Ask Dr. Park About Sleep Apnea

[ozij]

Did any of you read Dr. Parks' explanation of how people should expect to pay more for data capable machines?


http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-artic ... 28963.html
My emphasis.

Highly successful sleep apnea patients, are

2. ....willing to pay extra. Unfortunately, insurance will typically cover only the bare essentials for sleep apnea treatment. Most durable medical goods vendors will give a basic model, and typically won't cover any additional add-ons or extras or a more full-featured CPAP machine. Depending solely on insurance to cover for everything will lessen your chances for achieving success. Sometimes, you have to pay for a new mask, or a dental device. Yes, you should maximize your insurance benefits, but you should also not hesitate to go outside of medical insurance to invest in your health.

Do you think that's honest ignorance, coming from someone who is so busy doing good that he doesn't even know insurance uses the same code for simple and more full featured CPAP machines?

I don't think so.

Sleight of the hand perhaps?
O.

[GaryG]

I have a personal call with Dr. Park tomorrow concerning my treatment. I will mention this thread to him, and perhaps he might be willing to comment on the posts here. I had to work late tonight so I didn't have the opportunity to call in.

[BleepingBeauty]

Main Entry: heavy–hand·ed
Pronunciation: \-ˈhan-dəd\
Function: adjective
Date: 1647
1 : clumsy
2 : oppressive, harsh

I don't think so.

Aww, did that ruffle your feathers, rooster?

[Scarlet834]

My call got dropped during the last question/call in. Did he talk much after that?

Just a general closure summary. It was over right after 6 Pacific time.

[GumbyCT]

Do you think that's honest ignorance, coming from someone who is so busy doing good that he doesn't even know insurance uses the same code for simple and more full featured CPAP machines?

Hopefully I won't sound naive by saying that I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say yes it is - it certainly could be.

I am sure he doesn't even know the code for cpap machines or how it works. If he knows a code, it's likely the Dx code for cpap.

Moreover he has likely been schooled by DME's. I recently found out there is a 4-5hr certification test for "Billing" to know the codes and the billing procedures, etc.

He never even mentioned cpaptalk.com but did 2 other sites. I did find his style worthwhile and believable. His support program, I am sure will help those who aren't willing or capable of digging for the info. The problem will be whether they can absorb what is offered. He did say they could cancel at anytime. So unless there are erroneous billing problems, oh well.

[kteague]

About using cell phones for the teleseminars - Cell phones are notorious for dropping calls or broken reception. In such a setting, that would be disruptive to the many others involved, so I can understand his preference to not risk that. While the average person has a grasp of cell phone etiquette, I'm wondering if anyone has been in the middle of asking a question on one of these type call-ins and had a speaker blare in the background, "May I take your order please?" While it's unfortunate the seminars have this stipulation since more of the population is moving to replacing their land lines with cell phones, I think he's just trying to give the best opportunity for a nondistracted seminar.

About charging for downloads of the free seminar - I guess the cost of technology has to be absorbed somewhere. I mean, the phone seminar itself is free. Does the man has to do everything for free just because he cares about cpap users being successful? No matter how noble he may be, it is a business. He may find the downloads not widely requested at that price and decide cheap or free downloads would generate more book sales monies than the downloads themselves bring in.

About insurance and cpaps - It's probably just a matter of time till the billing code for a cpap is more specific to its technology. The way it stands now, the cost of the changing tastes of cpap consumers has been absorbed by the DME. The trend away from base models was likely not factored in when contracts and reimbursement rates were negotiated in times past. I'm guessing the days of getting a higher level machine upon demand or doctor's order at the same reimbursement rate are numbered. But as slowly as change happens any time the big-wigs are involved, I doubt I'll have to deal with it. Hope I don't have to eat those words.

Kathy
who still has a land line, doesn't download anything free or not, and has to have her data capable machine whatever it takes

[rested gal]

I have a personal call with Dr. Park tomorrow concerning my treatment. I will mention this thread to him, and perhaps he might be willing to comment on the posts here.

Thanks, Gary. I expect Dr. Park has been reading this thread all along, but it would be interesting to read his comments if he chooses to post here. Hope he does.

[roster]

About using cell phones for the teleseminars - Cell phones are notorious for dropping calls or broken reception. In such a setting, that would be disruptive to the many others involved, so I can understand his preference to not risk that. While the average person has a grasp of cell phone etiquette, I'm wondering if anyone has been in the middle of asking a question on one of these type call-ins and had a speaker blare in the background, "May I take your order please?" While it's unfortunate the seminars have this stipulation since more of the population is moving to replacing their land lines with cell phones, I think he's just trying to give the best opportunity for a nondistracted seminar.

About charging for downloads of the free seminar - I guess the cost of technology has to be absorbed somewhere. I mean, the phone seminar itself is free. Does the man has to do everything for free just because he cares about cpap users being successful? No matter how noble he may be, it is a business. He may find the downloads not widely requested at that price and decide cheap or free downloads would generate more book sales monies than the downloads themselves bring in.

