Would you read my Smart Card for me?

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun May 06, 2007 8:53 pm

Hey, I dunno if this is a FELONY or something... But I have a Smart Card, I'm not seeing the doc until next month, and I'm curious about what it says. No, I do not want to buy a reader and software. I just got YET ANOTHER BILL for my sleep study, and I don't know how I'm going to pay for it.

If you're in the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett-Olympia-Los Angeles (okay, that last was just for laughs) area, and have the ability to read a smart card, and might want to do me a favor for some sort of trade or reasonable remuneration, do PM me.

If this is some sort of Foul Ball or Felony, also let me know. I'll humbly delete the post and promise never to pee on the carpet again.

And please don't say "See your DME" because that is so not an option right now....

Many thanks,
Barbara

jules · Post by **jules** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:00 pm

If you really have the Plus machine reading the card is pretty meaningless - all you get is compliance hours I understand. However if you have a Pro or APAP you need to find someone with at least version 1.6 to read your card (as you indicate you have a m series machine).

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:13 pm

Ohhhh.... Well, that explains some more about the lameness of my DME, who insisted I was getting the "top of the line, cadillac model" CPAP machine.

Okay then! Well, good to know, and I thank you kindly! We should leave this up for other newbies who might be thinking along my own lines.

Cheers,
Barbara

JohnMudie · Post by **JohnMudie** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:17 pm

Once upon a time, I had troubles with reading my cards and really appreciated the favor some-one did for me in reading my cards. Am willing to return the favor for you and anyone else.

Pm me

John M

jules · Post by **jules** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:20 pm

The question has been asked before -

not in looking for someone from the greater Lakewood Metropolis (yeah --- all of I - 5 is now one big mess - here I thought Lakewood's claim to fame was an intertransit station so you can catch a bus from Olympia, transfer there and then end up in Seattle - but if it is COPS so be it) -

but in what software etc to get for a plus to convert it to a Pro and even though you might have a smart card module with your machine, it is still a "bottom" machine - no enhanced data.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:54 pm

Babette wrote:Ohhhh.... Well, that explains some more about the lameness of my DME, who insisted I was getting the "top of the line, cadillac model" CPAP machine.

Maybe your DME doesn't know anymore about cars than he does about CPAP machines. If yours is a "M"agic Plus, It's next to the bottom, the Remstar M Series DS100 CPAP Machine, is on the bottom, it doesn't even have a card. Yours can't be converted to retrieve useful data, Take it back and tell him the automatic headlight dimmer is defective, that's a important feature on a Caddy. Best of luck with getting use to this new way of sleeping, and good luck. Jim

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:08 pm

Actually, I think Lakewood's new claim to fame is the home of that boy who managed to talk his way onto two flights and ended up on Texas or AZ or somewhere. Then he violated his parole or whatever to appear on the Dr. Phil Show. Luckily, his mother doesn't send the kid to Lakewood's lovely schools (my employer) so I don't have to thump him on the head personally.

I can take my cpap back to the DME and demand an upgrade? I'm calling the sleep doc about that tomorrow. I hate the DME and would hate to have to set foot in their place again. But if I've been given the bottom of the line cpap, I may have to.

Thanks for that tip!
B.

Snorkel · Post by **Snorkel** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:19 pm

Babette, who is your dme? I live in Kirkland, and am trying to figure out if my dme (in tacoma) is any good.

Good luck,

david

jules · Post by **jules** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:21 pm

I don't know what DME you used (and actually I don't live in the greater Lakewood metropolis but have been there often enough). When I got a machine from my unfriendly incorrect bill generating DME I asked what machines I could get with the script I had. I was able to get a Pro 2 (tank model) with a cpap script.

Also look for posts by IBTERI here on the board. She lives in Tacoma and was able to find a DME that would give her an APAP. I have no idea which DME she used but it might be worth making a few calls.

I assume your rental contract is month to month and well, the unfriendly incorrect bill generating DME's will bill a full month for a partial month I suspect. Mine was "nice" enough to bill from date they got the RX not from the date I had the machine in hand. This is also part of what you need to confirm tomorrow.

