Has everyone gone insane? CPAP Monitoring/Modems & SD Cards?

[jmmass]

I have been using a CPAP for 6 years every night without fail. Four months ago, I needed a replacement. I contacted my insurance company, Harvard Pilgrim Health, my original provider, Sleep Health Centers of MA; and so the process began: four months of red tape and the “blame game”. My insurance company blaming the provider for delays and the provider telling me the insurance company is just cheap and makes it difficult to get a replacement.
Finally, this Tuesday, I picked-up my machine: Hallelujah!

Wait…why is there an antennae attached to my machine? Did that person just say “modem”? Why is there is SD card? What do you mean “wireless transmission”? Are you freaking kidding me?
I mean seriously…has everyone gone insane? Are we criminals under house arrest? Does no one else understand that this is a complete violation of our privacy? I just read a post, and some person was rejoicing that their 90 day probation was almost over and they were free!
So, our sleeping patterns are being studied, collected, recorded and wirelessly transmitted…and no one is crying foul? I am not the paranoid type, but this strikes me as wrong, abusive and intrusive. In fact, it is flat out creepy.
I will not do it, I will not participate, I will not plug in the stupid modem. I will return the freaking thing and tell them to shove it. I have no idea where the data is being stored, how it is being used…and more importantly…how it can be abused! I am in the technology field…trust me…this data is not secure! Your moron ham radio operator is probably reading your results every morning!
Am I the only one? Why are people not completely pissed-off?

[poppi2]

.... Your moron ham radio operator is probably reading your results every morning! ...

I resemble that remark! K5SNO

[jmmass]

.... Your moron ham radio operator is probably reading your results every morning! ...

I resemble that remark! K5SNO

Hey Poppi2: KB1UTU - but lets not change the subject to be a smart-ass. jmmass

[JeffL]

Me too K3OHU

[SleepDepraved2]

Blame the people who get a CPAP, use it one night, then turn around and sell it on Craigslist and pocket the money. They are the ones who have ruined it for people like us who work hard at it and don't stick the insurance company for a bill for equipment that is never used. The insurance company wants to know that you have made an effort to use what is a substantial investment on their part in this equipment to improve your health. Improving your health benefits them, since down the road you will need less expensive medical care. It benefits you because you will feel better.

As far as the information, what is that ham radio operator going to do with it? It doesn't have my name attached. There are no identifying pieces of information at all with it. Information is only worth something if someone can use it for profit. What good are the hours I sleep and how many apneas going to do for anyone?

Anyone besides my pulmonologist, who can use that information to help optimize my therapy. The SD card is important for that. The modem goes away after you prove to the insurance company that you have been compliant with your therapy.

[JeffL]

.... Your moron ham radio operator is probably reading your results every morning! ...

I resemble that remark! K5SNO

Hey Poppi2: KB1UTU - but lets not change the subject to be a smart-ass. jmmass

OK, sticking to the subject. The insurance company just wants to be sure you are actually using the machine that they are contributing to.
And, I don't give a rat's ass who sees the data on my sleeping. That and $5 will get them a cup of coffee at Star Bucks.

[hopingitworks]

I know nothing about modems being used in xpap devices but if that were the case I would be upset as well. I haven't heard of anyone recently being given a device with an antenna but I am still new to the forum.

As far as the "90 day" period you referred to I believe some people, in order to get their device covered by insurance companies, must comply with certain usage statistics for insurance companies to pay for the devices. And I believe that 90 days is a commonly accepted period. If the person doesn't use the machine with regularity the insurance company can deny coverage.

SD cards are common to machines these days so DME's/RT's/MD's can read the data, and in many cases, the client can as well with proper software. Most people on the forum would be somewhat lost without being able to read the data on the SD cards.

I expect people more knowledgeable will chime in. In the mean time it would be helpful if you could provide information about the equipment you are using (via "User Control Panel".

[ughwhatname]

You have the option to just pay for it yourself. If you want the insurance company to kick in some bucks, you'll need to play by their rules, I guess.

I have been using a CPAP for 6 years every night without fail. Four months ago, I needed a replacement. I contacted my insurance company, Harvard Pilgrim Health, my original provider, Sleep Health Centers of MA; and so the process began: four months of red tape and the “blame game”. My insurance company blaming the provider for delays and the provider telling me the insurance company is just cheap and makes it difficult to get a replacement.
Finally, this Tuesday, I picked-up my machine: Hallelujah!

