Changes To CPAP.com Prescription Policy

[El Pap]

A cpap mask and humidfier are useless without the machine so why a prescription for those??

By the same token, a CPAP machine is useless without the mask...

Claritin and Clarinex are essentially the same drug -- molecule almost identical, same potency, same side effects profile -- in fact your body metabolizes Claritin into Clarinex soon after you swallow the pill. But Claritin is available over-the-counter, while Clarinex requires a doctors prescription. Clearly there is more than just patient safety involved in the decision of Rx vs OTC...

[rogelah]

My solution to the xPAP controversy is to require anyone who gives PSGs, titrations, writes prescriptions for them, sells them, delivers them, etc. be a nightly xPAP user.

[jdm2857]

Often there are OTC and prescription versions of the same drug -- the only difference being the dosage.

And who would think of the possibility of taking more of the OTC??????

[-SWS]

I personally think that CPAP machines should be prescription devices because there are some serious contraindications.

Sure, but lets have the pharmacies be the distribution point rather than these DME's... many of whom are useless and don't give a crap about the patients health.

Walgreens having created a respiratory home care division may represent the first few steps in that direction:
http://www.walgreenshealth.com/whc/clie ... ratory.jsp

They currently run their own DME division. But I imagine they have speculated how their own dispensing procedures, regulatory compliance, and revenue picture might look if they attempted to dispense at the counter instead.

Often there are OTC and prescription versions of the same drug -- the only difference being the dosage.

Good point. The FDA clearance letters for CPAP machines all "X" out the prescription category but exclude the OTC category. Maybe that will eventually change.

My solution to the xPAP controversy is to require anyone who gives PSGs, titrations, writes prescriptions for them, sells them, delivers them, etc. be a nightly xPAP user.

Amen to that!

[OwlCreekObserver]

This is really depressing news.

It's bad enough that I can't buy a backup machine without paying another fee to my sleep doctor for a written order, but now I can't even spend a hundred bucks for twelve dollars worth of plastic without going through the same process??

This definitely has intrusive government crap all over it.

[Wulfman]

This is really depressing news.

It's bad enough that I can't buy a backup machine without paying another fee to my sleep doctor for a written order, but now I can't even spend a hundred bucks for twelve dollars worth of plastic without going through the same process??

This definitely has intrusive government crap all over it.

I don't THINK so.....
Copied from the sections in Johnny's link:


Mask

* Contains one of the following words or phrases "CPAP Mask", "CPAP", "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure", "APAP", "AutoPAP", "AutoSet", "Auto CPAP", "Auto Adjusting CPAP", "Self Adjusting CPAP", "BiPAP", "BiLevel", "VPAP", "BiPAP Auto", "BiPAP ST", "Synchrony ST", "VPAP ST"
* Contains physician's contact information
* Contains physician's signature
* Contains the patient's full name



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CPAP

* Contains one of the following words or phrases "CPAP" or "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure"
* Contains your physician's contact information
* Contains your physician's signature
* Contains the patient's full name
* Contains your specific pressure.

o Example: 9 CM/H2O
o Example: 9
o Example 14 CM/H2O
o Example 14



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Will you accept my old prescription or do I need a new one?

Yes we will take your old prescription. Prescriptions do not expire.

Be aware that many insurance companies place limits on how old a prescription can be before allowing reimbursement. This is why companies who accept insurance as payment for CPAP equipment sometimes require a new prescription or letter of medical necessity from your doctor before providing you with equipment.

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Den

[El Pap]

It's bad enough that I can't buy a backup machine without paying another fee to my sleep doctor for a written order, but now I can't even spend a hundred bucks for twelve dollars worth of plastic without going through the same process??

Why do people keep posting this same misinformation? HIPAA regulations compel your doctor to give you a copy of your original prescription. Send a copy of that prescription, no matter how old it is, to CPAP.COM. Once it's on file, you can order a backup machine, and all the humidifiers and masks you need without paying your doctor another cent.

[-SWS]

Right... all we need to do is submit any single XPAP script to CPAP.COM, and submit it only once. That will suffice for all subsequent mask, humidifier, and equivalent xPAP purchases.

HIPAA regulations compel your doctor to give you a copy of your original prescription.

Regardless of HIPAA laws, patients are repeatedly reporting their doctors and sleep clinics refusing to comply with requests for prescriptions or even medical records.

That's clearly not cpap.com's burden. Rather, it's an illegal burden repeatedly thrust onto the laps of sleep-deprived patients by their clinicians. Not only is that illegal, but flagrant self-serving clinical practices like that need to be repeatedly challenged by patients.

So where do patients report those HIPAA violations anyway? I have been blessed with great doctors across the board. But that's clearly not the case for so many patients who post here.

[ozij]

Often there are OTC and prescription versions of the same drug -- the only difference being the dosage.

And who would think of the possibility of taking more of the OTC??????

At this point, Priloec 20 mgs. is OTC in my coutry. 10mgs. (half of 20) is Rx only.

And you're not supposed to halve the 20 mg tabletts, because they have a protective covering.

O.

[jdm2857]

10 is half of 20? Really?

I'm not that sleep deprived!

Just what kind of politicalogic® (newly coined word) is used to justify that?

[ozij]

No idea. But it's a fact.

O.

[jnk]

. . . politicalogic® . . .

I believe that the two halves of your word should be divorced on grounds of incompatibility.

Please cut your word in half before using, being mindful of the fact that neither half fully retains its protective covering.

[-SWS]

So where do patients report those HIPAA violations anyway? I have been blessed with great doctors across the board. But that's clearly not the case for so many patients who post here.

Apparently HIPAA complaints should be submitted to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR):
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/co ... index.html

General HIPAA info presented by the OCR here as well:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/un ... index.html

[jdm2857]

And what, exactly, is wrong with a single-word oxymoron?

[jnk]

And what, exactly, is wrong with a single-word oxymoron?

Did you just call me an oxygen-deprived-moron?!!!

I like it. Sure wish you hadn't registered it so I could use it too!