Getting a new machine

[TeaTime]

It's been about 4 years since I got my first Cpap machine and my insurance will allow me to get a new one now. I need a "current" prescription to get one. Though I still have a copy of my original prescription, (they've simply written a new date on it for me in the past) I'm thinking I want to try and get a different machine altogether. I've already been told by my insurance that if I make my original prescription current all they will do is give me an updated version of my current machine. But I'm not sure I want the same one, especially if they haven't fixed the things I don't like about it. But I'm pretty sure that will mean having another sleep study done and basically starting from scratch.

Things get a bit more complicated in that the Doctor I was using for this is gone now. So I'll have to do all this with a brand new doctor who has never met me before.

Is it at all possible to get a completely different machine without having a new sleep study done?

When I got my original machine I had ZERO say in what I got. I was simply given a machine. I had hoped I would be given at least a couple options of machine with different features and such, but I didn't have any say in the matter at all. How normal is this? Am I naive in thinking that I should be allowed any opinion in what machine I get?

I'm also planning to use a different clinic for my sleep study. There is one that's in-network with my insurance that will allow me to sleep at home in my own bed. I had such a hard time sleeping at the sleep clinic the first time that the sleep specialist in charge of me kept coming into my room and yelling at me to "hurry up and go to sleep!!". So I'll not be going back there again. Has anyone done a sleep study in their home before? Was it as thorough as one done in a clinic? Were you happy with it overall? I think I'd do much better if I can sleep in my own bed.

My current machine is ResMed C Series Tango 34000

IF I get to have any say in what machine I get, any tips on how to find a good one?

Since I'm going to have to find a new Doctor, do you think I'd be better off with a general practitioner/internist or an ENT? What type of Doctor do you use for sleep study stuff?

[sleeplessinaz]

I use my primary care doctor for all my sleep apnea stuff. He will write a script for anything that I tell him I need. Easy peasy.

I love my Resmed 9 Autoset - it's quiet, reliable, gives your numbers in the LCD readout screen on the machine. Lots of people will tell you their favorite so in the end it will be up to you to do your research,

[StuUnderPressure]

Don't know your specific insurance requirements, but one generally does NOT need another Sleep Study to acquire a new machine (whether or not your new machine is a better machine).

That is assuming you can get a copy of the original Sleep Study.
Just another good reason that everyone should always get a complete copy of the results of their Sleep Study. You never know when you might need it.

But, your prescription has to be written specific enough for the machine you want so that the DME canNOT try to just give you something of a lesser quality.

Decide which machine you really want & then make sure the prescription is written to insure that you get that machine - i.e. ResMed S9 AutoSet with APAP range of 10 -16. (You change the details to fit the machine & pressure range you want).

[TeaTime]

Don't know your specific insurance requirements, but one generally does NOT need another Sleep Study to acquire a new machine (whether or not your new machine is a better machine).

From what I've been told (by my insurance) yes, I can get a new machine but it will simply be a newer version of the one I currently have. That's not what I want. And I don't figure any doctor would simply write down what I ask them to write. Especially one that's never met me before. Since my old doctor is gone, I'll have to find someone new.

I just looked through my filing cabinet and found my current prescription, but not sure it will get me a different machine like I want. Rather than just a newer version of my current one.

I've not dealt with Doctors much on this. Are they pretty easy to talk into giving you what you want or do they usually give you what they think you should have?

I've been reading about sleepyhead. Can't use it on my current dinosaur but would love to get a new machine I could use it on. It sounds really useful. Couple of quick questions about it. In the thread the machines listed that can be used with Sleepyhead are Resmed S9, Respironics PR S1, Devilbiss and F & P Icon. Is this all the machines that work with it or are there more?
Just mentioned this to my husband and he seems to think downloading this onto the CPAP will void the warranty. I told him I didn't see how it would, but he wanted me to ask.

[poorflick]

You don't download anything to the machine. The program is on your computer. You just take the card out of the machine and your computer reads the info from that.

