was just told

ldenarde · Post by **ldenarde** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:02 pm

I just got a letter from kaiser that my test said i had sleep apnea
so i go to kaiser july 10 to attend a 4 hour meeting and instruction on the c-cap -as this is my hmo i am always concerned about kaiser and how up to date they are--so any thing that would be helpful as to what i should ask i would appreciate --and has anyone gone thru kaiser sleep program-
i will be going to hayward facility--thanks linda
ldenarde@comcast.net

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:12 pm

Welcome to the forum!

My gosh, that's a LONG time to wait to get started with therapy (if I understand you correctly)
You might want to do a "search" (there's a SEARCH button near the top of the page) on "Kaiser". There have been quite a few discussions about them on this forum. From my recollections, they can be difficult to deal with in regard to getting higher quality equipment.....meaning they only approve the cheapest, plain, no-bells-and-whistles equipment.

GOOD LUCK, and best wishes with your therapy......hang in there.

Den

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 1:25 pm

Hell-
I'd call them TODAY and ask them whether you're correct in understanding that they are willing to assume the liability for malpractice for the next six weeks for their failure to provide you with available and indicated treatment for a conditon known to increase substantially your risks of heart-attack or stroke, after they themselves diagn osed you with it! Ask them that, why dontcha!

Chuck

gecko1977a · Post by **gecko1977a** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 3:16 pm

yeah dang that is a long time, i had my study on wednesday night, and thursday afternoon apria was on the phone. had it by tuesday

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:24 am

lol, no kidding, i had my sleep study on wednesday may the 3rd, medone called on thursday the 11th to schedule the setup appointment and i had my machine by friday the 12th, a little over a week later after the study. a month and a half is a long time to wait, too long.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:01 pm

It seems that even having GREAT insurance doesn't always help!

I waited for about 6 weeks to get the CPAP machine and mask--but was offered a loaner set-up. Now, they told me that my new CPAP, etc. would be in the next week--

and, lo and behold, the following 5 weeks later, I had it. But they did provide a loaner until the new one came!!!

I'm with Chuck.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hell-
I'd call them TODAY and ask them whether you're correct in understanding that they are willing to assume the liability for malpractice for the next six weeks for their failure to provide you with available and indicated treatment for a conditon known to increase substantially your risks of heart-attack or stroke, after they themselves diagnosed you with it! Ask them that, why dontcha!

Chuck

I had to sign a waiver at the sleep lab saying that I knew there was a greater risk of accident, etc. if untreated for apnea. The sleep lab and sleep doc aren't taking any chances. Should you?

It may only be a short time, but time is the ONLY thing besides our health that cannot be replaced. CPAP affects both.

I think the DME providers assume we all know more than we do about some things, and less than we do about others. My very busy DME provider is kind of laid-back but more than happy to answer questions. The assertive patient gets better care.

Of course, pre-CPAP it isn't as easy to be assertive!

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:50 pm

I have to ask a different question here. What on earth do you need to go to a 4 hour meeting for?

sixtygp · Post by **sixtygp** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:55 pm

I was diagnosed with OSA about a month ago. I am a Kaiser Patient. I had to wait two weeks to get to to the first sleep study. Prior to that Kaiser has a "Class" (which I think is 4 hrs long to educate patients about sleep disorders). They give you a survey and if you fit the basic questions, or think you have OSA, they schedule you to do the first study.

Once complete, if you are diagnosed form that, they schedule another appt. to have you take home the CPAP and a Stardust machine to do the Tritation study. Then, if you have equipment coverage, you prescription is forwarded to your primary MD and then to the DME (apria). My Dr fastracked me into the sleep study, so I cut about a month off the total time. Frome the first class to receiving the equip. may take 90 days.

I do not have DME through Kaiser, interestingly, when the Therapist told me that I would have to pay out of pocket, she looked at me like "run, you got a good deal, you don't have to take the low end stuff we pay for". I made sure I educated myself about the various types of equip. and options, and then called Kaiser and told them what I preferred. If I did not do that they would not of specified the right equipment on my prescription.

