Equipment selection?

GatorMan · Post by **GatorMan** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:30 pm

I had the review of my CPAP sleep study. The nurse practicioner could barely interprete the data. In fact, I had to show her how the catrigories corresponded to the first study. She could not tell me the difference between OSA and Central SA. Next she anounced that she was going to give me my machine. Needless to say she could not tell me the brand and model machine she was going to give me. When I asked about a full data APAP her reply was "oh no, we don't do that here." My session ended abruptly at this point.

So, here I am with a prescription in hand and choices to make.

A) ResMed S8 series
B) Resperonics M series APAP W/Aflex

The DME stated that they were having problems with the resperonics M series. I noticed that the ResMed S8 is cheeper than the M series. Both are coded the same with my insurance.

What to do?

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:45 pm

Choose B ... it has the most options.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:38 pm

GatorMan wrote:What to do?

B.

DreamDiver · Post by **DreamDiver** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:41 pm

GatorMan wrote:The DME stated that they were having problems with the resperonics M series. I noticed that the ResMed S8 is cheeper than the M series. Both are coded the same with my insurance.

The DME would tell you they're having trouble with the M because it's more expensive. They want to make more money on the commission so they want you to buy the cheaper machine.

Get B.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:35 pm

Gatorman......

Get "B".....it offers more operational modes..........

Straight CPAP
Straight CPAP with CFLEX
Straight CPAP with AFLEX
Auto CPAP with CFLEX
Auto CPAP with AFLEX

You can purchase this machine with a script that simply says "CPAP" and then you can set it to whatever mode you find most comfortable.

With the info you get from fellow hose-heads on this forum, you can manage your own therapy. It isn't rocket science....it's far simpler than driving a car......and there's hardly any way you can mess up.

Gerald

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:55 pm

The Resmed S8 Series is just that - a series, just as the Respironics M Series is just a series.

Which SPECIFIC Resmed S8 is being offered? You've given a specific Respironics M Series - the Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex. Why not which specific Resmed S8??

The Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage would be the equivalent of the Respironics M Series Auto w/C-Flex.

The Resmed S8 II AutoSet would be the equivalent of the Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex.

Respironics is the leading xPAP manufacturer in the US, followed by Resmed; the rest, Fisher & Paykel, DeVilBiss, Puritan Bennett (now Covidien), etc., are just small bit-players compared to these two giants.

There is a real bias in this forum towards the Respironics. Their pre-M Series was a GREAT device, I had the pre-M Series Auto w/C-Flex. The M Series does leave a lot to be desired.

I was started on a Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR (a CPAP). I got "auto fever" here in the forums and bought a new, complete Respironics pre-M Series Auto w/C-Flex and I liked it, even got the software & cable reader for it. But I missed Resmed's ease of access to my nightly data via the LCD screen even tho I had their software and cable reader too. So when the opportunity to buy a lightly used (505 hours) Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage complete I jumped at the chance and sold the Respironics to my son in law. NO COMPLAINTS about the Respironics at all except the LCD data access.

I prefer my Resmeds. When I was brought back in for bi-level titration and switched to a bi-level I insisted on the Resmed VPAP Auto - or the Respironics PRE-M SERIES Bi-PAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I made it clear I would NOT accept the Respironics M Series Bi-PAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I was happy when I was provided w/the Resmed VPAP Auto. Altho not specified an S8 II it does have the new S8 II EasyBreathe technology and I LOVE it!

I'd call my insurance company and ask them what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted with and hope and pray they offer more options than just this one supplier. If you have other supplier options I would be shopping them. One of them will want your business bad enough to provide the device you want. And if they know you are shopping and have options they will be more inclined to provide what you want and better service. Whether their RT will be any brighter than the one yuo just encountered is a whole 'nother ball game.

Be DIPLOMATIC, be TACTFUL, but be FIRM. YOU are the one paying for this piece of medical equipment you will be living w/for the next 5 years. You are RIGHT, the two devices you are interested in ARE the same insurance code and reimbursed for at the same rate. Most DMEs do more business w/one manufacturer than another and get better bulk prices so their cost could be lower than another supplier for the same device who does most of their business w/different manufacturer.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:40 pm

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:57 pm

Consider choosing....B) Respironics M series APAP W/Aflex

And along with that, consider full data capability (Encore Viewer software and Smart Card.)

