Ok, I give up!

[GatorMan]

Ok, I give up. Just received my card reader and software, have the humidifier and smart card, however, my DME will not supply my M Series w/A-Flex until my Sleep Study Doctor corrects my prescription. When I was having the study done they had three doctors and at least two nurse practitioners. Now “the Doctor” is on vacation. They want me to accept a less expensive unit while charging top dollar to my insurance. I think I will sleep on my back and hope I stop breathing! Southern Girl, Where are you? Are you anywhere near South East Virginia?

[OutaSync]

Can you get a loaner from your DME? Even a cheap machine is better than no machine.

I'm near Richmond.

B

[DreamDiver]

My concern with loaners from the DME is that they will make you take a used one after they give you the 'loaner.'

GatorMan,

Someone at the Sleep Doc's office is acting as the 'concierge.' Make friendly with them. It's likely they're the ones who are going to call 'on behalf of' the sleep doc to 'persuade' your DME to give you the machine you want.

[Snoredog]

tell them you want your script back going to another DME.

[GatorMan]

DreamDiver,
Sounds like you have some inside information. Yes, there is "Someone at the Sleep Doc's office who is acting as the 'concierge.' " However, she is apparently working against the system. Could this be "Southern Girl?"

[carbonman]

Ok, I give up. They want me to accept a less expensive unit while charging top dollar to my insurance.

Do NOT give up.

This seems to be a rite of passage into the cpap world.

Persevere...be patient....be polite, but firm.

Get the 'script from your doc, and eventually you will prevail.....
and your life will be much better for it.

Turn into the wind and stand your ground.

Fight the Borg. Resistance is NOT futile.

[OutaSync]

What happened to Southern Girl? Have we ever heard back from her?

[OldLincoln]

Dude.... Gators NEVER give up! Go kick butt and take names! The bottom line is that the DME must fill the RX so make sure it's written for what you want. Someone here told me what to order and to write it out for the doc to copy onto his Rx. I did, he did and I have my great equipment. The thing is docs rely on DME's for equipment advice. You have to convince them of what you need and why to get the good stuff.

Another thing, your's may be different, but my DME tried like crazy to convince me after getting the Rx that my equipment list was all wrong, that they are the experts so I should do what they say. I even had to sign a waiver that if the equipment didn't do the job they were not required to change it out. I signed with a smile and have been smiling since.

[DreamDiver]

DreamDiver,
Sounds like you have some inside information. Yes, there is "Someone at the Sleep Doc's office who is acting as the 'concierge.' " However, she is apparently working against the system. Could this be "Southern Girl?"

GatorMan,

First of all - "Just keep breathing, just keep breathing, breathing, breathing". I'm picturing 'Dory' from 'Finding Nemo' sing-songing this advice.

Second - Some sleep docs never even see the people they're diagnosing -- just their charts. The person you have to convince to help you is the person who is going to call your DME 'at the request' of your sleep doc. Just tell them you know what you want, and it would be ever-so-helpful if they would call the DME to make sure you get exactly what you want - by model number for both mask and xpap machine. The secretaries, the sleep techs and the phone answerers are the ones who really get things done in any office. Get to know them. Call them with questions. Say thank you. When the sleep doc's office team can tell you see them as an integral part of your sleep therapy connection, they'll bend over backwards to help you. It's less about kissing a** and more about recognition of human worth. They'll fill out your prescription and can get the doc to sign it between patients. All they need is a signature on a slip of paper from the doc to fax to your DME and a follow-up call to confirm that your prescription and its exact preferences are followed.

DME's are only acting on corporate orders to fill your prescription as cheaply as possible. However, they have to follow doctors orders, especially when they are explicit. I'm hoping you'll find that once have a talk with your sleep doc's office staff, 'suddenly' your DME will be able to locate the exact model you want.

The DME may even attempt to try and sell you to wrong model after saying they'll get you the right model. They will also try to downgrade your mask to a cheaper mask. Be pleasant, but stick to your guns.

If you don't have insurance or have BCBS, look into using CPAP.com and BillMyInsurance.com You'll have less headaches, and you'll get exactly what you want.

@OldLincoln - They're saying they know better than your doctor. I'd never have signed the waiver. They just want to cut their losses on an expensive machine. Can you imagine? There's a good argument that this ploy is an attempt at practicing medicine without a license - a possible cause for medical malpractice somewhere down the road.