Can they take my CPAP MACHINE AWAY???

[MidnightOwl]

However, it seems if you're doing to use this strategy to meet the compliance requirements, using the machine during the day might attract suspicion due to the hours it was used. I know this seems quite far fetched but since it seems insurance companies are doing everything possible to not pay for stuff, i wouldn't be shocked if they started questioning this.

49er

On a practical level I don't think this is likely. Compliance numbers need to be very simple and it needs to be something all models of machine can do. And many can't track anything beyond hours of use.

But I wasn't recommending using the machine while awake to fake compliance. I was suggesting wearing it whenever the poster was likely to fall asleep without realizing it such as while watching TV. And the main reason to do this is to ensure that she doesn't sleep without it. Which is critical whether or not compliance is an issue. And yes it also helps compliance - mainly by making sure there are no nights with no usage due to accidentally falling asleep without it.

[archangle]

However, it seems if you're doing to use this strategy to meet the compliance requirements, using the machine during the day might attract suspicion due to the hours it was used. I know this seems quite far fetched but since it seems insurance companies are doing everything possible to not pay for stuff, i wouldn't be shocked if they started questioning this.

I've always wondered if any truck drivers who've been forced to do CPAP simply hook the machine up to the cigarette lighter and use it while driving in order to show "compliance." You'd risk them comparing times to your log book times.

I'd be really, really, surprised if any insurance company actually looked at the logs for us "regular" patients carefully enough to even notice that you're doing your 4 hours compliance time in the afternoon.

[Musica]

Thanks, these are good questions but running to the ER a lot with my mother and dealing with her health problems has been the #1 issue in my life. I think I've been falling asleep without realizing it (TV and everything on) because I've been so exhausted. Things are a bit more settled now but despite all the mayhem I was able to get 67% of the 70% required. The rest won't be very difficult at all.

I think, because I've always been a mouth breather, the pillows aren't a good idea anymore. My hunch is that mouth-breathers shouldn't have to retrain themselves. Look what happens to kids who are left-handed who were taught to use their right hands. It was an unwise choice parents made decades ago only to find it was the wrong choice.

My compliance rate was 67% so despite the impossible situation, the score was pretty good. The rest of your message I believe was answered in another post. Thanks!

Glad you were given an extra 30 days.

Now, to the compliance issue. You mentioned trouble with your headgear, but nothing specific. You need to be compliant for this next 30 days, so tell us what troubles you are having so that we can get this problem fixed quickly and keep you compliant.

You mentioned that you have been using cpap for 5 years. Were you having trouble then? If not, has something changed? Did you have a different mask before that you liked better?

If you are not sure that you can get 4 hours of use per night, then definitely wear it during the day while watching tv or reading a book. ANything to make sure get that 4 hours per day.

What hours do you normally sleep? Do you average the same amount of hours per night? Are you only getting a few hours of sleep per night, so you have fewer hours to be successful in? Do you have struggle a lot to keep it on while sleeping?

Hopefully, the problems you have been having can be solved or at least reduced enough so that you can meet compliance on this try.

[Musica]

I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) and I got no warning. I've been struggling with the headgear, too, which the company knew about.Thanks

My last comment about this issue is this: When I asked the DME to send me the data I was told it was 67% and 70% is required and that I could keep the machine. I don't know who made the decision to pick up the machine THE NEXT DAY but it was obviously a VERY wrong decision and they told me I get to keep it. Had I not fought it, I'd be without a machine so the moral: Ya gotta fight for your health not only by eating and sleeping well, but making medical personnel and insurance companies live up to their responsibilities, too.

We've become a country where people not only have to do their own jobs but check to see that others are doing right by you, too. Worse, it's not only in healthcare but in every aspect of our lives. Maybe that's why Americans aren't living as long as people in other countries ... very sad ...

[zoocrewphoto]

Your reply to my questions was blank. Were you trying to answer them? DO you want help making this work better for you?

[Musica]

Your reply to my questions was blank. Were you trying to answer them? DO you want help making this work better for you?

I'm not sure if you're message was directed to me, but the problem was resolved .. check previous message. TY.

[zoocrewphoto]

It was directed to you. Are sure it is resolved. Earlier, you said you were given another 30 days, which means that you STILL need to prove compliance. Which means you still need to master this and quickly, or you will lose the machine next month.

[BudSky]

NEVER buy from the local DME if you are forced to go out of pocket.
Prices are much better online:

Not always. I was struggling with a full face and a nasal mask. Skin irritation issues on my nose bridge. Frustrated I decided to check with a local DME for the F&P Pilairo that I would buy outright, insurance not involved-
much to my surprise he was lower than anywhere online and I had it in hand right then. I didn't negotiate or ask- he just quoted a lower price right off the bat.
Makes me wonder if I should have checked with them in the first place instead of buying online. When I need supplies or a replacement machine I'll sure give them a shot.
Moral of the story- always check around.

[Musica]

It was directed to you. Are sure it is resolved. Earlier, you said you were given another 30 days, which means that you STILL need to prove compliance. Which means you still need to master this and quickly, or you will lose the machine next month.

Thanks for your concern. My compliance rate was 67% which is 3% less than the cut off point. I got 67% despite my constant trips to the E.R. for my mother, exhaustion to the point of falling asleep without my gear on, and essentially under very bad conditions. I have no doubt I'll be able to get the allotted hours HOWEVER, my mask fit has been showing a frowny face.

