Equipment

godsend1 · Post by **godsend1** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:59 pm

I just received my CPAP today and have a question about the norm for equipment.

The machine is a used Resmed Tango. Is it normal for the Dr's office to supply used and discontinued equipment? I was looking forward to a more modern unit that I could monitor my results with. The office requires me to return the unit after a month to verify I am using it.

My coverage has me leasing equipment with a monthly payment, until my yearly deductible is met.

Thanks.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:32 am

I would not buy, rent or lease and CPAP unit that wasn't new and a current model, it also would have to collect full data and be able to have software to keep treack of my progress. Anything else is not good enough, Get your prescription for what you need and find someone that will work to get you what you need. Jim

godsend1 · Post by **godsend1** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:02 am

Thanks Goofproof, you pretty much summed up my feelings on the subject.

drewtrey · Post by **drewtrey** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:46 am

The machine is a used Resmed Tango London City Airport Mini Cab. Is it normal for the Dr's office to supply used and discontinued equipment? I was looking forward to a more modern unit that I could monitor my results with. The office requires me to return the unit after a month to verify I am using it.

RandyJ · Post by **RandyJ** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:48 am

It doesn't seem normal at all that you would be supplied a very old model cpap (I've seen photos of the Tango but haven't heard of anyone using one in a long time) or that your doctor's office would give it to you; are there no DMEs in your area?

I would think you could buy that old model outright for less than $100; I hope you're not paying very much to rent it. You could rent to own a new Resmed S9 or comparable model through a DME. DME would probably charge your insurance around $150 a month for 10 months (insurance would pay them around $80 a month) and at the end of 10 months you would own it.

Also, that model offers no data to monitor your therapy. Ideally, you would want a model that offers full data: Resmed S9 Elite or Autoset, or PR System One Remstar Pro or Auto.

The product sheet dates from 1999, but they were still selling it at least up until the S8 series came out. A truly budget machine:

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documen ... er_eng.pdf

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:07 am

Contact your insurance company and ask if they allow this.

apneawho · Post by **apneawho** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:22 am

Get the order for auto pap, humidity and mask of patient choice in your hand from the doctor and take it where you find an equipment company you want to deal with. Please read Janknitz blog before dealing with the DME companies. Search for member Janknitz here. She has invaluable info for this process.

godsend1 · Post by **godsend1** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:09 pm

Thanks apneawho, I was about to pm you about this.

It appears that the Dr's office is also the DME . I have a follow up in 2 weeks, I will be returning the Tango and mask I have and requesting a prescription to get my equipment from another source. Do you have any recommendations?

RandyJ · Post by **RandyJ** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:22 pm

You should ask that doctor where he found that ancient machine.

If you want full data + easy access to free software, the best choices are Resmed S9 Elite or PR System One Remstar Pro (for cpap) or for autopap the choices would be Resmed S9 Autoset or PR System One Remstar Auto. Having an auto can be nice because it's like having 2 machines in one, you can use it in either auto or straight cpap mode. Resmed's proprietary software ResScan can be had for free, and there is a free pre-beta program called Sleepyhead, developed by a member of this board that will work with either Resmed or the PR System One machines.

There are other good machines on the market, but the software may not be free or easy to get.

godsend1 · Post by **godsend1** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:42 pm

It's really quite funny, when I was signing the paperwork for the equipment they had the price for the machine listed at $6000. I had already been on this board and done quite a bit of research so I knew that that price was ridiculous.

DoriC · Post by **DoriC** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:31 pm

Run away as fast as you can and I would definitely report this transaction to your insurance co and see what they say. It's usually not a good idea to use a Dr who also owns the DME, too much access to this sort of thing, sorry to say.

RandyJ · Post by **RandyJ** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:33 pm

godsend1 wrote:It's really quite funny, when I was signing the paperwork for the equipment they had the price for the machine listed at $6000. I had already been on this board and done quite a bit of research so I knew that that price was ridiculous.

$6000? More like $60!

I hope you didn't sign anything you can't get out of. Best of luck.

apneawho · Post by **apneawho** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:56 am

godsend1 wrote:Thanks apneawho, I was about to pm you about this.

It appears that the Dr's office is also the DME . I have a follow up in 2 weeks, I will be returning the Tango and mask I have and requesting a prescription to get my equipment from another source. Do you have any recommendations?

Ask the order to be written like this... APAP, pressure range ___to___, humidifier, mask of patient choice. Good for 99 yrs (which gives you a lifetime order).

Get a fully data capable machine so you can monitor effectiveness of your therapy.
Also, you have a 30 day return on any mask obtained through your DME if it doesn't work for you. You can get another and try that one for 30 days until you find one that works for you. Masks are a very individual choice and what works for one person may not work for another.

House of Payne · Post by **House of Payne** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:25 am

RandyJ wrote: the best choices are Resmed S9 Elite or PR System One Remstar Pro (for cpap)

I'm currently using a brick and I'm about to get a new machine. I've been given a choice between two of the models you recommended, S9 Elite or PRS 1 Pro. It appears that I'm very lucky but now which one of these excellent choices should I choose? The S9 is quieter but I'm sure that there are more important reasons to pick one over the other. Could someone please help?

Thank you,
Mike

godsend1 · Post by **godsend1** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:45 pm

I visited my DME/ENT office today , I explained that I had problems breathing against my current machine and requested the Resmed S9 Elite, they informed me that since it has the Expiratory pressure relief (EPR™), it would be a BPAP machine and I am not eligible for that type, only CPAP. They said they have the Resmed S9 but would have to talk to the Dr. to see if I could get it.

I am 2 weeks into treatment using the current set-up, I return for a follow up at 28 days. Should I just return my equipment to them and request a prescription?

Edited to add, I am getting the feeling that they are more interested in making money than giving me what I want/need to get this to work.

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