Why do they want my card ??

[daisy56]

I got a call from the people who gave me the machine and they want me to drop off my card?
I asked if I would get it back, they said yes, or they would just give me a new one.
Also I asked if I could get the results (I haven't bought the piece(for my computer) I need for the SleepyHead yet.
They said, well...we send your results to your Doctor, you can ask him...
I didn't know it would be done this way? I saw the sleep clinic Doctor when I first started the machine and together
we viewed my results and discussed them and she said to come back in a month and we can do it again.
I would prefer to do it this way..why do I need to take my card to the machine company people??
I'm thinking they will just send it to my GP Doctor and he may not know how to read this.....

Sorry to sound confused... I'm new to all this (about 2 months in and adjusting well I think for the most part)....

Also one more thing... I'm sleeping more during the day lately...not sure why. But my AHI was down to 2.7 and now that
I'm taking naps during the day, my AHI number oh and my 90% pressure level is creeping back up slowly....why is this?

[Pugsy]

Unless you bought your machine out right, they likely need the card to get hours of use off of it to satisfy insurance company requirements so they get paid. It is common for insurance companies to require proof periodically that you are indeed using the machine so that they aren't paying for something sitting in your closet.

It isn't so much about the quality of your therapy as it is about how many hours you use the machine.

[DoriC]

Our DME asked for our card after about 30 days to get compliance info for insurance payment. They never asked for it again.

[retrodave15]

Too bad your DME is not up with the times, mine PRS1 has the modem in the back for for compliance /AHI data download. They always call me before they pull the data, more to make sure the machine did not get unplugged, and pull the compliance data. After 3 months, end of this month for me, they will send me a box with a return shipping label and a new cover plate for the back of the machine. All I do is send the modem back to them.

I don't mind as my DME and my Doc are both part of Ohio Health, on of the large hospital groups in the area. My doc showed me how to get in a bump up the pressure. And she gets timely data from the DME since they all work together.

With this I never have to give the card to my doc right now as she always has the data and she is a bit nerdy as well an knew about sleepy head. She has no problem a with me knowing my data as it is MY treatment and an informed patient is a compliant patient.

[daisy56]

Thanks Pugsy and DoriC, Ok that makes sense..the insurance..thanks for the fast reply!! You girls are awesome.
retrodave15, your much too shy, why don't you just brag one day and see how it feels, LOL, kidding!! I'm glad you
have it this well. I'm sure it relieves your mind alot! YAY!!

[archangle]

The modem costs money. Plus a monthly fee for the data.

They probably just want it for insurance payment compliance verification.

However, there ARE some competent doctors out there who will analyze the card, evaluate your therapy and change your prescription if necessary. The VA did this with my dad. They even gave him a Respironics Auto machine.

[retrodave15]

However, there ARE some competent doctors out there who will analyze the card, evaluate your therapy and change your prescription if necessary. The VA did this with my dad. They even gave him a Respironics Auto machine.

I have one - she writes for respironics machines as she has the software to interpret the data,

retrodave15, your much too shy

Me shy, I am a trade show manager - I could sell air conditioning to and Eskimo. At least I can convince national companies to come to Columbus, Ohio in February, No oceans, no mountains, no casino's, and 2 years out of 5 I get hit by a blizzard. I need to move my show to Vegas, but they are all Ohio attendees.

[Julie]

Hi - are you using your machine for daytime naps? If not, you should be - every minute you sleep without it is time you're exposed to apnea events that make you more tired than not sleeping would.

[DrPepper00]

My DME is in the same building as the sleep Dr. The patient brings in their card to get a report printed just before a Dr. appt. I had to return my machine and card today for a warrenty issue. So the DME printed out the ResScan report. It had usage, AHI and leak graphs and a summary of the settings. The summary of AHI reports none. My machine only counted AHI on 7 of 20 days. I am glad I have my sleepyhead graphs to show the Doc. It is the first time I have been in since my sleep tests and getting the machine. I hope she is comfortable with my reading the data myself.

[davelikesbeer]

I agree with everyone else that the DME just wants it for insurance purposes. However, it is odd that they want to possibly swap your card. It takes just a minute to download the data. Before handing over my card to the DME, I'm sure to make a backup of it.

I don't like the idea that I give my data to the DME who then gives it to the doctor who then consults with me about it. The DME is just adding a layer of indirection that can cause problems (wrong data, lost data, time lag, ...). For me, I share my data directly with my doctor (via Google docs). It really helps reduce turnaround time on things. She really understands that I'm the person with the most vested interest in my therapy.

Dave.

[daisy56]

Thank you so much archangle for telling me about the monthly fee, I didnt know that, ugh. Glad to hear about you Dad.
retrodave, you must be getting alot of sleep and feeling very confident Id say...I like your personality, too funny
Thank you Julie for your concern. I'm proud to say I haven't not once layed down to go to sleep without my mask on...oh, except for one single night when I had the stomach flu. Thanks for bringing that up though.
DrPepper00, I'm so glad you have your sleepyhead info too. I still haven't done this...not sure why I havent, money maybe..
davelikesbeer, I totally agree with you! I havent gone yet, will turn my card in next week and update you. Sounds like you have a great doctor, she understands. Googledocs? Ill have to try that too..

Thanks y'all very much. I'm always so appreciative of your answers, you have no idea.

[woodenbuick]

Sleepyhead is free (money wise). It only costs you the time to download and install it.

Get it at https://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/. Its good for Windows and Macs and Linux too.

Look at your numbers and know them so you aren't at the mercy of your DME.

Kinda like kids, if you know where they are and who they are with and what they are doing, they can't BS you as easily.

[archangle]

Thank you so much archangle for telling me about the monthly fee, I didnt know that, ugh.

I may have given you the wrong impression. I believe the DME pays a monthly fee. I don't know how commonly they pass this on to the customer as a separate item. Insurance may not allow them to, and they simply eat the charge as part of their cost to do the required data collection, instead of handling SD cards manually.