The Repair Game

[Ronin52]

My CPAP broke down 3 days ago. I am told I cannot even get it repaired without a prescription from a Dr., bcecause it's been about 5 years since I got it. I can't get any Dr appointments for another 3 weeks -- just to get an Rx to get it repaired -- --and I can't sleep without the *(%^#@ thing!!!

This sounds like a medical scam to me! I can understand upgrading, tweaking, or similar things needing an Rx -- but a repair!? Ridiculous! I think this is just another way for CPAP manufacturers (and Doctors) to extort the maximum possible profits from patients!

Any enlightenment or suggestions out there?

[Kairosgrammy]

Can't you talk to your family physician? He should be able to push the issue. I know when my brother's broke, he dealt with a new dme and they just gave him another bipap, no questions asked and his was probably well over 5 years old.

My CPAP broke down 3 days ago. I am told I cannot even get it repaired without a prescription from a Dr., bcecause it's been about 5 years since I got it. I can't get any Dr appointments for another 3 weeks -- just to get an Rx to get it repaired -- --and I can't sleep without the *(%^#@ thing!!!

This sounds like a medical scam to me! I can understand upgrading, tweaking, or similar things needing an Rx -- but a repair!? Ridiculous! I think this is just another way for CPAP manufacturers (and Doctors) to extort the maximum possible profits from patients!

Any enlightenment or suggestions out there?

[Wulfman...]

My CPAP broke down 3 days ago. I am told I cannot even get it repaired without a prescription from a Dr., bcecause it's been about 5 years since I got it. I can't get any Dr appointments for another 3 weeks -- just to get an Rx to get it repaired -- --and I can't sleep without the *(%^#@ thing!!!

This sounds like a medical scam to me! I can understand upgrading, tweaking, or similar things needing an Rx -- but a repair!? Ridiculous! I think this is just another way for CPAP manufacturers (and Doctors) to extort the maximum possible profits from patients!

Any enlightenment or suggestions out there?

Do you believe everything they tell you? If so, I still have some oceanfront property in Wyoming for sale.

You didn't say what make/model of machine you have, but if you go up to the Search line and put in the word "acbio", there will be numerous links to a place in Missouri that repairs CPAP and oxygen machines. They're also a "member" of this forum.

If you still have your original prescription (and you SHOULD have it), you can purchase a new machine from many online sellers. With regard to (most) online sellers, unless they specifically have an expiration date, the original CPAP prescriptions don't expire.


Den

[Wulfman...]

P S
You NEED to have at least ONE backup machine. Depending on a single machine that's a number of years old is not "logical". Anything made by man is bound to break or fail......and usually at the worst possible time. You know....."Murphy's Laws".


Den

[Goofproof]

Also depending on the make and model it may not be worth the repair, with your original script buy online. Jim

[Guest]

P S
You NEED to have at least ONE backup machine. Depending on a single machine that's a number of years old is not "logical". Anything made by man is bound to break or fail......and usually at the worst possible time. You know....."Murphy's Laws".


Den

I certainly agree with you there, and will be sure to do that. As for my original script, it seems like the vendor I got the machine from kept it. I'll check. Looks like I'll have to go "underground" for a solution.

(This is really absurd, though. I've been a computer/electronics tech for 30 years. These things aren't rocket science. If I knew where to find the parts, I'd fix it myself -- but it's probably impossible to get parts without an Rx, either. Isn't there some kind of organization protesting the way that the medical industry is milking the CPAP market?)

[Guest]

[quote="Kairosgrammy"]Can't you talk to your family physician? He should be able to push the issue. I know when my brother's broke, he dealt with a new dme and they just gave him another bipap, no questions asked and his was probably well over 5 years old.

I'll try, but my guess is that he'll just want to refer me... back to Square One.

[xenablue]

Regarding your prescription - it's YOURS, they can't keep it and you have the right to ask for and receive what's yours.

Good luck,
xena

[Guest]

My CPAP broke down 3 days ago. I am told I cannot even get it repaired without a prescription from a Dr., bcecause it's been about 5 years since I got it. I can't get any Dr appointments for another 3 weeks -- just to get an Rx to get it repaired -- --and I can't sleep without the *(%^#@ thing!!!

This sounds like a medical scam to me! I can understand upgrading, tweaking, or similar things needing an Rx -- but a repair!? Ridiculous! I think this is just another way for CPAP manufacturers (and Doctors) to extort the maximum possible profits from patients!

Any enlightenment or suggestions out there?

Do you believe everything they tell you? If so, I still have some oceanfront property in Wyoming for sale.

You didn't say what make/model of machine you have, but if you go up to the Search line and put in the word "acbio", there will be numerous links to a place in Missouri that repairs CPAP and oxygen machines. They're also a "member" of this forum.

