First appt. with DME tomorrow. What should I know?

[notbob]

As the title states, I have my first DME appointment tomorrow. Any important questions I should ask? Any particular machine or equipment I should look into? Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[RandyJ]

Read Janknitz's blog: http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Especially: "What You Need to Know Before You Meet Your DME" and "Data Capable Machines"

If you leave the DME with a machine, it is difficult to get them to exchange it, so don't accept it unless it is one of the machines that offers EFFICACY DATA.

Good luck.

[Janknitz]

Yes, please read my blog and make sure you speak to your insurance company BEFORE you go to the DME so you know exactly how your insurance company is going to handle paying for the machine.

Make sure you understand what EFFICACY data is, as opposed to "compliance data". Compliance data shows only hours of use. Nothing more. The only purpose of compliance data is to make sure you're really using the machine, and that justifies your insurance company paying the DME.

EFFICACY data, on the other hand, shows many things--read here and on my blog to see--AHI, pressure, leaks, etc. This data is crucial for you and your doctor to make sure that your therapy is working and adjust it to your benefit. But you may fully expect the DME to talk you out of it, as explained in my blog, unless you are very lucky.

I suggest you print out the list of efficacy data machines, and check any machine you are given against that list carefully BEFORE you sign anything or leave with the machine. If you are given a ResMed machine, check extra carefully for the word "Escape" anywehre on the machine and do NOT accept it.

[notbob]

Thank you for the advice. I felt very informed when I went in today after reading the blog. Ended up leaving w/the pr remstar auto a-flex.