Lincare first machine advice

[billhorn501]

My Dr. sent my sleep study and related paperwork to Lincare about two weeks ago. I'm waiting to hear from them. Can anybody advise me on how to handle getting a good machine instead of the cheap basic one I presume they will try to get me to accept. I have been using a "garage sale" Philips Respironics REMstar Auto (System One) for a couple of months and I sometimes use the auto mode and I like to look at my data on sleepyhead. I have been changing the settings myself. How should I handle trying to get a machine with comparable features?

[SewTired]

My experience is that each Lincare office is different. Mine was and is great! The warehouse is a different story. Some of the people are more knowledgeable than others however. Your best bet is to decide which machine you want (make sure it works with Sleepyhead) and ask your doctor to update your prescription with that machine specifically. Next best thing is to call them and ask them what machines you can choose from and what your preference is. Write it down. When you show up for your appointment, if your choice is not what they are presenting, tell them that you refuse delivery and want the machine YOU wanted.

Also, be sure to have doc include heated hose - you get a different power brick. You can always use a standard hose afterwards, but you would have to pay out of pocket to get it later.

[palerider]

My Dr. sent my sleep study and related paperwork to Lincare about two weeks ago. I'm waiting to hear from them. Can anybody advise me on how to handle getting a good machine instead of the cheap basic one I presume they will try to get me to accept. I have been using a "garage sale" Philips Respironics REMstar Auto (System One) for a couple of months and I sometimes use the auto mode and I like to look at my data on sleepyhead. I have been changing the settings myself. How should I handle trying to get a machine with comparable features?

simply don't accept anything that's not a full auto machine... am I missing something here?

[Tino2You]

piggybacking on PaleRide, do your homework and have a list of machines you believe are acceptable. Ones that are full data and have a feature set you want. and be prepared to act like a three year old having a temper tantrum when they try and push someone else on you

When I got mine from crApria many years ago, I was told this is the unit you will take...I said hold on and called my doc while in the office. I asked them to FAX a specific Rx with the make and model I wanted. Before the FAX arrived she was replacing the brick for my AutoSet.

-tino

[flightco]

My Dr. sent my sleep study and related paperwork to Lincare about two weeks ago. I'm waiting to hear from them. Can anybody advise me on how to handle getting a good machine instead of the cheap basic one I presume they will try to get me to accept. I have been using a "garage sale" Philips Respironics REMstar Auto (System One) for a couple of months and I sometimes use the auto mode and I like to look at my data on sleepyhead. I have been changing the settings myself. How should I handle trying to get a machine with comparable features?

First thing you need to do is go to your doctors office in person and request a copy of your sleep study and script "for your records" If they give you any trouble, tell them in no uncertain terms you will accept nothing less. Many of us have had a lesser product try to be shoved off on us and I think most were successful in getting the machine we knew we needed. DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER, they don't always give up easily.

[Pap-Daddy]

How should I handle trying to get a machine with comparable features?

Simply do not accept (as in sign for) any machine that does not have the features you want; even for one night.

If Lincare won't budge you have two options

• 1. Have the doc order the machine using the exact make & model & features YOU want.
  2. Get a copy of the doctors order and bring it to another dme. Be sure to contact your insurance first to see if and who else you can get cpap equipment from.

It is not uncommon to do this. Some DME's are in the habit of just forcing whatever they want on their patients by making up stories that simply aren't true and often make no sense.

Remain calm but firm. It is to your advantage you already have a cpap to use and know what you want. Most of use were not in that position the first time around.

[chunkyfrog]

Part of the beauty of a cellphone is that if they try to jerk you around,
you can pull out your phone and scout the competition from THEIR office.
No, that is NOT being rude! But if it were, who cares?

[paprt]

With the drop in reimbursement rates, cpap is not a big money-maker and many DME's would not stress over losing a few patients who won't accept a cheaper unit. Your best recourse is to tell them you are going to contact your doctor about your disappointment... the DME's DON'T want to lose their referral sources.

[paprt]

Also, be sure to have doc include heated hose - you get a different power brick. You can always use a standard hose afterwards, but you would have to pay out of pocket to get it later.

Can you share your source for this info, please? Our DME gets units packed by manufacturer with slimline tubing AND units packed by manufacturer with Climateline Air tubing. Both units are packed with the same 90W brick.

[chunkyfrog]

This WAS done with earlier models, especially when the heated humidifier (HH) was considered optional.
The 90 watt power (Resmed) for the HH will also handle the heated hose.
It has been my experience that the lower power brick was included if the HH was not included.
There was another issue which made early hose choice a MUST.
Some Respironics models had an optional humidifier top that was not included if the heated hose
was not sold. This top was fairly expensive, and a very dirty trick.

[Pugsy]

Can you share your source for this info, please? Our DME gets units packed by manufacturer with slimline tubing AND units packed by manufacturer with Climateline Air tubing. Both units are packed with the same 90W brick.

Not exactly sure what SewTired was thinking of but maybe it was the 60 Series Respironics machines. There were 2 separate power bricks available with those machines.
60 watt for regular non heated hoses and 80 watt for heated hose (a special lid on the humidifier too)
ResMed machines all have the same power brick and I think that the new DreamStation from Respironics now also comes heated hose ready but I can't swear for sure.

[paprt]

Oh that's right, the older units did come with different bricks/humidifier tops.
It's the Airsense 10 that always gets the 90W brick.

[paprt]

I think that the new DreamStation from Respironics now also comes heated hose ready but I can't swear for sure.

It does.

[Guest]

Oh that's right, the older units did come with different bricks/humidifier tops.
It's the Airsense 10 that always gets the 90W brick.

stick around you will learn something everyday esp things they didnt & dont teach in class

[SewTired]

This WAS done with earlier models, especially when the heated humidifier (HH) was considered optional.
...
Some Respironics models had an optional humidifier top that was not included if the heated hose
was not sold. This top was fairly expensive, and a very dirty trick.

Yes, this is exactly what I was referring to. When my bro got his bipap, they had to switch the humidifier top for the heated hose. I can't remember about the power brick, but it was mentioned in other threads that the power brick could also vary depending on whether you have heated hose or not.

I don't personally know anybody who has yet purchased the Dreamstation, so my knowledge on that one is limited to working with the humidifier at the diabetes expo. The Dreamstation humidifier is more handicapped friendly than the 560 series.