DME recommendation

[SaxChick]

I just completed my sleep test, and my doctor recommends CPAP therapy. The DME she referred me to is not "in network" for my insurance company, so I'm looking around.

Any recommendations for a DME in the Gastonia, NC or Rock Hill, SC areas?

Thanks in advance ...

[Perrybucsdad]

What DME's are in network?

[Lizistired]

Contact your sleep center and get a copy of the full report and condensed graphs for both your sleep study and titration and your prescription.
Then contact your insurance company for a list of in network DME's.
You have a lot more power shopping for a DME with the prescription in your hand instead of theirs.
DME's vary widely, so you really do have to shop your location. I chose Apria because they were able to give me information the first day, when they realized I was informed. They are nationwide, and they are convenient to my house. Others tell horror stories of the company in other locations.
You gotta do your homework first though with any of them.

[archangle]

Welcome, SaxChick.

Consider yourself lucky to have found this board before finding a DME. Many DMEs are worse than used car dealers. They will stick you with a junker at luxury car prices. If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check for yourself.

Read up here on how to deal with DMEs.

Figure out which CPAP machines are good and which are junk.

[Sheriff Buford]

Sax: if you have an option of choosing more than one DME, consider using the one that has a large array of masks on display. They will allow you to try on the different kinds of masks and mask-brands that are suitable to you. They should also have a machine (that they will set at your prescribed pressure), so when you find a possible mask, you can hook up the machine, turn it on and see what the leak rate and comfort-level is for the mask you are trying on. The DME will also help you adjust the mask. Finding a comfortable mask with no leaks is the key to your sucess. Make sure the DME will allow you to return the mask (usually within 30 days) to find a more suitable mask.

Also... keep the original prescription and let the DME make a copy. This offers you flexibility in shopping somewhere else.

Sheriff

[purple]

The local Sleep doc usually has a list of local DME's and the recommendations of what doc hears back from patients. Ask you insurance company for approved DME's in your area to compare it with.

If you have not read it yet.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

To me, with basic Obstructive Sleep Apnea there are only two machines to have. Resmed S9 Autoset, or the one I do have PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine with A-Flex. and, unless you live in a rain forest, the humdifier.

What is very hard to decide is which mask is for you, which is a matter of personal preference. That is, we all have different faces and different things we can tolerate.

If you are going on a trip inside the US, before you leave, have your doc send prescriptions for all the equipment to cpap.com so if you need something, you can just get it, else it will be a royal pain to find a doc local to wherever you are, get an appointment get a script, and find a local DME.

Successful treatment of Sleep Apnea is like coming alive again, but it takes a strong will to overcome the frustrations and learn how to use, tolerate the treatment. Best wishes.

[LinkC]

I just carry a copy of my script with me in my CPAP bag.

[purple]

The bag might be the thing to get lost. Besides a script from my doc in Texas might not be valid in Las Vegas. However, that is a good idea to have the physical script as well.

Your regular DME might ship to somewhere else in the country as well. However. If the local DME will take the paper script, then the next moment you have the part in your hand.

[SaxChick]

I am SO glad I found this forum at the beginning of my xPAP journey!! Thanks for all the replies and excellent information.

After several phone calls, I discovered that the DME recommended by the doc is, indeed, "in network" for me, so I will start with them and see how it goes. This particular recommended DME is "American Home Patient" (in Gastonia, NC) -- hopefully I can get in to see them tomorrow ...

They said they carry ResMed supplies (and mentioned a couple others, as well). I asked on the phone what machine they were planning on giving me, and they said the doctor specified CPAP, and they were planning on giving me the S9 Escape model. I asked if they would give me an S9 Elite instead, and they said "sure". So - that seemed easy, so far ...

Thanks again ... I'm ready for some GOOD sleep!

[archangle]

I asked on the phone what machine they were planning on giving me, and they said the doctor specified CPAP, and they were planning on giving me the S9 Escape model. I asked if they would give me an S9 Elite instead, and they said "sure". So - that seemed easy, so far ...

Good luck.

When you get the machine, look on the top near the power button. Be sure it says "Elite," not escape. Look here for a picture of what to look for. DMEs have been known to promise one thing and deliver another, and even lie about what machine it is.

Your insurance will probably not let them charge you extra for the Elite machine.

Don't let them give you a full face mask. Try a nasal (over the nose) mask first, and only go to a full face mask if you can't stop mouth leaks with a nasal mask.

Be sure to get the heated humidifier as well. Most places will do this anyway.