First a quick recap as I'm sure most don't even know who I am! My first DME lied to me and my doctor claiming that whether I was prescribed an APAP or not, my insurance would not pay for it. Went to a new DME who said this won't happen with them and I can get any machine I want. Then came to find out that it HAD to be a ResMed machine. Since it was an APAP, I was going to just let it go...UNTIL last night.
Last night I realized that you can't get C-Flex or EPR in Auto Mode on the Resmed APAP's, including mine the Vantage. Even then I wanted to give it a shot and be positive. However it was just a MISERABLE night. My ears kept popping, my breathing was really labored, it was just a miserable night. Now I know why my doctor PRESCRIBED C-flex for me to begin with! So this morning I gave the DME a call and told them the situation and that I would definitely need to insist on getting the Respironics APAP machine like my doctor prescribed. They continued the song and dance about how I can only get ResMed products, but she would look into it. Got a call back and they said they have no more Respironics brand APAP's in their warehouse, that they no longer even have an account with Respironics, and that if I needed that machine I would have to go through a different DME. So today I had to say goodbye to my SECOND DME in 2 weeks!
The next recommended DME in my network was Apria. I don't know much about them but I shared my experiences with my prior DME's and they seemed nice and assured me that once they get all of my information, they can get me the machine I want, even the new Auto M Series APAP if I'm willing to wait up to a month for it to come in (apparently Respironics is getting lots of orders for it). At this point I have to almost take what the Apria representative said with a grain of salt because I've already heard it before. What an INCREDIBLE ordeal this has become. I have to imagine that it's beginning to annoy my doctor as well. I don't know how much longer she will want to deal with me. All I can say is that it's not my fault. I hope in the end it's worth it, because right now I am thoroughly angered, sickened, and tired of the whole thing.
And So The DME Saga Continues AGAIN
And So The DME Saga Continues AGAIN
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inacpapfog
- Posts: 538
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:03 pm
- Location: SC
Thoughts off the top of my head:
1. If you would get the prescription from your doctor, and keep the original, why should anything "annoy" your doctor?
2. Why not ask the new DME for the old style Remstar Auto with cflex? The new "M" hasn't really proven itself yet. Plus, I recently read a post from someone who used both the M and the old, and he said the M was noiser than the old style.
3. Will your new DME give you a loaner until the new M arrives?
You've lived with sleep apnea for a long time, and you do need treatment. But you also need to get the machine you want - even if it takes a week or so.
1. If you would get the prescription from your doctor, and keep the original, why should anything "annoy" your doctor?
2. Why not ask the new DME for the old style Remstar Auto with cflex? The new "M" hasn't really proven itself yet. Plus, I recently read a post from someone who used both the M and the old, and he said the M was noiser than the old style.
3. Will your new DME give you a loaner until the new M arrives?
You've lived with sleep apnea for a long time, and you do need treatment. But you also need to get the machine you want - even if it takes a week or so.
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| Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine |
| Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier |
| Additional Comments: Compliant since April 2003. (De-cap-itated Aura). |
[quote="Linda3032"]Thoughts off the top of my head:
1. If you would get the prescription from your doctor, and keep the original, why should anything "annoy" your doctor?
2. Why not ask the new DME for the old style Remstar Auto with cflex? The new "M" hasn't really proven itself yet. Plus, I recently read a post from someone who used both the M and the old, and he said the M was noiser than the old style.
3. Will your new DME give you a loaner until the new M arrives?
You've lived with sleep apnea for a long time, and you do need treatment. But you also need to get the machine you want - even if it takes a week or so.
1. If you would get the prescription from your doctor, and keep the original, why should anything "annoy" your doctor?
2. Why not ask the new DME for the old style Remstar Auto with cflex? The new "M" hasn't really proven itself yet. Plus, I recently read a post from someone who used both the M and the old, and he said the M was noiser than the old style.
3. Will your new DME give you a loaner until the new M arrives?
You've lived with sleep apnea for a long time, and you do need treatment. But you also need to get the machine you want - even if it takes a week or so.
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Digital Auto trak, is just a name it only worth the cost of the ink on a ad, you are fallin to a hype barrel, don't drown. All Xpaps are digital except for Electrolux. All APAP's, auto track, it's what the are. Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
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oldgearhead
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:53 am
- Location: Indy
If you hurry, you might get this on;
http://auctions.yahoo.com/i:Respironics ... :102509555
Tooly you've been outbid! Get back in..
http://auctions.yahoo.com/i:Respironics ... :102509555
Tooly you've been outbid! Get back in..
I have to comment on annoying your doctor bit..........
I understand this issue since I have a great doc and don't want to annoy him either. I need his goodwill for prescribing what I need and listening when it counts.
I think someone else said it but I will say it again as clearly as possible.
There is almost no need for your doctor to be involved in any DME choice you make.
You get the prescription from the doctor and a copy of the sleep study ONE TIME in your hands.
You then make copies and visit any DME you want, and as many as you want.
Your doctor does not need to even know who or how many you went to.
