Newbie asks about sleep study records from doctor

DenverCathy · Post by **DenverCathy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:52 am

Are the records it's venn suggested here I obtain from my doctor the ones that show all the graphs, etc. from the study or just the docs summary report to the files? Also, if I can't do any of the titrating myself, how important is getting a copy of my titration study?

Cathy

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:22 am

Unless you specify that you want the full data files most likely you will only be given the report.

As far as the titration issue, that is outta my league. Others will be along who are more experienced than I am to answer that question. HOWEVER, do be sure to request the full data files and report from your titration study as well. They will be every bit as interesting, if not more so, than your sleep evaluation study.

guest27 · Post by **guest27** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:17 pm

Hi, Cathy.
(can't login, it's MHS)
I think the sleep report is likely the most useful piece, what we refer to as the sleep study. Pages of raw data from the machines won't do you much good; it takes an expert to interpret them.

National Jewish does have a good reputation. Have you tried talking with your doctor about APAP and centrals? That's a good doctor-type question, since maybe APAP is not indicated in your case. The response that APAPs aren't reliable yet is one of those APAP myths. Resources: under the light bulb, article on reasons to use APAP and the article on machines. If straight CPAP is the best for you, you might ask your doctor what options there are for you in the future if your titrated pressure turns out to be off target. Do you need another titration study or could you use an APAP temporarily to establish a better titrated pressure? Would Jewish supply the loan of an APAP? Regardless of machine, if your insurance lets you rent for a few months before buying, that may be a good idea, unless you get penalized financially. Chances are, your intial machine will be good; but it it's not, you have an option to get a different one if you're renting for two or three months.

Exempla Lutheran in WheatRidge and Boulder Community Hospital sleep lab both do mask trials/fittings, whether or not you were a sleep lab patient (unless that's changed). It's a great service, you can try on several brands and types of masks with a mask fitter who knows what he/she is doing. I hope Jewish offers the same thing. Hospitals can offer this service because they are able to sanitize the masks, unlike a DME. This is the busy time of year for sleep labs, because of people meeting their calendar year deductibles.

Best of luck. Glad you found the forum early-on in your treatment.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:33 pm

[quote="Slinky"]Unless you specify that you want the full data files most likely you will only be given the report.

As far as the titration issue, that is outta my league. Others will be along who are more experienced than I am to answer that question. HOWEVER, do be sure to request the full data files and report from your titration study as well. They will be every bit as interesting, if not more so, than your sleep evaluation study.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:22 pm

I guess I just used the wrong terminology, SnoreDog. When I asked for my sleep evaluation report, I was given just the doctor's dictated report which was 1 & 1/2 pages. I knew there was more to it, including graphs, etc. so insisted that I be given what you call the "summary report" which I was then given. That was for the sleep evaluation. After my titration study, well before I saw the doctor, I was given the full "summary report" when I asked. I didn't have to see the doctor for permission or for a copy. And you are right it was about 10 pages as I remember.

I do remember, years ago, about 1996, I had a sleep evaluation study and DID get the full data files, but I was taking them to Cleveland Clinic w/me (or at least that was what I told them, actually I was going to CC for something entirely different) and that might have made the difference. That "report" was thick, probably a good 20 pages or maybe even better. I wonder if I managed to save that report after our basement flooded during that ice storm ..... I know we threw a lot of stuff from the bottom drawers of the file cabinets away ...

DenverCathy · Post by **DenverCathy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:55 pm

Thanks to everyone for your posts. And I appreciate the encouragement. I talked with insurance today and they will not cover the APAP without review and my doctor does not want to write a script for it anyway because of my CAs. So, it sounds like the CPAP is the best equipment for me and I learned today I can buy it outright this year yet through insurance (I've already met my deductible for the year -- $1,000).

So, with all of your support, encouragement, and info., I'm feeling better about the equipment I'll be getting -- not so bummed as yesterday and this morning. The DME at Nat'l. Jewish Sleep Center will fit me with a mask.

We'll see how next weekend goes with the equipment for the first time. I can't wait to have a sense of a good night's sleep and some energy and maybe even some memory! I hope I don't have my expectations too high.

Have a great weekend everyone. And thanks again for all the help.

Cathy

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:16 pm

DenverCathy wrote:So, it sounds like the CPAP is the best equipment for me and I learned today I can buy it outright this year yet through insurance (I've already met my deductible for the year -- $1,000).

I just found this out myself! I logged into my BCBS account online and found that I met my "out of pocket" of $1500. Then the DME called me last week to see how I was doing with the Bi-PAP. She said they'd convert it this week to a sale! Woo-hoo!

My goal for next year is to not even hit my $300 deductible. I know that's quite laughable but at least it's a goal. I did flex $1000 because I'm anticipating buying another mask at some point. (Although I certainly don't want to spend that much on one!!)

