If I travel is it better to choose a national supplier & can they accept a prescription written to a different supplier?

[crab-legs]

Hi, I often travel across the country. I am about to get a new CPAP/BiPAP after my upcoming sleep study. Should I choose a national DME sleep supplier, in case I need emergency supplies or a CPAP machine while on the road, like Apria, or use a local one? The local one I have in mind is California Sleep Solutions, with offices all over the Sacramento area, and even their own sleep center.

The reason I ask is I tried to send my doctor's prescription to California Sleep Solutions , and they asked if it had any DME supplier's name on it. It did (Apria), and they said they cannot accept that, and the doctor has to write a new one specific to them.

So when I carry my prescription with me when I travel, which is specific to one DME supplier, will other DME suppliers reject it if I am in need of emergency supplies or my machine breaks??

Also, the prescription expires in one year, so what good will a prescription do if it is past then??

[chunkyfrog]

Ask your doctor for a non-expiring prescription for use with ANY dealer.
(Even out of network)
Then you can handle emergencies on the road.
You only need to ask.

[crab-legs]

Ask your doctor for a non-expiring prescription for use with ANY dealer.
(Even out of network)
Then you can handle emergencies on the road.
You only need to ask.

Awesome! I thought that all prescriptions expire in a year, by law, but I guess not! I will ask!

[chunkyfrog]

My prescription at www/cpap.com is for 99 months.
A DME may require a year--in case insurance needs "fresh paper".
When paying out of pocket, nobody cares, but doctors may resist out of ignorance.
Apnea does not get better with time--if anything, it can worsen.

[Julie]

Apria also gets worse from what I've heard... you don't need them.

[crab-legs]

My prescription at www/cpap.com is for 99 months.
A DME may require a year--in case insurance needs "fresh paper".
When paying out of pocket, nobody cares, but doctors may resist out of ignorance.
Apnea does not get better with time--if anything, it can worsen.

Come to think of it, that's right! My first prescription also said 99 months!

[crab-legs]

Apria also gets worse from what I've heard... you don't need them.

LOL!!! I have heard the same.

[palerider]

need emergency supplies

You shouldn't ever need 'emergency supplies', you should have a couple spares of everything, if something breaks, replace it and get another spare.

Your prescription shouldn't have any suppliers name on it, if it does, get your doctor to rewrite it so it's generic. and then carry it with you when traveling, so if something does happen on the road, you can go to *any* DME.

Also, the prescription expires in one year, so what good will a prescription do if it is past then??

Nothing, tell the doctor to put 99 months, (or no expiration).

[crab-legs]

You shouldn't ever need 'emergency supplies', you should have a couple spares of everything, if something breaks, replace it and get another spare.

That's a good way of doing it. I learned the hard way when my tubing sprung a leak on the road and I had to order an emergency one from Amazon. In the meantime, I used duct tape to patch the old one up. And just the other day, my Simplus full face mask frame broke where the top strap of the headgear goes (the plastic prong which hold a strap snapped). I just routed the headgear strap onto the remaining plastic prong. Still, not good though.

The only things I think where you wouldn't have a replacement available on hand is:

1. the actual CPAP machine, including modem and SD card
2. portable batteries (if you use them)--they cost $200 each, and the special wiring to hook them up to the machine

[palerider]

You shouldn't ever need 'emergency supplies', you should have a couple spares of everything, if something breaks, replace it and get another spare.

That's a good way of doing it. I learned the hard way when my tubing sprung a leak on the road and I had to order an emergency one from Amazon. In the meantime, I used duct tape to patch the old one up. And just the other day, my Simplus full face mask frame broke where the top strap of the headgear goes (the plastic prong which hold a strap snapped). I just routed the headgear strap onto the remaining plastic prong. Still, not good though.

The only things I think where you wouldn't have a replacement available on hand is:

1. the actual CPAP machine, including modem and SD card
2. portable batteries (if you use them)--they cost $200 each, and the special wiring to hook them up to the machine

Something to keep in mind, MANY truck drivers are CPAP users, so some truck stops stock the non-prescription cpap supplies, like hoses.

(I have a spare machine, think craigslist, letgo, etc, many of us do)

[crab-legs]

You shouldn't ever need 'emergency supplies', you should have a couple spares of everything, if something breaks, replace it and get another spare.

That's a good way of doing it. I learned the hard way when my tubing sprung a leak on the road and I had to order an emergency one from Amazon. In the meantime, I used duct tape to patch the old one up. And just the other day, my Simplus full face mask frame broke where the top strap of the headgear goes (the plastic prong which hold a strap snapped). I just routed the headgear strap onto the remaining plastic prong. Still, not good though.

The only things I think where you wouldn't have a replacement available on hand is:

1. the actual CPAP machine, including modem and SD card
2. portable batteries (if you use them)--they cost $200 each, and the special wiring to hook them up to the machine

Something to keep in mind, MANY truck drivers are CPAP users, so some truck stops stock the non-prescription cpap supplies, like hoses.

(I have a spare machine, think craigslist, letgo, etc, many of us do)

That is actually very good advice. I would never have thought of truck stops. And I guess I need to get working on my backup CPAP machine.

[palerider]

And I guess I need to get working on my backup CPAP machine.

I have a spare machine, hose, mask, everything, in it's bag, ready to grab and go. That way I never forget anything, and don't have to disturb the main machine.

[booksfan]

My prescription at www/cpap.com is for 99 months.
A DME may require a year--in case insurance needs "fresh paper".
When paying out of pocket, nobody cares, but doctors may resist out of ignorance.
Apnea does not get better with time--if anything, it can worsen.

While it is true that when paying out of pocket, nobody cares, sometimes those DMEs getting ridiculous. My husband had to leave town suddenly (his father was hospitalized with congestive heart failure), and in the rush of packing he left his hose and mask on the bed . He called me from the road to find a DME for him (he has a digital copy of his Rx). I did, they had his mask and hose in stock, but when he showed up just before closing time, they said even though his Rx was written for 99 years, it was dated 2017 and they would not accept it! I offered to order on-line (and pay $33 for overnight shipping!) but he ended up driving back that night, after seeing his dad and verifying his condition, so he would be able to sleep.

[ChicagoGranny]

Ask your doctor for a non-expiring prescription for use with ANY dealer.
(Even out of network)
Then you can handle emergencies on the road.
You only need to ask.

Then put a copy in the cloud.

[chunkyfrog]

" . . . even though his Rx was written for 99 years, it was dated 2017 and they would not accept it! "
This is so messed up!
Obviously, there's one place that deserves a strong negative review.
Was it part of a chain--or just a local outfit?
If a chain, please share initials.