Your doctor doesn't need to know what your insurance will cover. That is your job to talk to your insurance company. I realize the doc stuck her nose in that and messed things up at the beginning with that rental, but if you had asked for the prescription and sleep study to be given to you and not faxed to a DME you would have caught that up front since you would have seen the prescription for AUTO rental for one month and you could have stopped her right there and YOU could have gotten on the phone to your insurance co.
The only time I can think of that you might need to go back and ask something of your doc is if the DME or insurance needs a letter of medical necessity. Then you get a hardcopy of that too and it willl work for you the same as the prescription and sleep study at multiple DME's.
At this point, you should be able to call the doc's office and talk to the office manager and obtain your prescription which is most likely sitting in your file along with your sleep study. May not even have to talk to doc.
Tell her - if you have to see her - that you need it so you can deal with procuring your machine and you can stop putting her in the middle of it. If you tell her that she should be very happy to hand it over.
Good luck. And go park yourself in the waiting room of your doc's office until you get all that paperwork, I did.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): DME, Prescription, auto
I understand this issue since I have a great doc and don't want to annoy him either. I need his goodwill for prescribing what I need and listening when it counts.
I think someone else said it but I will say it again as clearly as possible.
There is almost no need for your doctor to be involved in any DME choice you make.
You get the prescription from the doctor and a copy of the sleep study ONE TIME in your hands.
You then make copies and visit any DME you want, and as many as you want.
Your doctor does not need to even know who or how many you went to.
Your doctor doesn't need to know what your insurance will cover. That is your job to talk to your insurance company. I realize the doc stuck her nose in that and messed things up at the beginning with that rental, but if you had asked for the prescription and sleep study to be given to you and not faxed to a DME you would have caught that up front since you would have seen the prescription for AUTO rental for one month and you could have stopped her right there and YOU could have gotten on the phone to your insurance co.
The only time I can think of that you might need to go back and ask something of your doc is if the DME or insurance needs a letter of medical necessity. Then you get a hardcopy of that too and it willl work for you the same as the prescription and sleep study at multiple DME's.
At this point, you should be able to call the doc's office and talk to the office manager and obtain your prescription which is most likely sitting in your file along with your sleep study. May not even have to talk to doc.
Tell her - if you have to see her - that you need it so you can deal with procuring your machine and you can stop putting her in the middle of it. If you tell her that she should be very happy to hand it over.
Good luck. And go park yourself in the waiting room of your doc's office until you get all that paperwork, I did.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): DME, Prescription, auto
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NightHawkeye
- Posts: 2431
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:55 am
- Location: Iowa - The Hawkeye State
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oldgearhead
- Posts: 1243
- Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:53 am
- Location: Indy
[quote="snoregirl"]I have to comment on annoying your doctor bit..........
I understand this issue since I have a great doc and don't want to annoy him either. I need his goodwill for prescribing what I need and listening when it counts.
I think someone else said it but I will say it again as clearly as possible.
There is almost no need for your doctor to be involved in any DME choice you make.
You get the prescription from the doctor and a copy of the sleep study ONE TIME in your hands.
You then make copies and visit any DME you want, and as many as you want.
Your doctor does not need to even know who or how many you went to.
Your doctor doesn't need to know what your insurance will cover. That is your job to talk to your insurance company. I realize the doc stuck her nose in that and messed things up at the beginning with that rental, but if you had asked for the prescription and sleep study to be given to you and not faxed to a DME you would have caught that up front since you would have seen the prescription for AUTO rental for one month and you could have stopped her right there and YOU could have gotten on the phone to your insurance co.
The only time I can think of that you might need to go back and ask something of your doc is if the DME or insurance needs a letter of medical necessity. Then you get a hardcopy of that too and it willl work for you the same as the prescription and sleep study at multiple DME's.
At this point, you should be able to call the doc's office and talk to the office manager and obtain your prescription which is most likely sitting in your file along with your sleep study. May not even have to talk to doc.
Tell her - if you have to see her - that you need it so you can deal with procuring your machine and you can stop putting her in the middle of it. If you tell her that she should be very happy to hand it over.
Good luck. And go park yourself in the waiting room of your doc's office until you get all that paperwork, I did.
I understand this issue since I have a great doc and don't want to annoy him either. I need his goodwill for prescribing what I need and listening when it counts.
I think someone else said it but I will say it again as clearly as possible.
There is almost no need for your doctor to be involved in any DME choice you make.
You get the prescription from the doctor and a copy of the sleep study ONE TIME in your hands.
You then make copies and visit any DME you want, and as many as you want.
Your doctor does not need to even know who or how many you went to.
Your doctor doesn't need to know what your insurance will cover. That is your job to talk to your insurance company. I realize the doc stuck her nose in that and messed things up at the beginning with that rental, but if you had asked for the prescription and sleep study to be given to you and not faxed to a DME you would have caught that up front since you would have seen the prescription for AUTO rental for one month and you could have stopped her right there and YOU could have gotten on the phone to your insurance co.