If you still have your original prescription (and you SHOULD have it), you can purchase a new machine from many online sellers. With regard to (most) online sellers, unless they specifically have an expiration date, the original CPAP prescriptions don't expire.


Den

BTW, It's a Respironics RemStar Pro M400, if anyone can help me with that...

[GumbyCT]

This is really absurd, though. I've been a computer/electronics tech for 30 years. These things aren't rocket science. If I knew where to find the parts, I'd fix it myself -- but it's probably impossible to get parts without an Rx, either. Isn't there some kind of organization protesting the way that the medical industry is milking the CPAP market?)

If you know what you are looking for the fastest solution is to buy one off Craigslist, then get this machine fixed.

You didn't say which DME is telling you this. Not only should they get it fixed for you they should supply you with a spare machine while it is out for repair. That said, IF I were you, I would file a complaint with your states licensing authority, in writing, and do so promptly.

This sounds like some serious chain they are yanking. In fact, you might have jb ride over there to set em strait.

Good Luck

[Ronin52]

This is really absurd, though. I've been a computer/electronics tech for 30 years. These things aren't rocket science. If I knew where to find the parts, I'd fix it myself -- but it's probably impossible to get parts without an Rx, either. Isn't there some kind of organization protesting the way that the medical industry is milking the CPAP market?)

If you know what you are looking for the fastest solution is to buy one off Craigslist, then get this machine fixed.

You didn't say which DME is telling you this. Not only should they get it fixed for you they should supply you with a spare machine while it is out for repair. That said, IF I were you, I would file a complaint with your states licensing authority, in writing, and do so promptly.

This sounds like some serious chain they are yanking. In fact, you might have jb ride over there to set em strait.

Good Luck

I already filed a complaint with the hospital that oversees the sleep clinic. If I don't get satisfaction there, I will take it higher. Meantime, I'm in the process of buying a new CPAP and getting the old one repaired. I definitely WILL NOT be seeing the Northside Sleep Disorder Clinic in Atlanta, GA any more! If they treated me like this once, they will do it again -- and they obviously have treated other patients like this already! They will probably continue to do so. Money buys doctors and the medical industry out of all of their misdeeds.... ("Profit Uber Alles")

(A CPAP may not use "Rocket Science" but it definitely uses "Racket Science"....!)

[GumbyCT]

I definitely WILL NOT be seeing the Northside Sleep Disorder Clinic in Atlanta, GA any more! If they treated me like this once, they will do it again -- and they obviously have treated other patients like this already!

That says it ALL. Are they the DME? Supplying equipment AND a diagnosis? To me that is a conflict and they certainly have an interest in you getting another sleep study.

Is this the place that wrote your 1st prescription? Make a written request for a copy of that script from who ever wrote it. AND a copy of your sleep study report. Always do this to have "in hand" for any future medical issues. You never know when you will need copies of your medical records.

Good Luck

[Goofproof]

I feel your pain, the MRI machine I bought online only lasted a year and a half, brfore it starting to blow fuses, It always seemed too loud to me too. All I needed was a few relays, but they wouldn't sell my parts, so I had to rob my microwave oven. All is well for now, but it's still makes too much noise. Den and I have the market cornered for extra backups. Jim

[ozij]

Ronin,
After 5 years, your pressure needs may have changed. Have you had any follow up since? If you haven't, perhaps giving you a replacement machine with your 5 year old Rx may be something the clinic simply does not want to do - for meical reasons.

A simple DME on the other hand is forbidden to change pressures without an Rx -- so they can most probably set your old Rx on a replacement machine. I would not recommend you take this path for the long run -- 5 years is a long time with the same Rx, and your machine is obsolete.

Many members of this forum have machines that track therapy quality data, and they change their own pressure based on that data and what they've learned about OSA. Those of us who do so (I'm one of them) consider monitoring and treating their OSA similar to monitoring and treating diabetes. There's free software out there to use for tracking the data in detail - e.g. sleepyhead - though I don't know if it does the M-Series machines.

So, if I were you, I'd defintiely by a new, data tracking machine ASAP, consider a follow up sleep study, and then see if my old machine can be fixed and kept as a backup.

I don't think a clinic that suggests a followup sleep study after five years is a racket. And I can well imagine a situation where a clinic refuses to do anything for a recalcitrant patient who has refused all follow ups. Not saying this is your case - I don't know of course - but, if they had been trying to get a patient to come to followups, and that patient kept refusing, or ignoring their calls, I think there is a case for calling it medically irresponsible to do anything with that patient unless they had a repeat sleep study.

You can go "underground" to buy your own machine - but if you haven't done so, do spend some time in studying how to properly control your therapy.

[Wulfman...]

If I'm reading his post correctly, I believe his machine is/was a data-capable machine........an M Series Pro.

BTW, It's a Respironics RemStar Pro M400, if anyone can help me with that...

Den