Recently Diagonised

[vapat75]

I just had a sleep study and the sleep dr. said I needed a cpap machine. My heart doctor ordered the sleep study and I got a call to today from Lincare (not my doctor) that I needed to set up an appointment with a health care company, Lincare for my cpap machine. Well with this company I was on oxygen until I had my sleep study, the oxygen machine was over 7 years old and made an awful noise I called and they sent another one. I was checking to see if anyone has used Lincare for their cpap machines. I am on medicare so I do not know what kind of machine they will pay for, will be renting probably for several months. My appointment is Thursday with the tech for my machine. My mask will be the resmed quattrao (small). Will I be given a used machine or what. Any information is appreciated.

[Janknitz]

Medicare pays by billing codes, also known as HCPC codes. It's the same HCPC code for any one of a number of CPAP and APAP machines. Medicare pays on a capped rental basis. That means that Medicare pays a monthly rental on the machine for a certain period of time, after which you own the machine, and the DME provider (Lincare) is required to provide all maintenance on the machine until you are due for a new one.

Now it's time to do you research. You need to determine which machine you want. Make sure whatever machine you choose is an "auto" and is data capable. You probably need a heated humidifier as well. Make sure you understand the difference between compliance data (how long you use the machine) and full data (how well the machine is working for you). You want a fully data capable machine. The two newest and best machines out there right now are the Resmed S9 and the Phillips Resprionics System One (abbreviated PR S1). Look at those two machines first.

I have no personal experience with Lincare, but I have seen posts here where people complain that they try all sorts of tricks to increase their profit margins while giving you an inferior machine. So you need to go in there knowing what you want and that you are entitled to it because it IS covered on Medicare. Don't let them bamboozle you into thinking differently. I've seen where they tell people that Medicare will only pay for X machine (not true), that they only carry X machine (not true), that you will have to pay a lot more for X machine (usually not true), etc. You may need your sleep doctor to specify in the prescription exactly what you want--then the DME is required to provide what the doctor orders.

If Lincare is telling you anything that doesn't seem right, ask here and we will be able to tell you what's real.

[Mary Z]

You will get a new machine and will probably as you said rent it for awhile, then buy it. Your doctor may prefer one machine over another. You can ask the doctors office, or Lincare what type of machine you will be getting. ResMed and Philips Respironics are two of the big companies, but there are many other fine machines out there.There are lots of bells and whistles available on some of the newer machines, just depends on what your doctors prescription says. If you're interested in looking at your nightly data (in the beginning I didn't even know I could retrieve it), ask the tech if it's a data capable machine and to show you how to look at your numbers (Pressure, RR ,AHI, AI). Most folks would suggest a fully data capable machine as opposed to one that only showed compliance. You could call the tech tomorrow and ask if you have a choice. Your O2 can attach right to the mask. I'm sure you'll get some more knowledgeable answers from the forum. Good Luck. Just remember you are the customer and it is up to Lincare to provide you with equipment, especially a mask, that you can use, and to help you in anyway they can.

[vapat75]

I spoke with the tech today and he said I was getting a Resmed S8 Elite2, and heated humidifier. He said when I go back tomorrow I would get a Vpap auto 25 bi level machine to use for before getting my other machine. He said to test my settings, etc. I looked online and I liked the Resmed S8 Auto Set II, I called my doctors office and spoke with his nurse who said the doctor was out today and she would get with him. I got a copy of the DME Medical Necessity Certificate and it only lists equipment ordered: Nasal CPAP with heated humidifier.

[obrosk]

Thank you, Jankitz! I had asked about my machine on here (re: Newbie questions Sleepstyle 200, which I will bump) and your response about (the difference between compliance data and full data) and (the two machines to look into) have given me confidence about knowing what I'm asking for when I talk to Lincare. Thank you so much!