The only time I can think of that you might need to go back and ask something of your doc is if the DME or insurance needs a letter of medical necessity. Then you get a hardcopy of that too and it willl work for you the same as the prescription and sleep study at multiple DME's.
At this point, you should be able to call the doc's office and talk to the office manager and obtain your prescription which is most likely sitting in your file along with your sleep study. May not even have to talk to doc.
Tell her - if you have to see her - that you need it so you can deal with procuring your machine and you can stop putting her in the middle of it. If you tell her that she should be very happy to hand it over.
Good luck. And go park yourself in the waiting room of your doc's office until you get all that paperwork, I did.
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Nearly all DME's I've ever delt with have been snakes. The only ones that haven't have been the ones I've delt with on-line like cpap.com, Noah's and cpap supply.
1. Get a copy of your prescription.
2. Get a copy of your PSG summary report.
3. Get a copy of the letter of medical necessity from your doctor. This is just a form letter where they insert your name into the picture.
4. Purchase the machine you want from cpap.com.
5. Send copies of the above to your insurance for reimbursement. May take awhile but eventually they pay.
If insurance refuses to pay, apeal and site where recommended DME did NOT follow your doctor's advice on the machine prescribed and 2nd was unable to do the same.
1. Get a copy of your prescription.
2. Get a copy of your PSG summary report.
3. Get a copy of the letter of medical necessity from your doctor. This is just a form letter where they insert your name into the picture.
4. Purchase the machine you want from cpap.com.
5. Send copies of the above to your insurance for reimbursement. May take awhile but eventually they pay.
If insurance refuses to pay, apeal and site where recommended DME did NOT follow your doctor's advice on the machine prescribed and 2nd was unable to do the same.
I have to try this one more time
I am not trying to be sarcastic or do anything but help.
I understand that your doc faxed a prescription somewhere and screwed things up the first time, I didn't realized that the new prescription hadn't been written yet. But that doesn't change my advice.
GO sit in the office waiting room and tell them that you need a new prescription.
Go when they open in the morning.
Be prepared to sit.
Tell them that you can wait until she has a free moment to write it. It doesn't take long for her to write it. It is not like she hadn't agreed to write one for APAP before.
If you want take a note for her to copy (APAP, brand, cflex or not,, heated humidifier, and don't forget APAP range if using a local DME -- range + / - 2 from your sleep study...) Make it easy for her. Tell them that you will go from here and get your machine and should need to bother the office again.
She can do it between patients.
Just need to show them that you want it and want it "today".
Don't forget the sleep study copy and any letters of medical necessity that may have already been written. For anything already written, the office staff may want your doc's ok to photocopy, ok, you can wait for the doc's approval.
GO SIT Don't bother with the appointment. Forget the US postal service. Doc is hard to get to? Not if you are sitting there when she comes in or still there when she leaves for the day.
Consider yourself the equivalent of a person with strep throat or how about a UTI (ladies can relate). I need this now! I am in pain....
It will take her 60 - 90 seconds to scribble this down for you.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cflex, Prescription, APAP
I am not trying to be sarcastic or do anything but help.
I understand that your doc faxed a prescription somewhere and screwed things up the first time, I didn't realized that the new prescription hadn't been written yet. But that doesn't change my advice.
GO sit in the office waiting room and tell them that you need a new prescription.
Go when they open in the morning.
Be prepared to sit.
Tell them that you can wait until she has a free moment to write it. It doesn't take long for her to write it. It is not like she hadn't agreed to write one for APAP before.
If you want take a note for her to copy (APAP, brand, cflex or not,, heated humidifier, and don't forget APAP range if using a local DME -- range + / - 2 from your sleep study...) Make it easy for her. Tell them that you will go from here and get your machine and should need to bother the office again.
She can do it between patients.
Just need to show them that you want it and want it "today".
Don't forget the sleep study copy and any letters of medical necessity that may have already been written. For anything already written, the office staff may want your doc's ok to photocopy, ok, you can wait for the doc's approval.
GO SIT Don't bother with the appointment. Forget the US postal service. Doc is hard to get to? Not if you are sitting there when she comes in or still there when she leaves for the day.
Consider yourself the equivalent of a person with strep throat or how about a UTI (ladies can relate). I need this now! I am in pain....
It will take her 60 - 90 seconds to scribble this down for you.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cflex, Prescription, APAP
Well, considering my first DME flat out lied to my doctor and myself and MADE her change her prescription for me to a cpap from an apap stating that my insurance would not pay for an apap. Then my 2nd DME carried ONLY ResMed products which ends up being useless since I need an apap that has c-flex in apap mode. Considering all of this, it's hard to get much worse. I'm not expecting sunshine, I just want my damn machine at this point!ajraih1 wrote:If you are putting any faith what-so-ever in Apria, then my prayers are with you.
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So it's getting late on a Friday afternoon.
What has happened with the problem today? Hopefully you are not waiting for them to get back to you.
What has happened with the problem today? Hopefully you are not waiting for them to get back to you.
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| Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine |
| Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier |
| Additional Comments: Compliant since April 2003. (De-cap-itated Aura). |