About insurance and cpaps - It's probably just a matter of time till the billing code for a cpap is more specific to its technology. The way it stands now, the cost of the changing tastes of cpap consumers has been absorbed by the DME. The trend away from base models was likely not factored in when contracts and reimbursement rates were negotiated in times past. I'm guessing the days of getting a higher level machine upon demand or doctor's order at the same reimbursement rate are numbered. But as slowly as change happens any time the big-wigs are involved, I doubt I'll have to deal with it. Hope I don't have to eat those words.

Kathy
who still has a land line, doesn't download anything free or not, and has to have her data capable machine whatever it takes

Thanks for finally bringing some reason and sensibility to this thread. The usual Kathy.

Does the man has to do everything for free just because he cares about cpap users being successful? No matter how noble he may be, it is a business.

Let me add, the man (or woman) who runs a business, makes a profit, provides a product that fulfills a human need or want, pays his employees, pays his debts and supports his family, is a noble man. Current trends are to try to crush this type of man. I am optimistic that this trend will reverse soon.

[jnk]

I don't mind commercials during TV shows, as long as the TV show isn't just one big, long commercial. But that is merely my personal preference.

For example, Johnny could make this board so that there is a big blatant ad for cpap.com at the bottom of each post. He does not. His decision as a business man (not a bad thing) is that there are subtle links to cpap.com when a member lists his equipment. And it is possible even to opt out of that. That makes me feel a personal desire to mention cpap.com occasionally in my posts and to people I meet. Johnny does me a favor by not being heavy-handed with his ads, so I do him the favor of giving him word-of-mouth. Whereas if this forum was loaded with constant ads for cpap.com, it would change the feel for me. It is a matter of expectations and decorum, to my way of thinking.

I have no resentment of profits. And I like it that a few products are regularly advertised here by members with the reputation of being helpful. But a forum that, for me, seems based mostly on the principle of the free dissemination of helpful information to those who are often denied needed information by their sleep docs and DMEs is likely to have some negative reactions to sleep docs or DMEs posting links to infomercials. Such businesses and docs are free to do so, I guess. But others are free to react to it.

There is a fine line between being a celebrity champion of a cause who makes a good living at it and being a heavy-handed self-promoter. The difference is often one of perception, since everyone may draw the line differently. My personal take is that, when it comes to this forum, those who have a reputation for providing the most and the best information for free tend to gain my respect, and those who develop a reputation otherwise tend to lose it, though I understand that others may base their personal judgments differently.

jeff

[rested gal]

About charging for downloads of the free seminar - I guess the cost of technology has to be absorbed somewhere. I mean, the phone seminar itself is free. Does the man has to do everything for free just because he cares about cpap users being successful? No matter how noble he may be, it is a business. He may find the downloads not widely requested at that price and decide cheap or free downloads would generate more book sales monies than the downloads themselves bring in.

Very good points, Kathy. Doctors have a business and are businessmen. Nothing wrong with that. That last sentence, which I took the liberty of putting in bold, is excellent. I agree, he can price his "product" any way he wishes. Each of his potential customers will buy, or not, depending on how much value they think a particular product of his may have.

I have no resentment of profits.

Nor do I.

a forum that, for me, seems based mostly on the principle of the free dissemination of helpful information to those who are often denied needed information by their sleep docs and DMEs is likely to have some negative reactions to sleep docs or DMEs posting links to infomercials. Such businesses and docs are free to do so, I guess. But others are free to react to it.

Excellent point, Jeff. I agree. My personal reaction to the $10 or $17 charge to download an audio of the teleseminar (depending on whether ordered in advance or after the event) was, "Forget that!" Just my personal decision, as was my decision not to make the phone call that would have incurred long distance charges for me, to hear something not of value to me.

There is a fine line between being a celebrity champion of a cause who makes a good living at it and being a heavy-handed self-promoter. The difference is often one of perception, since everyone may draw the line differently.

I agree. Absolutely.

[Autopapdude]

Doctor Park has been a tremendous source of information and encouragement for so many of us who have OSA. His book is brilliant, and I see as a must-read for anyone with sleep disorders. If one doesn't agree with everything he says or does, that is fine--use the "supermarket approach." One doesn't buy everything in the supermarket, so take the good, and leave what you don't want for someone else. I find some of his "sleep apnea causes warts" articles a bit sensationalized, but that doesn't repudiate him as a top of the line Sleep Physician.

[GaryG]

I have a personal call with Dr. Park tomorrow concerning my treatment. I will mention this thread to him, and perhaps he might be willing to comment on the posts here.

Thanks, Gary. I expect Dr. Park has been reading this thread all along, but it would be interesting to read his comments if he chooses to post here. Hope he does.

Sorry, my call was late in the evening (he was busy and I kept on missing him), and by the time he called, well, I just wimped out.

[rested gal]

by the time he called, well, I just wimped out.

Nah, you didn't wimp out. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. He's been checking the thread. I'd bet on it. He'll post if he wants to. He's very welcome to do that.

[SleepingUgly]

As to what to do, he directed me to try Afrin for 3 nights, nasal strips 3 nights, and possibly both for 3 nights for a 9 night trial. Now I wasn't as inqusitive as you are, so I didn't ask ahead of time what the results would tell him. I can report back here after I discuss my results with Dr. Park, and share his insight. I plan on calling his office early this week.

Gary, can you share what he said about the Afrin, Breathe Right Strips, etc.?