Getting official medical help with osa and sp02 levels?

[ravenous28]

Unless my pcp just doesn’t have it and it’s at the hospital I got the sleep lab from? I don’t understand how that would be possible considering this is the same dr who ordered my sleep study done in 2012 from the same health network. I guess a call to the place I had my lab done might be able to shine some light on where my original prescription is at?

[palerider]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the only reason one would need to prove compliance is to get insurance to pay for things. Compliance does not really have anything to do with whether you may get a prescription.

You're absolutely correct.

[ravenous28]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the only reason one would need to prove compliance is to get insurance to pay for things. Compliance does not really have anything to do with whether you may get a prescription.

You're absolutely correct.

So considering I did go through a dme and my insurance to even trial the cpap back then I should have a prescription for it already technically I’m assuming. But maybe it does expire and there’s some truth to that...

Or there was never really a prescription written for me in the first place when I went through the whole thing?

[chunkyfrog]

The prescription should NEVER expire--apnea is generally permanent.
Insurance can be fussier--business, you know.
Self-pay is easier, as insurance cannot dictate rules.
Your physician may need to be informed if his desk dragon is being an obstruction.

[Jay Aitchsee]

So considering I did go through a dme and my insurance to even trial the cpap back then I should have a prescription for it already technically I’m assuming. But maybe it does expire and there’s some truth to that...

Or there was never really a prescription written for me in the first place when I went through the whole thing?

If you received a machine from a DME as yours to use for therapy for an indefinite period of time, then you had a prescription. It may, or may not, have had an expiration of less than life.
If you received a machine only for a trial, then, most likely, the associated prescription (Doctor's Order) was written to expire at the end of the trial period.

[ravenous28]

So considering I did go through a dme and my insurance to even trial the cpap back then I should have a prescription for it already technically I’m assuming. But maybe it does expire and there’s some truth to that...

Or there was never really a prescription written for me in the first place when I went through the whole thing?

If you received a machine from a DME as yours to use for therapy for an indefinite period of time, then you had a prescription. It may, or may not, have had an expiration of less than life.
If you received a machine only for a trial, then, most likely, the associated prescription (Doctor's Order) was written to expire at the end of the trial period.

I found my paperwork of the sleep dr who’s still at that same place. I guess a call to his office would be able to verify if his prescription was only good for that trail period I used or indefinitely. If it was only written for the trail period then I guess all I can do is ask them if they could reach out to him to get that renewed again. (This same dr also was the one to review and list my most current home sleep few months ago 2018 study done with the mouthpiece and apnea not being treated) so maybe I can get lucky and he will agree to it. Otherwise I’m stuck having go undergo another in-lab polysomnogram with PAP titration or finding another dr who will agree with me that I need to be back on cpap and give me my prescription.

[chunkyfrog]

Document, document, DOCUMENT.
Casually mention that if anything happens to you due to their giving you trouble,
then all documents will go to your law firm.
Say you hate to be a pain, but they "started it".

[palerider]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the only reason one would need to prove compliance is to get insurance to pay for things. Compliance does not really have anything to do with whether you may get a prescription.

You're absolutely correct.

So considering I did go through a dme and my insurance to even trial the cpap back then I should have a prescription for it already technically I’m assuming. But maybe it does expire and there’s some truth to that...

Or there was never really a prescription written for me in the first place when I went through the whole thing?

1) prescriptions are overrated.
2) you had one, else you wouldn't have gotten a machine.

[palerider]

Otherwise I’m stuck having go undergo another in-lab polysomnogram with PAP titration or finding another dr who will agree with me that I need to be back on cpap and give me my prescription.

Oh for heavens sake, just do this:
http://axgsleepdiagnostics.com/product/ ... nattended/
and quit beating the dead horse to dust, reconstituting it, and beating it to dust again, over and over.

[ravenous28]

Otherwise I’m stuck having go undergo another in-lab polysomnogram with PAP titration or finding another dr who will agree with me that I need to be back on cpap and give me my prescription.

Oh for heavens sake, just do this:
http://axgsleepdiagnostics.com/product/ ... nattended/
and quit beating the dead horse to dust, reconstituting it, and beating it to dust again, over and over.

That’s not the point I’m making. I already have a home sleep study called in (again) for the dental device coming in a few weeks. The point is coming back to cpap again if I find out the device fails. I already spent enough money on oral devices and sleep studies studies over the years to determine I have osa. I don’t want to really buy used equipment on eBay the rest of my life. Maybe you like it and that’s fine. Until I can figure out this whole prescription thing that’s all I can do is buy used from random people I understand that. I appreciate the advice here about how it all works with prescriptions and cpap. I will find out tomorrow when I call the real sleep dr office that did the initial Pap study on me and know where I stand.

[palerider]

Otherwise I’m stuck having go undergo another in-lab polysomnogram with PAP titration or finding another dr who will agree with me that I need to be back on cpap and give me my prescription.

Oh for heavens sake, just do this:
http://axgsleepdiagnostics.com/product/ ... nattended/
and quit beating the dead horse to dust, reconstituting it, and beating it to dust again, over and over.

