Do I have the process right?

[sleepybug]

Okay, I'm waiting on the results from my sleep study so I'm doing some research about equipment.
This is how I think the process will go, please let me know if I'm missing anything.

Review my sleep study with the doctor,
get a prescription for a cpap and mask,
purchase a mask (?)
get a loaner machine for the time period my insurance requires,
and then buy a machine.

I know my doctor might say I need specific features in a machine, but these are the one's I'm looking at right now:
1. IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine with Heated Humidifier and SmartLink Therapy Management System
2. S8 AutoSet II CPAP Machine with H4i Heated Humidifier, ResScan Version 3.7 Software and USB Card Reader

Thank you so much. I am feeling so much more at ease as I read the comments in this forum.

Sleep tight.

[harry33]

in general you get what you pay for so assuming your insurance co will pay get the most expensive machine they will allow, also look for a long warranty

humidifiers arre currently politically correct, with miraculous benefits claimed but as an older CPAP user Ive never used one or felt the need for one, nor have I had any interest in data

[cflame1]

You want full data. Full data allows you to see where a problem could be, whether it's leaks or something else. Don't settle for less than that.

Less than full data means that fixing a problem is guessing or yet another trip to the sleep lab.

[Pugsy]

Call the sleep center or whomever will be giving you the Rx and ask them what their usual procedure is for giving the order for the machine and mask.
They may give you a script but most likely they will send the order to a DME of your choice.
So check with your insurance as to which DME they want you to use.
Then visit with the DME (s) to see who carries the brand you prefer and get an overall feeling of how they treat people.

Check with your insurance company regarding exactly how they view the CPAP machine purchase. Some do the monthly rental (like Medicare) capped after 13 months you own it.

Confirm how much out of pocket you will actually be required to pay. Do the math and compare with online purchase.

Your first mask of your choice will be supplied by the DME (hoping they stock the model you want) Check with the DME on exchange policies within 30 days if mask choice is a bust. My DME actually had a 60 day exchange policy. I could have kept trying different ones for 60 days but I had already researched the Swift LT and it did work just fine for me.

[karessamom]

Your first mask of your choice will be supplied by the DME (hoping they stock the model you want) Check with the DME on exchange policies within 30 days if mask choice is a bust. My DME actually had a 60 day exchange policy. I could have kept trying different ones for 60 days but I had already researched the Swift LT and it did work just fine for me.

My husband's wasn't--we or (our case the insurance company) had to pay for it. They did have a 30 day exchange and we could change masks once. Different DME's have different policies. I might mention also that a straitght CPAP that is NOT data capable is billed the same as a more expensive fully data capable one so do your homework and insist on one with data. The codes are identical. but sometimes the DME's will want to sell you the less expensive one because they'll make more money. When my husband got his, we did not get a "loaner" machine--we had to wait till the RX was sent to the DME and the DME had to send it to the insurance company for approval. After that they were able to set us up on a lease to own type plan. We did get a brand new machine the one we wanted. After about 9 months we owned the machine. Sometimes your insurance company will buy it outright but most of the time they'll make you 'lease" it to make sure it's working for you and you're compliant with it. That's another reason for the data. Good luck and welcome to the forum. Hang in there while you're waiting. It can be a long wait. (I waited 2 weeks+ from my original study to get the report and I'm still waiting for my titration study--Then i'll probably have to wait another couple of weeks for the report and finally the RX and to get the machine.!) Enjoy your new venture and Read! Read! Read! There's a wealth of info on these forums.

[GumbyCT]

Okay, I'm waiting on the results from my sleep study so I'm doing some research about equipment.
This is how I think the process will go, please let me know if I'm missing anything.

Review my sleep study with the doctor,
get a prescription for a cpap and mask,
purchase a mask (?)
get a loaner machine for the time period my insurance requires,
and then buy a machine.

If you've been reading the forum then you already know there is no set process in sleep deprived land.

It all depends on -
Your Insurance - call them to find out
Your doc won't likely give you the script - unless of course - YOU insist
Your DME - may have different steps with different insurance.
You - how much the doc/DME feel they can sneak by you.

Good Luck and keep reading

[DoriC]

In our case, the sleep center dr(who we never even met) read the tech's report, faxed an RX to the big DME here affiliated with Medicare and the RT came out to set us up a few days later. Surprise, she brought the RemStar M Series PLUS and a ComfortGelFFmask(we were told we'd get the same mask hubby used for the titration,UMFF). By that time I had done some of my homework on this forum, refused the equipment, went straight to our Primary Dr who wrote the script exactly as I dictated it, "REMstar M Series APAP, Heated Humidifier, Setting=11-15cms(just my own uneducated guess), and Mask of Patient's Choice". He faxed it over to the DME, and we got our new equipment 2 days later. The DME wasn't too happy about all the "fuss" I was making, but that was the start of my education and empowerment!

[sleepybug]

are the machines I listed in my original post "full data"?

1. IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine with Heated Humidifier and SmartLink Therapy Management System
2. S8 AutoSet II CPAP Machine with H4i Heated Humidifier, ResScan Version 3.7 Software and USB Card Reader

[roster]

........Review my sleep study with the doctor,
..........

My amateur advice:

Things To Ask About Your Polysomnogram (PSG) and Titration Study

1. Did I have any central apneas? How many?

2. Were there any comorbidities? What were they?

3. Did I breathe or leak through my mouth? How often? What do you recommend to prevent it?

3. Did I exhibit Positional Sleep Apnea (PSA)? Was my apnea more severe in one sleeping position as compared to others? Is my pressure requirement higher in one position as compared to others? (Often sleep apnea is more severe when sleeping on the back.)

4. Is there anything else unusual about the results?

5. How will I know my therapy is preventing apneas?

6. I am determined to own a data-capable machine and software to monitor apneas, hypopneas and mask leak. This will allow me to call your office with specific questions if I have problems with the therapy. Will you help me with the appropriate prescription?

In addition to the questions:

1. Get a copy of your PSG. It is your legal right to have one.

2. Get a copy of your CPAP prescription.

3. Make sure the prescription calls for an integrated humidifier with the machine.

[Pugsy]

are the machines I listed in my original post "full data"?

1. IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine with Heated Humidifier and SmartLink Therapy Management System
2. S8 AutoSet II CPAP Machine with H4i Heated Humidifier, ResScan Version 3.7 Software and USB Card Reader
are the machines I listed in my original post "full data"?

Yes.

Not familiar at all with what you see on an Intellipap. I a few members do have them and could tell you what you can see on the machine and what shows up on the SmartLink.

ResMed machine will show you on the LED screen your AI, HI, AHI numbers as well as leak rate. The software will give more details as to when these occurred and length of events as well as graphs showing leak in more detail.
ResMed no longer offers the software for US users but it can be purchased in Australia and sent here. You still would also need to purchase the card reader.

[GumbyCT]

are the machines I listed in my original post "full data"?

1. IntelliPAP AutoAdjust Travel CPAP Machine with Heated Humidifier and SmartLink Therapy Management System
2. S8 AutoSet II CPAP Machine with H4i Heated Humidifier, ResScan Version 3.7 Software and USB Card Reader

More importantly - is there software avail for IntelliPap? If so, how good is it?

The Sandman and the newest FP data machine would be a good choice for a more experienced person. I say this bc here on this forum, the newbie can get more help on the Resmeds or Respironics merely bc of the larger number of experienced users with these machines. Help is something any newbie should consider.

Don't go getting an offbrand then expecting others to help you figure it out