If the authorities think a bad mask fit indicates non-compliance I'll let them know that last september is when I requested to be switched from a nasal to one that allows me to breath by mouth. I used the nasal for 5 years. I can't force them to switch it and I haven't seen my new doc (I only saw my current doc once) in around 6 months but I do have an appointment coming up soon. It took forever to get someone to drive me that far.

[zoocrewphoto]

Thanks for your concern. My compliance rate was 67% which is 3% less than the cut off point. I got 67% despite my constant trips to the E.R. for my mother, exhaustion to the point of falling asleep without my gear on, and essentially under very bad conditions. I have no doubt I'll be able to get the allotted hours HOWEVER, my mask fit has been showing a frowny face.

If the authorities think a bad mask fit indicates non-compliance I'll let them know that last september is when I requested to be switched from a nasal to one that allows me to breath by mouth. I used the nasal for 5 years. I can't force them to switch it and I haven't seen my new doc (I only saw my current doc once) in around 6 months but I do have an appointment coming up soon. It took forever to get someone to drive me that far.

Unless your mask fit is bad that it can't tell you are there, that isn't the problem. Are you able to view your own data? If not, check the hours used every day and keep track. You need to know NOW if your machine is reporting enough hours, or you will really lose the machine next month.

As for the mask, go somewhere else and get a new mask. You don't have to wait for that dme to help you if they refuse. Don't let a bad mask cost you the machine. What mask did you used to use? Maybe you should get another one like that.

[RandyJ]

The OP doesn't seem to want assistance in fulfilling compliance requirements. He/she was only interested in ranting that they might take the machine away.

[chunkyfrog]

Every rant is an opportunity to educate the bashful lurker.

[RandyJ]

Every rant is an opportunity to educate the bashful lurker.

I agree. However, several offers of help had been politely declined... you can't help everyone, just the ones who want to be helped.

[chunkyfrog]

Lurker: an observer; never registers or posts--just reads.
I was one for the first 3 months on the hose, and a month or so before; I learned a lot--this forum saved my bacon.
We can not know how many we have, but I'd like to think that most come for the help.

[renatae]

I don't know what is going on with the OP, but I had a very nasty experience over compliance with my DME.

I was 75 days into my 90 day compliance period when the DME told me I was not in compliance. I had used my Escape cpap every night except for 5 nights for 6 to 8 hours each night of the 75 days. I came unglued at them. I told them I could prove my usage because the machine had the data stored on it. They told me that "blower time" and "treatment time" was not the same. I ask what was treatment and how did they determined treatment. I got NO answer. i called ResMed and ask them. They told me the only thing that the Escape showed was run time or usage time and nothing else. I still do not know how they came up with treatment time vs blower time on an Escape which has no detail data. I did used my machine as I said, and I still use my machine every night, all night. I told them I would get an lawyer if I had to, and I told them what I found out when i called ResMed. Next thing i know, I'm in compliance.....and I still don't know how they came up with "treatment time" that they were talking about. Now i have a S9 VPAP Auto and am going through compliance again....this time will be different...I down load everything every day....thanks to this site I have learned how to protect myself.

Also I ask for my compliance report and it showed I was in compliance the first 30 days of my usage...when i saw that I wanted to call them... but I just let it go because by then they had agreed to sent me the S9 Autoset and take back the EScape. These DME's are crazy.

This is incredible. They are nuts. Out of 75 days you only missed 5? Compliance is 70% over 30 days, which gives you about 8 days per month of complete non-use. Not only that - you get 90 days to compy - not 75! My understanding is 70% compliance in ANY 30 day period during the 90 days. Not what they were doing with you - trying to make your compliance period 90 days and you had a 93% compliance rate anyway! This is scary. Glad you got it resolved.

I've been having issues with my s9 because of my sleep schedule. The machine changes days at noon, but I am a day sleeper, so typically half my "night" shows up on the next day's figures. Even taking that into account, there are about two days that I've been shorted hours according to the ResScan data. The Sleepyhead data differs, especially on one particular day. I've set Sleepyhead to change days after my normal sleep hours, so all the data for one "night" shows up on the same date, instead of being split into two dates.

I contacted the DME after about a week of seeing stats that were nuts, and we agreed that the problem was my sleep times. The RT assured me that if there was a problem, they would be getting in touch with me without fail. I haven't completed my first month yet, so I am nervous. How long does this surveillance go on? Are most DME's like Lilly's? If you have complied in the first month, do they still watch you like a hawk? I'm missing one whole day, but the rest are only short by a few minutes, for a total of 6 days by ResMed counting, only 4 by mine. Most of that is because I still have very fragmented sleep, and when I think I have enough hours, time gets subtracted because of my bathroom breaks, which upsets me. Not only that, the ResScan data put one of my days at only two hours, when I know that's not true, and the Sleepyhead data shows almost 6 /12 hours for that day.

It's nerve wracking to feel so pressed about the time. I have two more days of stats to make it to 30 days and I see my doctor on Thursday. I intend to take a printout of the Sleepyhead data, because the ResScan data is difficult to interpret with the split days. Sleepyhead is showing me at 82% compliance, but ResScan is showing 81%. I've written down my sleep hours by hand as well, including the totals my machine shows me each day. I know my Dr. will probably be still watching my AHI, etc., but I sure hope the modem they have attached to the machine will be history after Thursday.