Kimberly

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:32 pm

Gads, after being molly-coddled all my life w/good insurance that paid everything but our office calls, I just got a shock today! I just found out that "I" owe some money. When I called to find out WHY, what happened, what did they bill wrong I found out that since 01 June 06 we now have a yearly deductable and co-pay for radiology procedures (and heaven knows what else). I've BEEN worried since we are retired, but now I'm getting a bit SCARED. We're short on what we'd been planning for retirement to begin w/since I had to take retirement 4 years earlier than planned for.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:44 pm

Slinky,

I think we are mostly in the same boat. Medical costs keep rising and we keep getting less in the way of insurance benefits.

When I started working insurance was part of the medical benefit package from work, now I think we are paying $150 per month or more and that is by far not the most comprehensive coverage we could choose or it would be much more.

Then come the deductable and copays.

That is why I enjoy focusing on the issue of getting your equipment for the most reasonable price.

In our case we can choose our insurance plans annually. I moved to a more comprehensive dental plan when our daughter needed braces, then back when she will got done.

In some cases you can "group your procedures" in a given year.

Sometimes you can wait on a procedure a month or two and push it into the next year when the benefits package you chose changes. Of course not with urgent type things. Other times you want to do more in a year when you have already met the deducatable (like buying a cpap in the same year as your sleep study).

Another thing is to keep watch on how your insurance is applied. I was reading this year's package and saw that we have complete coverage for immunizations. I said, hey, I just paid a copay for that flu shot. I wonder if I should have. A call to the company and they reevaluated the claim and decided I was right, I am getting rebate. All depends on how the doc's office codes. Of course no one was going to tell me what the codes were and what the right one was. (I think I may do some online research and make myself a chart soon). We are also supposed to have no copay for routing screeings (obgyn for example). All depends on if the doc puts in any kind of diagnosis code. Sometimes it works the opposite way (in my policy it works that opthomologist visit is not paid unless there is a medical reason I went), so if the doc finds something and codes it he is doing me a favor, but with the obgyn having a code for some diagnosis that they won't do any further analysis on is not doing me a favor. So, in order to really get the most out of your insurance you really need to learn the codes and make sure the doc is coding properly for your particular plan.

I know this is a bit off topic but I thought it related to your comment on new copays for stuff that didn't have them previously.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:01 am

Thanks, SnoreGirl, this opens an entirely new and foreign world and language for me. I'm not sure I am up to it. I don't mean to be ungrateful as we still are so much better insured than so many and those w/no health insurance at all.

Heck, I was totally confused when we were put on Medicare to walk out of my doctor's office w/o paying anything. Then to get a bill a month or two later for a small amount (as I mentioned our health insurance which then became our secondary insurance did not pay for office calls). To confuse the matter even further our family doctor died and as I doctor shopped to find a new one most offices couldn't tell me what I owed because they use an outside billing service. We had never heard of "initial office calls" and the inflated IOC charge since we had been paying a flat $35 an office call to our family doctor so you can imagine my shock the first bill for an IOC I received!!!!!!

Man! Its a whole new world out there and I've lived such a sheltered life as far as health insurance coverage all my life. I'm totally LOST!!!!! WAY out in left field! (I'm probably gonna need an interpreter).

DerekB · Post by **DerekB** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:22 am

DenverCathy wrote:

So, with all of your support, encouragement, and info., I'm feeling better about the equipment I'll be getting -- not so bummed as yesterday and this morning. The DME at Nat'l. Jewish Sleep Center will fit me with a mask.

Sounds great!

Good luck with your therapy!

DB

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:58 pm

Slinky,

I think many of us feel that way. I dread the days of dealing with Medicare (not anywhere near that yet) as the company sponsored plans are crazy enough.

But then again, at least I have one. Many do not.

No way to figure what plan to take as no one can give good information.

This happens ot me every Nov.

Friends and I sit around and discuss what we did last year and how it was billed and try to make sense of it and apply it to the current choices. We actually have lunch over this. Pretty sad.

So hang in there and read and absorb as much as you can, and when in doubt ask questions of anyone and everyone.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:14 pm

Thanks, SnoreGirl, will do. My daughter has GM salary health insurance, we have as our secondary UAW-GM hourly retiree health insurance. She elected to go w/HealthPlus which is a PPO, I think. She's restricted on which doctors she can take the family too. No way!! I've never been restricted as to which doctors I go to and I sure don't want to start that now!!! At least Medicare does give us THAT freedom - if the doctor takes Medicare patients or is taking any new Medicare patients. When my mom moved to town w/us we had a devil of a time finding a doctor who was taking new Medicare patients!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:22 pm

Sorry, SnoreGirl, that was me above. I musta stayed away from the forum too long watching the Jaguars & Colts game. When I left I was Slinky, when I came back I ended up being a guest.

Newbie asks about sleep study records from doctor

Newbie asks about sleep study records from doctor

sleep study and mask trials