Good luck.

tiredofbeingsleepy · Post by **tiredofbeingsleepy** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:30 pm

Hi Babette

I posted a question a couple of days ago about possibly switching machines. I too thought that I was getting the Pro, which would record data, but ended up with the Plus. It seems all the DME and insurance companies care about is if you are compliant or not, not if the therapy is actually working!
I called the DME and asked for a change in machine and posed the question, how do they know if the pressure is adequate or needs to be changed - they told me they think it's adequate to analyze therapy by "if you are feeling any better or not", rather than having "hard data" to go by. I asked to speak to a supervisor.....and no surprise here, she has yet to call me back.
I'll be picking up this fight again tomorrow!

Best of luck to you! I hope you are able to change machines!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon May 07, 2007 12:02 am

Those of you stuck w/a bottom of the line machine. Why not approach your sleep doctor? Put it to him that you've been given a compliance data only CPAP and you thought it best to inform him of that since there will be no way for him to monitor your CPAP therapy and you assume he will want to monitor your therapy and be able to make any pressure adjustments, etc. that might be necessary.

Of course, in my personal opinion, any sleep doctor that doesn't insist that his CPAP patients be given a fully data capable xPAP should find a new profession, he/she doesn't belong in the sleep therapy profession!!!

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:05 am

My DME is Blue Mountain Medical in Tacoma, WA

http://www.bluemountaincpap.com

I'm currently not speaking to them. After one week with them, two masks, and having to lie on their office floor and fit myself for the second mask, I was done. I've exchanged a series of nasty emails with them, but I'm not currently speaking to them.

I do plan to call my sleep doc today and ask her about the Plus vs. Pro machine. Depending on what she says, I might take it back.

Frankly, I have to say I'm less and less convinced that this is a truly helpful thing for me. I really feel like I've been swept up into a money making scam. I wonder why no one has addressed the fact that my tonsils have been swollen since 1981 and my uvula combined with that blocks my airway. Seems pretty obvious to me that THAT is the problem and should probably be addressed.

Sorry. Another very sleepy, very cranky AM for me.

Thank you very much for your suggestions!!!
Barbara

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:20 am

I'd initially been prescribed an M Series Plus. Went back to the sleep doc, persuaded him to upgrade me to a Pro. Apria took forever to get it to me but I finally got it last week. All it cost me was another co-pay ($88).

I'm looking forward now to dealing with installation of Encore Pro, etc.

Snorkel · Post by **Snorkel** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:57 am

Babette wrote:My DME is Blue Mountain Medical in Tacoma, WA

http://www.bluemountaincpap.com

I'm currently not speaking to them. After one week with them, two masks, and having to lie on their office floor and fit myself for the second mask, I was done. I've exchanged a series of nasty emails with them, but I'm not currently speaking to them.

I do plan to call my sleep doc today and ask her about the Plus vs. Pro machine. Depending on what she says, I might take it back.

My doctor, saying most dmes stank, suggested either NW Medical in Renton or Performance Home Medical in Kent. So far, I think NWM has been good to deal with. -D

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:22 am

babette,

I was first given a RemSTAR M series plus, like you, and had a hard time getting it switched to the Pro. Best to fight this battle in the first 30 days of therapy, while things are still on a trial basis...

First you have to make sure you doctor prescribe a Pro model specifically (my sleep doctor did not, and told me he never had this problem before, and that DME's gave the equipment that allowed him to get data... first time he dealt with my current DME, chosen by my insurance company... and he quickly re-issued a prescription)

Then, the DME was giving me the lame excuse that they needed to check with my insurance company. I waited and waited until I go so fed up that I called my insurance company myself, ready to yell at them for not allowing me the best treatment possible... The answer from the insurance company is that they have only one code for xPAP (basic, pro and auto... I think it is different for Bi-PAP...) and it did not make a difference to them which one the DME gave me. Of course, as stated before in the forum, the DME gets reimbursed the same amount of money from the insurance company, so they make more profit on the cheaper xPAP... As soon as I called the DME on it, I was given the PRO version... hummm...

So, if your insurance company is the same of similar (mine is Aetna), you should be able to get the PRO model...

Good luck!

Machine	Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: Getting tired of feeling exhausted so often during the day and having to nap

Would you read my Smart Card for me?

Would you read my Smart Card for me?

Wll be willing to do by mail.