How can I tell

imonfire · Post by **imonfire** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:20 pm

I am supposed to be getting a new machine on Sept 9th, so let me give some history of that process. I had the Dr. put on the prescription (actually the nurse) auto-titrating originally. I let the original DME talk me out of that and ended up with something I did not want. I ended up renting that machine until my deductible was met and changed insurance along the way and that is a great story in and of itself. Now, I called the insurance and they gave me the name of the only DME that they use, Apria and their phone number. I gather up all the info such as prescription, sleep study, and take it in to them along with insurance card. They check on it and I am allowed a new machine. They show me what they have in stock which is a respironics M series. I showed them the auto-titrating on the prescription and warn them I will not settle for less. They aknowledge it and said no problem. Comes time to get unit, it is a straight CPAP unit (I have model number of what I want) and I told them "I am not doing this"! I will get what I want. They scramble, make excuses, tell me what the insurance said. I tell them, I will fix this and get what I want and I will not settle and leave. I have to call back a week later to get them to talk to me. They say it will take two weeks to get me what I want and it will be a Resmed unit, not a Respironics. I say thats fine but it will be an auto with data collection. Now, with all this in mind, how do I tell if they are getting me what I want as far as correct model, capabilities? Is there something that I can use to make sure it is the right one?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:26 pm

they are slimy bastards, watch them carefully,

if they are getting you the latest Resmed S8 AutoSet II, it should look like this, print it out and take it with you when you pick it up, but knowing Apria they will be getting you an Elite "CPAP" or maybe (I doubt it) a Resmed Vantage which is the noisier Auto.

IF they are supplying you with the newest Auto it should say "Autoset Spirit II" on the top of the machine:

http://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/fl ... u=products

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:40 pm

A lot of DME's do this.... try and get you to settle for what they want you to settle for. If you want a particular machine, that is what you should get. Can you call them ask ask exactly what they say they ordered for you. They would need to know that themselves to make an order. So they know.

Another thing you might want to do is to aks your insurance if they will cover the cost of you purchasing out of pocket. Some will and some will not.

My quest for the M seriesA/Flex was about a 4 week fight. In the end I got exactly what I wanted. It was not a pleasant process but I had to stand up for what I wanted for myself.

Prepare for battle or maybe not. I think you should find out NOW what they ordered instead of waiting to SEE what it is.

Good Luck and stick to your guns!

imonfire · Post by **imonfire** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:51 pm

I did ask, they were not very forthcoming with info. I dont think they knew for sure either. I asked for more info and they could not tell me. I will see tomorrow what it is. My problem is that all resmed machines look alike. The M series do too, and unless you are armed with model numbers or something definitive, you never really know what you are getting! Is there a model number that is specific to an auto unit? Do all autos come with the data capabilities?

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:03 pm

Spend some time today researching the particular machines you are interested.. Copy and print out pictures if needed along with information about each model so when they say something about the machine they are trying to hand over to you, you have facts in hand. DME's have been noted to flat out lie to customers because they think all the patients are ignorant. I made sure I was NOT. Researching isn't hard because most of them can be eliminated right off the bat so your list won't be all the long. I went in with a short list of 2. After changing DME's I got one of those on my list.

Good luck

imonfire · Post by **imonfire** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:23 pm

Okay, I have found model numbers from cpap.com. Pictures are not very good, don't show top of the machine so that is no help, even Resmeds site is not very good. Next question is, where are model numbers on the machine so I can confirm these numbers?

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:26 pm

I guess, from your post, that you are getting a Resmed machine. Someone else will have to answer about identifying those.

On the Respironics M Series, while they all LOOK the same, it says, right below the little hinged cover over the LCD screen, just what it is. I have (and it says right there on the machine) a "Remstar Auto M Series" and beside that wording "A-Flex" This one has C-Flex too but it doesn't say that. On the other auto, this will be printed there "Remstar Auto M Series" and beside that the wording"C-Flex". The "Flex" is exhalation relief - great stuff!

The other data capable machine (not an auto) will say "Remstar Pro M Series". It may have C-Flex. I'm not sure about that one.
The one that only give compliance will say "Remstar M Series Plus". This is the one you really DON"T want!

For identifying Resmeds. Help someone!

imonfire · Post by **imonfire** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:30 pm

Where the hell is slinky when you need her!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:38 pm

Here I is! Here I is! But that's another joke, and not for mixed company.

Yep, all the Resmed S8s and S8 IIs look alike. But they will say right on top of the device, in the blue, above the handle, Elite, AutoSet Vantage, etc. etc. The model number as well as the serial number is on the bottom of the device.

Whoops! I lied. Good thing I went and checked! The Serial number and the PART number, NOT the MODEL number, is on the bottom of the device.

Am I forgiven for not being here at your beck and call??

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:48 pm

The top of the machine will look like that.

"AutoSet II" and "ResMed" are written above the window on the machine.

"EPR" is written at the lower left corner.

hobbs · Post by **hobbs** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:23 pm

Is there something that I can use to make sure it is the right one?

Well if probably would help!

mymontreal · Post by **mymontreal** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:25 pm

Just in case you also need a photo showing the exact wording on the Remstar M-Series Auto CPAP Machine

Mike

imonfire · Post by **imonfire** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:29 pm

Well, get this!!!! Today I call Apria, guess what? Now they say it will be a respironics m series. I am guessing that they are looking for the cheapest thing they can find and the respironics ended up being less expensive for them. So now I am getting all the info I can to arm myself with before I go. Maybe I will need that gun!!! LMAO

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:52 am

Le us know what you end up with!

carbonman · Post by **carbonman** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:33 am

imonfire wrote:Well, get this!!!! Today I call Apria, guess what? Now they say it will be a respironics m series. I am guessing that they are looking for the cheapest thing they can find and the respironics ended up being less expensive for them. So now I am getting all the info I can to arm myself with before I go. Maybe I will need that gun!!! LMAO

imonfire....when I requested, w/ a 'script for an Mseries Auto w/Aflex, Apria told me
they didn't exist. When I told them I would be in w/documentation on said machine,
they suddenly did "research" and discovered they did, infact, exist.......
and yes they could get me one.

Decide what YOU want and make them get it for you.

Resistance is NOT futile.

Fight the BORG!!!

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