That’s not the point I’m making. I already have a home sleep study called in (again) for the dental device coming in a few weeks. The point is coming back to cpap again if I find out the device fails. I already spent enough money on oral devices and sleep studies studies over the years to determine I have osa. I don’t want to really buy used equipment on eBay the rest of my life. Maybe you like it and that’s fine. Until I can figure out this whole prescription thing that’s all I can do is buy used from random people I understand that. I appreciate the advice here about how it all works with prescriptions and cpap. I will find out tomorrow when I call the real sleep dr office that did the initial Pap study on me and know where I stand.

I figured that "cut your losses, get a prescription and MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE wouldn't be something you'd be interested in..

[zoocrewphoto]

I was diagnosed in 2012, only did one followup. Since i rarely meet my deductible, I have been buying my supplies via ebay, craigslist, and cpap.com. Last year, I met my deductible, so I figured I might as well get some supplies with my insurance. My current primary care physician is a nurse practitioner who is really good. But I had only been going to her a few months. I told her her I was on cpap, and I would like a prescription for cpap supplies. No problem. She wrote one for me. Most knowledgeable doctors know that cpap machines and supplies are not dangerous. And it isn't like a drug that people get hooked on or just want extra. Most people aren't going to buy cpap supplies if they don;t need them.

The doctor who is being a jerk about this is either an idiot or wants more money from appointments.

[Jay Aitchsee]

I was diagnosed in 2012, only did one followup. Since i rarely meet my deductible, I have been buying my supplies via ebay, craigslist, and cpap.com. Last year, I met my deductible, so I figured I might as well get some supplies with my insurance. My current primary care physician is a nurse practitioner who is really good. But I had only been going to her a few months. I told her her I was on cpap, and I would like a prescription for cpap supplies. No problem. She wrote one for me. Most knowledgeable doctors know that cpap machines and supplies are not dangerous. And it isn't like a drug that people get hooked on or just want extra. Most people aren't going to buy cpap supplies if they don;t need them.

The doctor who is being a jerk about this is either an idiot or wants more money from appointments.

Absolutely! This has been suggested already, but the OP doesn't seem interested in a simple solution (as PR points out). He wants to continually wallow in "what ifs" and "yes, buts".

For heavens sake, Ravaenous, go to a doctor, explain your situation, ask for a prescription, and get on with it.

See our Host's site for info about prescriptions and a sample form:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescriptions
https://a0fa1b452dd65abe2907-3115b881cb ... on-LMN.pdf
Our host will send a request for a prescription to you doctor on your behalf, if desired.

rxcpap.JPG

[ChicagoGranny]

it is clear that selling Class II medical equipment (CPAP) without being licensed to issue a prescription for such Class II equipment is a federal criminal offense.

Do you have a clue what you wrote? If you do, you might want to edit that sentence.

[ravenous28]

I was diagnosed in 2012, only did one followup. Since i rarely meet my deductible, I have been buying my supplies via ebay, craigslist, and cpap.com. Last year, I met my deductible, so I figured I might as well get some supplies with my insurance. My current primary care physician is a nurse practitioner who is really good. But I had only been going to her a few months. I told her her I was on cpap, and I would like a prescription for cpap supplies. No problem. She wrote one for me. Most knowledgeable doctors know that cpap machines and supplies are not dangerous. And it isn't like a drug that people get hooked on or just want extra. Most people aren't going to buy cpap supplies if they don;t need them.

The doctor who is being a jerk about this is either an idiot or wants more money from appointments.

Absolutely! This has been suggested already, but the OP doesn't seem interested in a simple solution (as PR points out). He wants to continually wallow in "what ifs" and "yes, buts".

For heavens sake, Ravaenous, go to a doctor, explain your situation, ask for a prescription, and get on with it.

See our Host's site for info about prescriptions and a sample form:
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescriptions
https://a0fa1b452dd65abe2907-3115b881cb ... on-LMN.pdf
Our host will send a request for a prescription to you doctor on your behalf, if desired.
rxcpap.JPG

I’m pretty much done with all this. All I gotta say is both the sleep lab people and my pcp office told today that no doctor is going to give me a prescription for a cpap from a old 2012 in lab sleep study. Even though I had another home sleep study done in 2018 to verify the mouthpiece isn’t working, that doesn’t count...I would either have to retest overnight again on cpap in lab or get a dr to agree to letting me try an apap at home through an dme and insurance, only after that if the dr thinks I can tolerate it, can I potentially then ask them for a prescription and that’s only if the dr then agrees to give me one at that point. There’s no other way around it. I’m done beating this dead horse. It is a messed up situation to be in. Its my fault for failing the cpap and thinking the mouthpiece was working all these years and the only “proper way” to come back is to pay up and go through more doctors and insurance company all over. Otherwise I’m on my own.

I was also told it’s a bad idea from the sleep lab guy to go it on my own and that sleepyhead and other apps used for analyzing sleep results aren't trustworthy as having a support from a real dr or dme. He also said he has no knowledge of ever hearing anyone wanting to ever buy their own cpap online, it’s not the norm and most dr won’t support that yet alone give a prescription because you want to go rouge.

To make matters worse, I can’t even go to the sleep lab place to see the sleep specialist dr because they don’t take my insurance due to a upmc/highmark split here in Pittsburgh causing all the people to find new drs on the highmark side.