We shall see if my work payed off. My cpap unit came today. Matt

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:40 pm

I have this vision in my mind.....of all of these pre-CPAPers falling asleep in this 4 hour class while they're trying to fill out their questionaires and watch videos.....

I know how hard it was to stay awake/alert in (boring) meetings before I got "hosed".

Den

SleeplessinBradenton · Post by **SleeplessinBradenton** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:13 pm

My sleep study was Nov. 8 and I didn't get CPAP unit until Jan. 10. (I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield, but it had to go thru a 3rd party for approval first.) Yeah, I wasn't thrilled about being started on the CPAP, but that's a bit ridiculous. No classes -- no nothing. I was on my own. Sure wish I had known about you guys before I started all this junk.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:23 pm

[quote="sixtygp"]I was diagnosed with OSA about a month ago. I am a Kaiser Patient. I had to wait two weeks to get to to the first sleep study. Prior to that Kaiser has a "Class" (which I think is 4 hrs long to educate patients about sleep disorders). They give you a survey and if you fit the basic questions, or think you have OSA, they schedule you to do the first study.

Once complete, if you are diagnosed form that, they schedule another appt. to have you take home the CPAP and a Stardust machine to do the Tritation study. Then, if you have equipment coverage, you prescription is forwarded to your primary MD and then to the DME (apria). My Dr fastracked me into the sleep study, so I cut about a month off the total time. Frome the first class to receiving the equip. may take 90 days.

I do not have DME through Kaiser, interestingly, when the Therapist told me that I would have to pay out of pocket, she looked at me like "run, you got a good deal, you don't have to take the low end stuff we pay for". I made sure I educated myself about the various types of equip. and options, and then called Kaiser and told them what I preferred. If I did not do that they would not of specified the right equipment on my prescription.

We shall see if my work payed off. My cpap unit came today. Matt

sixtygp · Post by **sixtygp** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:31 am

Fortunately, I did not have to go thru Apria. That shaved at least 3 weeks off the wait. But I am $700 lighter. To me getting what I wanted and not dealing with Apria was worth it.

Last night was first night with APAP, slept pretty good for the first time. Did not yawn all the way to work. I am looking forward to sleeping tonight !!

Matt

MandoJohnny · Post by **MandoJohnny** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:33 pm

I have Aetna PPO. I had the sleep study on a Thursday. A respiratory therapist from my DME called the following Tuesday to make an appointment, which could have been the following day, Wednesday, but I was out of town, so it had to be Friday. Apparently in two working days, the intial finding got to my doc and he wrote an Rx. Then, my "after sleep study" follow up with my sleep doc was exactly two weeks after the study. I had already been on the CPAP for 6 nights and the doc was able to look at my CPAP data and make suggestions.

I was so desperate for relief of my sleep problems that if the process was going to take any longer than it did, I would have bought a CPAP out of pocket, but I have to say it all went very quickly for me. Also, as far as I know, there were no co-pays for the machine itself.

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biggbunny · Post by **biggbunny** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:20 pm

Hi- I was diagnosed two weeks ago and had a little different experience. My sleep study was on Monday May 22. My doctor called with the results on Wednesday May 24, and Apria called me that evening. I went by Apria on Thursday May 24 and brought home my machine.

The therapist from Apria did talk too loud but was helpful. I am pleased with the mask he tried on me, and he sent me home with a humidifier even though my doctor forgot to prescribe it.

The sleep lab tech did say I met their definition of "critical" and so the process was expedited by about 10 days.

I have Blue Cross Federal.

LB

brasshopper · Post by **brasshopper** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:57 pm

If that meeting talks about the long term downside of being untreated, of how to deal with your CPAP, of options available (like if you get your nose torn up you can ask for humidifier), of what to do when you have a sinus infection. and so forth....it might increase compliance through understanding.

I'd call that time well spent.

But I used to be a Kaiser "customer". They probably talk about how likely you are to fail and how you should just give up now and not get the machine at all.

was just told

was just told

Questions for Kaiser?

Response time

Kaiser patient

Re: Kaiser patient

Eight Days

quick service--and what about Apria?

Four hour meeting...

Mask	Humidifier

Mask