TSA Letter of Medical Necessity, what should be in it

[mtsarpilot]

I have read comment on the forum that people have some form of a Letter of Medical Necessity to show the TSA folks when they want to inspect the CPAP machine. What needs to be in such a letter?

I'm wondering how you demonstrate authenticity of such a letter. Anyone could write a letter about anything and sign it with "Dr." or "MD" on the signature. How does TSA know it is real? I have screws in my knee from an injury and have a card signed by the orthopedist saying I have medical implants. While it is real, it is also a joke. They have to wand me and examine me anyway, and anyone could fraudulantly get ahold of a medical implant card and sign it with a bogus name. What's different here with a simple letter that's even easier to forge than a card?

I've travelled once in the 3 weeks I've had my CPAP and neither time did they flag it to be looked at from the x-ray machine. With the current state of affairs, you know they will open your bag and see it. I'm seeing my doctor in a week and might as well get such a letter if it does any good.

Thanks

[Guest]

It is usually just a short letter on letterhead or even just a prescription pad. It would have your name, CPAP/BiPAP etc, pressure setting, any accessories (heated humdifier, mask, tubing) the specific diagnosis, and then a statement saying something like 'The item is medically neccessary as patient is required to use device while sleeping to prevent cessation of breathing' or something similar.
Although honestly, for airport use just a straight prescription will be fine. A letter of medical neccessity is really more for insurance needs.

[MandoJohnny]

How does TSA know it is real?

They don't. There was a show about airline security the other night. They said that TSA doesn't even have a way to tell if your picture ID is real and fake IDs are very easy to get. A lot of college kids have very authentic-looking fake IDs to buy booze. In fact, many bars now have a machine that can accurately spot fake IDs. The bouncers checking IDs use these machines to screen out under-age drinkers. Here's the wild part: These machines are not very expensive, but TSA or the airlines do not have them or use them and has no plans to do so!

The sad truth is that a lot of what TSA does is not based on a true "threat needs analysis." A lot of what they do is to make it appear to the public they are doing something, so if something else happens, their butts are covered. So looking at your possibly fake ID and then your possibly fake prescription and possibly fake doctor's letter are to make your fellow passengers feel safer, not to really settle a medical needs question.

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[Snoredog]

You do NOT need a LMN, cpap machines are stamped as a Medical device on the bottom. IF a TSA agent doesn't know what a medical device looks like request a supervisor.

[louie1961]

I fly to work every monday and home again every thursday. I have been doing this for a solid 2 years with the CPAP in my carry on luggage. Granted it is all domestic flying (no Canada, no Europe, etc.) But about the only thing that ever happens is that pretty much like clock work the TSA will ask to open my bag, and swab the CPAP for the explosives sniffer. They see a lot of CPAPs and know what they are. In fact it ususally goes like this "Bag check, lane 1...yeah, um...looks like he has a CPAP...whose bag is this...I need to check for chemicals...OK your clear...have a nice day.

I would say they swab it 99% of the time, and I have never had anyone say anymore than that to me. Never a question about my ID, precriptions, etc.

[Shedahl]

I was given a letter for air travel and a page of explanation about why you shouldn't check it as luggage along with my APAP machine last week (I'm only 1 week into this). It's an obvious photocopy of a copy of a copy (even crooked on the page), and it says:

"Date: _____________________
Re: CPAP MEDICAL DEVICE
To Whom It May Concern:

____(my name handwritten)____ is a patient managed by our department
for obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment requires use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Due to the fragile nature of this equipment, it does need to be carried onto the plane.

If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our office at __(phone number)__. Thank you for your cooperation and consideration.

Sincerely,"

It's on my clinic's letterhead, and signed by a doctor at the Sleep Disorders Center.

Shedahl