs have a pressure range rather than a set pressure) 3] Scripted amount for lower pressure at exhalation 4] Starts w/4 cms of pressure and ramps up to your set pressure after you get to sleep 5] Allows you to access your nightly data via the LCD screen 6] While the integrated humidifiers are most convenient for travel and take up less space on your nightstand, in really dry situations sometimes they can't provide as much humidity as you might need or want. For many the integrated humidifiers are more than satisfactory. 7] This ensures that you can try several masks, including a Full Face mask (sometimes they insist on a script specifiying full face if the script just says mask, or will only provide the exact mask mentioned in the equipment order). To the best of my knowledge the only other fully data capable CPAPs (as of January 2008) are the Puritan Bennet GoodKnight 420E autoPAP and one other Puritan Bennet GoodKnight straight CPAP. I'm not sure of the correct model. Nor do I know the specifics for those Puritan Bennet's or I would have included them. Those who have the 420E really like them so hopefully further information can be included by someone who knows the Puritan Bennet devices.
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Suggested Specific CPAP Equipment Scripts (Slinky) (Diagnosis and Prescription)

(Editor's note: a doctor's prescription is required for a PAP machine whether through a local DME or online. Online, a generic CPAP prescription will work for either a CPAP or APAP. At a local DME, a prescription specific for APAP will probably be required. A prescription is not required for a mask. However, if you want to insurance to cover your mask, a prescription will be required for billing purposes. See prescription advice and requirements at https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescriptions.html#FGID-130 )

If your equipment order (script) will be for "just" a straight CPAP and not one of the more sophisticated bi-levels (Bi-PAP) or SV, etc. most doctors write a fairly genetic script and then most DMEs will take advantage and provide you with a bare-bones CPAP.

I would suggest that you ask your doctor to write a very explicit equipment order so that you get EXACTLY what you want and really need. The following are some suggested orders (not that I am recommending one machine over the other, just to give you and your doctor an idea).

1] Respironics REMstar M Series Pro w/C-Flex (w/heated humidifer if you prefer)
2] Pressure ---- cms (whatever your pressure is)
3] C-flex setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Show AHI/Leak feature On
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the REMstar Pro"
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

1] Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR (w/heated humidifer if you prefer)
2] Pressure ---- cms (whatever your pressure is)
3] EPR setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Efficacy & Usage Data access
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the Resmed S8 Elite)
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

1] Respironics REMstar M Series Auto w/A-Flex (w/heated humidifer if you prefer)
2a] Minimum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined)
2b] Maximum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined)
3] A-Flex setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Show AHI/Leak feature On
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the REMstar Auto w/A-Flex"
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

1] ResMed S8 AutoSet Vantage (w/heated humidifer if you prefer)
2a] Minimum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined)
2b] Maximum pressure (whatever your doctor has determined)
3] EPR setting 3 (or whatever your doctor suggests)
4] Ramp off (unless you prefer it on)
5] Efficacy & Usage Data access
6] Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (unless you prefer the integrated heated humidifer. If so just add "w/heated humidifier to the REMstar Auto w/A-Flex"
7] Nasal mask, Full Face mask, or Nasal Pillows mask of patient's choice.

You will notice the similarities to each suggestion.

1] Exact brand and model of machine
2] Scripted pressure (the autoPAPs have a pressure range rather than a set pressure)
3] Scripted amount for lower pressure at exhalation
4] Starts w/4 cms of pressure and ramps up to your set pressure after you get to sleep
5] Allows you to access your nightly data via the LCD screen
6] While the integrated humidifiers are most convenient for travel and take up less space on your nightstand, in really dry situations sometimes they can't provide as much humidity as you might need or want. For many the integrated humidifiers are more than satisfactory.
7] This ensures that you can try several masks, including a Full Face mask (sometimes they insist on a script specifiying full face if the script just says mask, or will only provide the exact mask mentioned in the equipment order).

To the best of my knowledge the only other fully data capable CPAPs (as of January 2008) are the Puritan Bennet GoodKnight 420E autoPAP and one other Puritan Bennet GoodKnight straight CPAP. I'm not sure of the correct model. Nor do I know the specifics for those Puritan Bennet's or I would have included them. Those who have the 420E really like them so hopefully further information can be included by someone who knows the Puritan Bennet devices.

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Our Collective Wisdom
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