Hubby just got his RX..few questions please.

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:27 am

My DH got his RX from dr. today after his sleep study showed severe sleep apnea. I was told that the drs office will contact a DME store that accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield. They will come to the house with the CPAP machine and instruct us on usage. According to my health insurance co. they will let us rent the equipment for 10 months and then it becomes ours to keep. (We pay the rent) does that sound correct? Also any ideas on what the monthly rental charges are roughly? Drs RX reads as follows:

BiFlex +21/ +17
Ultra Mirage Mask size medium
Heated humidification
Compliance Card

Any thoughts or ideas please share. We have a 1500.00 annual deductible with 600.00 of it spent toward sleep study. thanks in advance

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:36 am

[quote="bucsfan0713"]My DH got his RX from dr. today after his sleep study showed severe sleep apnea. I was told that the drs office will contact a DME store that accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield. They will come to the house with the CPAP machine and instruct us on usage. According to my health insurance co. they will let us rent the equipment for 10 months and then it becomes ours to keep. (We pay the rent) does that sound correct? Also any ideas on what the monthly rental charges are roughly? Drs RX reads as follows:

BiFlex +21/ +17
Ultra Mirage Mask size medium
Heated humidification
Compliance Card

Any thoughts or ideas please share. We have a 1500.00 annual deductible with 600.00 of it spent toward sleep study. thanks in advance

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:36 am

can't wait for the replies lol

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:44 am

Anonymous wrote:can't wait for the replies lol

yep once people learn what a phony you are you will be back to flipping burgers.

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:56 am

I am sorry but I am not a phony, my husband did get a prescription and I was told to join this forum for advise.

Also on RX it states Biflex +21 does that mean the dr. ordered a BiPAP and not a CPAP and what is the difference?

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Prescription

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:04 pm

[quote="bucsfan0713"]I am sorry but I am not a phony, my husband did get a prescription and I was told to join this forum for advise.

Also on RX it states Biflex +21 does that mean the dr. ordered a BiPAP and not a CPAP and what is the difference?

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:18 pm

oh okay thank you , I was wondering where that came from lol thanks for the info previously!

jjposey · Post by **jjposey** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:28 pm

Just a couple of notes from my experience with BCBS MS...
Triple check all info you get from them and forget what the dme says... Mine didn't have a clue about how my insurance worked even though they thought they knew.
I got two completely different "off the cuff" responses to questions about coverage from Customer Service with BCBS before I finally pushed the point and made someone actually LOOK for the answer to my questions. If they answer too quickly, watch out! Pin them down for a firm answer and try to get the info in writing if you can.
With BCBS the option to rent or purchase my equipment was my decision. I opted to purchase and had only my 20% to pay since I'd met my deduct with the inital sleep study.

By the way, who told you to join the forum?

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:43 pm

Welcome, bucsfan

Under the light bulb above/our collective wisdom, read

cpaptalk-articles/409/CPAP-Machine-Choi ... eper).html

Bilevels are near the end. It has links to cpap.com . Even if you don't get the machine there, you can learn a lot about them from the web site.

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:45 pm

Thanks for the advise on BCBS, I will firm up my benefits. The sleep center my hubby went too suggested I look into cpap.com and cpaptalk for great info.

If my dh rx says biflex, is that for a CPAP or BIPAP???? tia.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:53 pm

bucsfan0713 wrote:Thanks for the advise on BCBS, I will firm up my benefits. The sleep center my hubby went too suggested I look into cpap.com and cpaptalk for great info.

If my dh rx says biflex, is that for a CPAP or BIPAP???? tia.

Good sleep center....

For Bi-PAP/Bi-level, a prescription would specify two pressures one for EPAP and the other for IPAP.
Bi-Flex is Respironics' breathing relief on Bi-PAP.
C-Flex is Respironics' breathing relief on CPAP (and APAP)

Another thing I've read about many who have BCBS is that if a person wishes to purchase out-of-pocket (and then submit an invoice to them), that they are very good about reimbursing their members for it. (saves everybody a good deal of money)

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:29 pm

bucsfan - pardon Snoredog's continuos personal attacks.

You should go to your local DME and ask them VERY clearly to formally state what services they would provide you vs. an internet retailer. Ask them to write those services down. Some services could be a mask fitting session, coming out to your house and setting you up, reading your smartcard and providing this data to your doctor, providing instant equipment exchange in case something breaks.

Next think about whether you could use these services over the next several years and ask yourself whether it's worth the few extra dollars. After all, your local DME has to make a profit to stay in business.

Then if you don't want or need any of these local services, feel free to patronize an internet retailer who can also provide some of these services via the mail or phone.

It's your call. Don't listen to fools that tell you that all DMEs are morons. The majority are just fine.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:50 pm

Anonymous wrote:bucsfan - pardon Snoredog's continuos personal attacks.

They are not just personal attacks ... they include facts.

Your participation on this forum is only to discourage patients from using this forum.

thedean always posts as a guest and always calls the forum members fools for not using DMEs.

thedean is the one who should be pardoned and ignored.

bucsfan0713 · Post by **bucsfan0713** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:11 pm

Thanks for all the great replies and answers, I will be busy looking at all the great links you gave me, thanks again

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:35 pm

Aw, come on guys, IF the patient encounters a GOOD local DME supplier AND there ARE some good ones out there, then as a newbie they usually ARE better of starting locally as they gain experience and their education here.

BucsFan's hubby's sleep lab is obviously pretty progressive and a good one, they advised them to come here. Chances are good that the local DME supplier could be a good one too.

BucsFan, your hubby's script sounds a bit confusing. Bi-Flex would indicate a bi-PAP, but only one pressure setting, 21, confuses the issue as a bi-PAP would require two pressure settings.

I'm sure the DME supplier will contact the sleep lab or sleep doctor for clarification.

Hubby just got his RX..few questions please.

Hubby just got his RX..few questions please.

Re: Hubby just got his RX..few questions please.

machine info