Why mail our smartcards in? Why not email the data?

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Fri May 19, 2006 10:08 am

Why are we still mailing our smart cards in? How many of you download
the data and email it to your DME? Doctor? There is some investment in
the software and smart card reader, but after that you can email it in and maybe get a fast answer.

Does ANYONE email their data in?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri May 19, 2006 12:59 pm

Is anybody requiring/requesting the information from it?

Mostly the insurance companies request the compliance information (hours) so they will continue to pay the monthly rentals to the DMEs. The DMEs could probably care less about how your actual therapy is going.....just so long as they're getting their money......

Excuse me for being cynical.....BUT:
Would they know how to read it? Most DMEs and doctors (IF they even have the software to download the card) don't know where the "radio button" for "Full Details" is and can't print out the full report.....so probably don't know what the whole report even looks like.

MY sleep doctor questioned the accuracy of the reports from Encore Pro that I took in to him ("I can't believe you could be doing THAT well on almost half the pressure I prescribed for you!") .....that was my LAST meeting with him.

Best wishes,

Den

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Fri May 19, 2006 1:00 pm

When the time comes, that's what I plan on doing, or FAX'ing it.

You see, they don't WANT you to have ACCESS to the data. You're not smart enough to interpret it, ya see? You trying to take their jobs away?

(the above is meant to be sarcastic.

Great idea!

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:30 pm

I just got off the phone with our local Apria people. They informed me my
doctor had faxed over a request for them to change my pressure from 25/5
to ..uh....16/5.

I told them I had already done it and got a great nights sleep. SILENCE on the other end. Then, in a very nice way, he asked me if he understood me correctly, that I had changed my own settings. I told him yes I had, I got the codes of the apria website, and tell your boss thank you, we really appreciate not having to drive across town all the time. More silence. Finally I told him I was kidding, that I got the code off the internet. He was very nice, but he still wasn't sure I was supposed to be able to change my own codes. I asked him if they had mailed me the clinician's manual yet and he said no. I told him the dr. had asked that they give me my owners manuals. I further explained that, health permitting, the wife and I would be out of town for a month or so in the June-July time frame. He said ok, they will mail me the manuals. They are pretty nice people here.

Now that they are sending me my "manuals" - - -what should I expect? Is
it a 20 page manual? 200 pages? One manual? Two manuals? Mainly,
I want to have as much info as I can while on the road.

I also mentioned emailing him the data and he asked how I could do that?
I told him I had downloaded it with the encore pro software and smart card
reader. He said he didn't know of anyone doing that. They usually mailed
it in. So I reminded him that I was trying to save time and money. He said
it sounded good to him, but he would ask the boss if they have an email
address for that type of thing. He will call me back.

Am I missing something here? It seems emailing the data is a win-win. I
get it to them instantly and they get me the info back....instantly. I hope
they agree to do it. And I hope they have someone who can read it. Luckily
we have some smart here who have already been readying it.

Wulfman, no one has asked for the data. Tricare rents this for a month, then buys it. Once I get the parameters set up...I plan on putting 8-9 hours
a night on it.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:58 pm

If you have the reader and the ability to download the data, why do you have to send it to the DME? Or to the doctor for that matter? Is it because you still rent? You can still download and monitor your own data. I get real upset when I am told I can or can't do things when it is ME AND MY HEALTH at stake and I pretty much know me body better than any doctor or DMEs I monitor the readings for my self, not for them. When I went in to see my pulmonologist a few weeks ago I took 1 weeks worth of print outs for him to see. He glanced at them and said everything looks fine. I already knew that!! But he will charge my insurance company BIG BUCKS for "reading the data pertaining to patient's OSA". What a joke. For the most part ANY questions on your data readouts can be answered thru the forum by people who know as much as soon doctors and certainly more that DMEs. Of course there are extenuating circumstances but the majority of answers can be found here. I remember asking my DME (Apria) last fall about software to monitor and download my information at home. I was told there was "no such thing and if there was it would cost THOUSANDS of DOLLARS"

BTW the manual is about 6 pages, anyone here who has it could email it to you.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Fri May 19, 2006 3:00 pm

Forgive my spelling above...I have a huge bandage on my hand and the keyboard is quite a challange

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Fri May 19, 2006 3:51 pm

Another reason - I didn't think of this earlier, is that via EMAIL, they'll receive the graphs in COLOR! Not all FAX machines are in color!
They really DO want to bill you for 'seeing' you long enough for you to hand them the report or card!!!

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Fri May 19, 2006 4:15 pm

In fairness to the health care community, they have to pay the bills too. Right
or wrong.

Since I changed my own settings, they won't have to worry about it. Remember, I can't just drive over there due to pain meds. So when I need
my settings changed it is great if I can do it.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:24 pm

dllfo, you wrote:

In fairness to the health care community, they have to pay the bills too. Right or wrong.

All business have bills to pay. Individuals have bills to pay. We, as individuals are responsible for 'making' those bills which we must pay. We try to be efficient and responsible because we work hard for our money.

Knowing that, I expect the same responsibility and consideration from any business. Their efficiency is one area in which they can increase business and profits. Some of us have found local DMEs, or sleep lab reps to be less than considerate, less than knowlegeable, less than expedient and efficient, but most of all, far too less concerned with our bottom line, our health, I am less in a position to lose close to $1,000 than a for-profit business! I cannot write off my losses, nor investments. I cannot correct errors when it is too late due to misinformation. I doubt than any of us "knew then what we know now". Some of us consider ourselves lucky to even be in the process of learning, as we need to be one step ahead of dishonest business personnel. We are expected to rely on these 'experts in their fields', but all too often learn quite the contrary. We're not always given much choice, so we must learn what it is that we can demand!

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:06 pm

you can read the hours off the machine directly from the LCD window and phone it in. that's the only pertinent information they need for reimbursement. compliance is the only thing they understand or care about.

as for changing the settings, they will REALLY REALLY miss the opportunity for going "doot-doot-doot-beep-doot-beep-beep-doot" and making an easy $80 to $120 bucks. makes me feel sad already just thinking about it. .

-Ric

SleeplessinBradenton · Post by **SleeplessinBradenton** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:32 pm

I want to get a Smart Card Reader soon so that I can monitor my own progress, also. I really feel in the dark, and confused, about what is really working (or not) and why. Sometimes I feel lousyer than other times, even when using the same mask for multiple nights.

My DME has yet to ask for my Smart Card. My sleep doctor requests when I go in for follow-up visits -- and charges me $100 to read it! They bill the insurance for a "Breathing Test", but the insurance doesn't pay it because I am still trying to meet my deductible. Why this isn't part of my treatment plan is beyond me. They know the insurance isn't covering it, but it's pretty tough getting it out of me every time, too!

When I asked the dr. about the other information the card records, he said it doesn't show anything other than the compliance info (hours). Of course, I know that isn't true. Talk about a rip-off!

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:52 pm

SleeplessInBradenton:
You stated:

They bill the insurance for a "Breathing Test",

Have you noticed a statement on your Insurance Bill/notification that requests you to report multiple or incorrect billing? GOPHERIT! Why should YOU put money in the Dr.'s pocket for something he absolutely did not do? The medical codes for Brething Test and 'Followup" are definitely different. Call the insurance company, play dumb, and ask what it means...I didn't have any tests taken.... and let them take it from there. Just let them think you're confused and need their help. Hopefully, the Insurance rep will be consciencious enough to do something about it.

"Dumb Like a FOX"