kickbacks on sleep studies

[C-Man]

Have any of you thought that the referring physician to the sleep study center is getting kickbacks on this? I went to a pulmonary physician who first recommended that I have a sleep study. The center he recommended was horrible so the first time I didnt sleep enough for them to get results so I had to go back a second time. I told the physician that the sleep center was horrible and he said he would stop referring them. Back then I had better health insurance so I paid very little out of pocket but the insurance company would send me the statements of the amount billed vs what they paid and what was written off. These sleep centers charge an absolute fortune. Anyways the MD has referred me again to another sleep center to see if I would be a candidate for a nasal mask. Currently I use a ultra mirage FF mask with little success. I would now have to pay my $1,000 deductible to do this sleep study, and I cant help but feel that somehow someway the referring MD receives some kind of incentive due to the amount that the sleep centers charge for this service. Do any of you feel it would be worthwhile for me to spend so much out of pocket when I can buy a nose mask for under $200 and see if it will work for me or not?

[Wulfman]

Sounds to me like you answered your question(s) in your last sentence/question.

Do a thorough analysis of the various masks and what you think would work for you before you plunk down the money.

Most of the nasal interfaces at CPAP.COM are under $100.

Best wishes,

Den

[CollegeGirl]

Just make sure you keep an eye out for symptoms of mouth-breathing. Hopefully, there was some sort of reason for them starting you out on a full face mask (things aren't usually done that way) - do you know what their reasoning was for that?

[Snoredog]

The doctor I had and 2 of his colleges owned the Sleep Lab where I went. I only used them because there was a 3-month wait elsewhere or they were too far away.

Sleep medicine is a legal license to steal.

c-man wrote:

The center he recommended was horrible so the first time I didnt sleep enough for them to get results so I had to go back a second time.

Happens all the time, they don't get paid as much for a split-night study, so they fail the second half of the study so you have to come back for another full PSG.

I saw the bill to insurance, mine was $5800 for the 2 studies. The doctor got an additional $580 for "intrepreting the study". The report was all canned, it said instruct patient on driving, lose weight (I was 6' 1" and 177lbs.).

[Guest]

Yes my study was all canned too with very little creative information from the doc who made big bucks to "read the data"

Mine was like Snordog's except add the warning on drugs and alcohol which I had said in my big long questionairer I don't use.

What a crock and waste of money.

[Guest]

Happens all the time, they don't get paid as much for a split-night study, so they fail the second half of the study so you have to come back for another full PSG.

Do you have proof of this or do you just not like doctors so you make accusations like this? Come on, that is an absolutely ridiculous thing to try and pawn off.
It's funny, but people here, myself included, argue that not enough data is collected during a split-night study. Not enough sleep time, trying to get used to being in a strange place with wires hooked up etc.
Then the other half argue that sleep labs deliberately force people into a 2 night study.
Sounds like a clear case of just not being able to win.

[Bookbear]

My sleep doc is the director of the sleep center where I was required by the medical clinic to have the sleep study done. That said, the center was resonably comfortable, and the tech I worked with was understanding and professional, even to the point of staying an extra 45 min. past the usual 'kick 'em out the door' time to get enough data for a titration. I understand that it is not all that unusual for doctors to have a financial stake in labs that process medical tests. I was informed by the PA that the doc was also the director when the appointment was made so there was no attemt to hide the relationship. It DOES make you wonder a bit, though....obviously a situation ripe with at least the possibility for abuse.

[Sleep Man]

I work in a sleep center my doctor has a no kickback policy any one found doing so will not only be fired but also turned over to the police the same day. The doctor has over 20 years experience with no problems he does not believe in making a few extra bucks to get more patients. We are one of the few places in the Bronx where patients do not need more than one study. If you have no sleep apnea where the AHI is between 0-10 what i the point of coming in again. This is not a commercial for our facility that is why I'm not putting the name you can also ask your insurance company who they could recommend in your area to avoid any extra cost.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

My first sleep study was scheduled by the Dr ... I ended up canceling it as their first apt slot of each night was to show up at 21:30 (9:30 PM) I Ussually go to bed between 8-9 ...

So I got a referral to where I wanted to go ... I did end up with going back for a seperate titration ...

This summer I was given choices of where I want to go ... So I don't get any kick backs were happening ...

The screwy billing is just the American health care way of doing business!

And yes, I do realize this was an old thread ...