[Julie]

The 4 machines you mentioned are far and away the most recent, reliable and popular ones, and all give you access to lots of data beyond just compliance hrs for the insurance co. You don't need a new study to get a new machine and if you can afford it, buying your own outright from e.g. Cpap.com (tho' ask your insce. co. if they'll cover it of course if you send in the invoice) may be the way to go, tho' a script will still be needed.

[Scootergirl]

Don't know your specific insurance requirements, but one generally does NOT need another Sleep Study to acquire a new machine (whether or not your new machine is a better machine).

From what I've been told (by my insurance) yes, I can get a new machine but it will simply be a newer version of the one I currently have. That's not what I want. And I don't figure any doctor would simply write down what I ask them to write. Especially one that's never met me before. Since my old doctor is gone, I'll have to find someone new.

I just looked through my filing cabinet and found my current prescription, but not sure it will get me a different machine like I want. Rather than just a newer version of my current one.

I've not dealt with Doctors much on this. Are they pretty easy to talk into giving you what you want or do they usually give you what they think you should have?

I've been reading about sleepyhead. Can't use it on my current dinosaur but would love to get a new machine I could use it on. It sounds really useful. Couple of quick questions about it. In the thread the machines listed that can be used with Sleepyhead are Resmed S9, Respironics PR S1, Devilbiss and F & P Icon. Is this all the machines that work with it or are there more?
Just mentioned this to my husband and he seems to think downloading this onto the CPAP will void the warranty. I told him I didn't see how it would, but he wanted me to ask.

Any doctor you're going to have is going to probably respond to your request better if you have researched what you want and can talking about it with them - I just went through exchanging my machine - and my PCP is the one who ordered my sleep study - BTW - drastically different from the sleep study I had done 10 years ago. I'm sorry to see someone kept coming in to yell at you! That's ridiculous. So, coming here was good - there is a link to what you should know about before you see your DME and what machines are data capaple - I know mine is now - PR Remstar System One PRO with cflex+ - it's not the top of the line, but it is not the brick the DME gave me. http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/ You need to be very specific when you finally do get your doctor to write a script - and I don't think you will have a problem getting him/her to write it -you'll know a lot more than they will because you're doing your research and you've been on CPAP for years!

[StuUnderPressure]

Don't know your specific insurance requirements, but one generally does NOT need another Sleep Study to acquire a new machine (whether or not your new machine is a better machine).

From what I've been told (by my insurance) yes, I can get a new machine but it will simply be a newer version of the one I currently have.

Some insurance requirements ARE weird, but that does not make any sense (at least not to me). Do you think they only meant if you just got your old Rx again with a current date?

You are going to need a new Rx anyway - so have it written in a way that makes sure you get the machine you want.

Yes, the Doctor MAY be reluctant to write it that way, but if you have done your homework & you are prepared, AND most importantly if you are insistent, you CAN get the machine you want. People do it every day.

I got my Sleep Doctor to write my Rx for an APAP (the ResMed S9 AutoSet) when they just habitually write Rxs for a non APAP Respironics brick (NO data whatsoever, except hours used).

And I subsequently had the DME exchange the 1st ResMed S9 AutoSet they gave me for another new one after I realized that although it was brand new, it was almost 7 months old when I got it & had an older version of the internal software. I had used if for almost 1 1/2 months by then.

Even the DME was miffed (NOT the word they used) when they found out (actually I found out & told them) that the ResMed machines are usually about 3 months old BEFORE the DME even gets them.

[library lady]

Most important thing to have written on your prescription is "full data efficacy" so that you can track everything with Sleepyhead or ResScan, depending on your machine. Bricks don't have the "Full Data".

[archangle]

Check the links in my signature line.

Get the S9 AutoSet or PRS1 Auto if you can. Settle for the S9 Elite or PRS1 Pro if you can't get an auto. It will help if your doctor specifies auto. Do not accept PRS1 Plus, DS260, or SE model. Do not accept S9 Escape or Escape Auto. Change DMEs if they want to sell you one of these.

I see no reason to bother with any of the other brands. PRS1 and ResMed are known quantities.