I say this as a happy AFLEXer for 8 months. (However, many here use other brands, and are quite happy with the results.)

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:38 pm

I have the S8 Elite, which is just a plain stinky ol CPAP, and have gotten good therapy from it. Like Slinky, I love being able to push a couple of buttons and have my night's data come up on the screen. But lots and lots of people on the site just love the M Series w/ A-flex, and the auto offers more options than the cpap. Hence the large number of votes for B!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:57 pm

Slinky wrote:The Resmed S8 Series is just that - a series, just as the Respironics M Series is just a series.

Which SPECIFIC Resmed S8 is being offered? You've given a specific Respironics M Series - the Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex. Why not which specific Resmed S8??

The Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage would be the equivalent of the Respironics M Series Auto w/C-Flex.

The Resmed S8 II AutoSet would be the equivalent of the Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex.

Respironics is the leading xPAP manufacturer in the US, followed by Resmed; the rest, Fisher & Paykel, DeVilBiss, Puritan Bennett (now Covidien), etc., are just small bit-players compared to these two giants.

There is a real bias in this forum towards the Respironics. Their pre-M Series was a GREAT device, I had the pre-M Series Auto w/C-Flex. The M Series does leave a lot to be desired.

I was started on a Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR (a CPAP). I got "auto fever" here in the forums and bought a new, complete Respironics pre-M Series Auto w/C-Flex and I liked it, even got the software & cable reader for it. But I missed Resmed's ease of access to my nightly data via the LCD screen even tho I had their software and cable reader too. So when the opportunity to buy a lightly used (505 hours) Resmed S8 AutoSet Vantage complete I jumped at the chance and sold the Respironics to my son in law. NO COMPLAINTS about the Respironics at all except the LCD data access.

I prefer my Resmeds. When I was brought back in for bi-level titration and switched to a bi-level I insisted on the Resmed VPAP Auto - or the Respironics PRE-M SERIES Bi-PAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I made it clear I would NOT accept the Respironics M Series Bi-PAP Auto w/Bi-Flex. I was happy when I was provided w/the Resmed VPAP Auto. Altho not specified an S8 II it does have the new S8 II EasyBreathe technology and I LOVE it!

I'd call my insurance company and ask them what local DME CPAP suppliers they are contracted with and hope and pray they offer more options than just this one supplier. If you have other supplier options I would be shopping them. One of them will want your business bad enough to provide the device you want. And if they know you are shopping and have options they will be more inclined to provide what you want and better service. Whether their RT will be any brighter than the one yuo just encountered is a whole 'nother ball game.

Be DIPLOMATIC, be TACTFUL, but be FIRM. YOU are the one paying for this piece of medical equipment you will be living w/for the next 5 years. You are RIGHT, the two devices you are interested in ARE the same insurance code and reimbursed for at the same rate. Most DMEs do more business w/one manufacturer than another and get better bulk prices so their cost could be lower than another supplier for the same device who does most of their business w/different manufacturer.

Hey Slink, how do you like them odds?

LOL 7 B's-to-1 A

LOL LOL LOL

Oh wait, I select B also, make that 8-to-1

_________________

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:08 pm

Make that 9 B's.......we'll have a hive here, pretty soon.

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:27 pm

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:33 pm

Anonymous wrote:C

Ah HA......you DO work for them!!!

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:36 pm

2 A's just because I hate lopsided scores

RiverDave

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:43 pm

Well, 1] its what I would expect since most of the forum members have Resprionics
2] its what I would expect because Respironics is the leading xPAP manufacturer (which does NOT make them better, i.e. the poorly designed integrated humidifier and dropping of data one/two days a month)
3] its what I would expect because NO ONE has ANY idea WHICH Resmed S8 is being offered or considered vs the definite Respironics model.

And, thank you, RiverDave, whatever your reason.

Equipment selection?

Equipment selection?

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Re: Equipment selection?

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