Wait…why is there an antennae attached to my machine? Did that person just say “modem”? Why is there is SD card? What do you mean “wireless transmission”? Are you freaking kidding me?
I mean seriously…has everyone gone insane? Are we criminals under house arrest? Does no one else understand that this is a complete violation of our privacy? I just read a post, and some person was rejoicing that their 90 day probation was almost over and they were free!
So, our sleeping patterns are being studied, collected, recorded and wirelessly transmitted…and no one is crying foul? I am not the paranoid type, but this strikes me as wrong, abusive and intrusive. In fact, it is flat out creepy.
I will not do it, I will not participate, I will not plug in the stupid modem. I will return the freaking thing and tell them to shove it. I have no idea where the data is being stored, how it is being used…and more importantly…how it can be abused! I am in the technology field…trust me…this data is not secure! Your moron ham radio operator is probably reading your results every morning!
Am I the only one? Why are people not completely pissed-off?

[jmmass]

Lets see, hmmm, could it be given to the RMV? How about your life insurance company? How about your employer if you work in a certain industry? Were you in a car accident this morning? Wait...the plantiff's attorney found out you have a CPAP with a data card? Have you been "compliant"? Let's get a court order and get those records...

Are you really that nieve that you can't see how this mishandled? Do you know that Sleep Apnea is a disqualifier for life insurance unless it is being treated? Are you going to trust that the data is not going to be used for other purposes? Let's just say that you are in compliance, but the machine registers the information incorrectly? This is so that your insurance company can save a few bucks? Lets remember: this is a replacement. Even if it were not...why would I want some unknown enity(s) monitoring me? It is insane.

[Dazed and Confused]

Thanks for the laugh! I agree!
It's none of their f*ing business. You pay for insurance. The insurance company manages risk.
If you get a prescribed medicine or device - it is up to YOU what you do or do not do with it as long as you don't violate laws.

The ones I've seen with modems require a working phone jack. If the Ins. Co gives you any crap for not using - tell them to come over and install a new jack and landline. 99 to 1 they won't spend the dosh.

I'm about to buy a new machine. My top 3 choices don't have modems. Tell them you don't want that machine. You want this one!

Good luck, and please keep us updated

[Lizistired]

Lets see, hmmm, could it be given to the RMV? How about your life insurance company? How about your employer if you work in a certain industry? Were you in a car accident this morning? Wait...the plantiff's attorney found out you have a CPAP with a data card? Have you been "compliant"? Let's get a court order and get those records...

Are you really that nieve that you can't see how this mishandled? Do you know that Sleep Apnea is a disqualifier for life insurance unless it is being treated? Are you going to trust that the data is not going to be used for other purposes? Let's just say that you are in compliance, but the machine registers the information incorrectly? This is so that your insurance company can save a few bucks? Lets remember: this is a replacement. Even if it were not...why would I want some unknown enity(s) monitoring me? It is insane.

I am totally with you on the data mining issue. I do see the advantage to monitoring compliance for the first 30 days. Lots of people just say "I can't wear that thing!". Insurance companies shouldn't pay for their machines.
For anyone that thinks data mining doesn't matter, google "Choicepoint" or "Aristotle". I think Frontline has a program coming soon on Aristotle.
As it stands now, we have 2 choices. Get off the grid, or give in.
We have subscribed to Big Brother and are paying monthly fees to him.

[Slartybartfast]

Me too K3OHU

Yeah, what HE said! . _ _ / _ . . . / _ . . . . / _ / _ . . / _ . _ .

(CW, the last refuge of the radio nerd)

[BlackSpinner]

Since most people can't get their doctors to read their data or even look at, I doubt that a hm operator is interested in the breathing sequence of someone sleeping.

Oh and there are professions where once you are diagnosed you had better have that data or you could be grounded. There are also places where yes if it is known you have OSA and you could lose your license unless you prove you use the machine.

[Lizistired]

Last year I read about companies developing applications to track compliance of truckers while on the road.
If there is money to be made.........................

[ems]

It is insane.

You have a point but it is what it is. Personally, I really don't care who has my data or what they do with it. I have so many other things to be concerned about. Anyway, I sure hope they are better at reading my data than I am.