CPAP newbie - cornered by my DME & Physician - help!!

[cornuto12]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with moderate OSA about a month ago and did my first titration last week in sleep study.
I am very glad I found this forum with so much help and information.

I did my research and asked my DME (when they called me yesterday to schedule an appt.) to provide me with ResMed S9 Elite w/Humdi. The DME explained me they carry: Resmed, Philips&Paykel, and Philips Respironics units, but could not provide me with the S9 Elite because they lose money if they sold me this unit? What????? Lets take the "care" out of the "Homecare".

So after I spoke to the DME, I called my primary physician and asked him to write me an Rx for the S9 Elite. Physician said he would get back to me and instead I received a call from the DME late last night that tomorrow(today) DME would rectify this problem.

I get a call from the DME this morning and DME tells me they cant provide me with the S9 Elite (did not give me any specific reasons why), but can instead provide me with the S9 Escape Auto. I explained to DME that S9 Escape does not provide all efficacy data and NO Leak data. He said "Alright, I'll give you a deal and you can instead get the Philips Respironics 560 Auto instead. It is just like the S9 Elite and provides full data". Is this a "Lets Make a Deal" game show now???

I have to say, I feel like primary care is not primary for both DME and my physician. Why the hell do I pay my employer insurance?

Question: Does the PR 560 Auto provide full data capabilities or should I stay with the ResMed Escape Auto unit ? Which unit is "better" if they were your only two choices?

I would like to fire both my physician and DME, but I am really suffering every day from sleep deprivation and feel like they are cornering me with few options but to take what they are offering.

Thank you in Advance.

Anthony

[big_dave]

The 560 is a highly recommended machine with full data capability. I wouldn't touch the S9 Escape Auto with a ten foot pole--and I'm using an S8 Autoset II that I bought on Craigslist.

[LSAT]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with moderate OSA about a month ago and did my first titration last week in sleep study.
I am very glad I found this forum with so much help and information.

I did my research and asked my DME (when they called me yesterday to schedule an appt.) to provide me with ResMed S9 Elite w/Humdi. The DME explained me they carry: Resmed, Philips&Paykel, and Philips Respironics units, but could not provide me with the S9 Elite because they lose money if they sold me this unit? What????? Lets take the "care" out of the "Homecare".

So after I spoke to the DME, I called my primary physician and asked him to write me an Rx for the S9 Elite. Physician said he would get back to me and instead I received a call from the DME late last night that tomorrow(today) DME would rectify this problem.

I get a call from the DME this morning and DME tells me they cant provide me with the S9 Elite (did not give me any specific reasons why), but can instead provide me with the S9 Escape Auto. I explained to DME that S9 Escape does not provide all efficacy data and NO Leak data. He said "Alright, I'll give you a deal and you can instead get the Philips Respironics 560 Auto instead. It is just like the S9 Elite and provides full data". Is this a "Lets Make a Deal" game show now???

I have to say, I feel like primary care is not primary for both DME and my physician. Why the hell do I pay my employer insurance?

Question: Does the PR 560 Auto provide full data capabilities or should I stay with the ResMed Escape Auto unit ? Which unit is "better" if they were your only two choices?

I would like to fire both my physician and DME, but I am really suffering every day from sleep deprivation and feel like they are cornering me with few options but to take what they are offering.

Thank you in Advance.

Anthony

GO to another DME...check with your insurance to see who is in your network. I'll bet if you told the DME you were going elsewhere, they would find a way to give you the S9. Be sure to get your own copy of the prescription so you can go anywhere.

[DreamStalker]

Tell your doc you want the original script (making sure it is for APAP or min and max pressure settings) and tell him you will source your equipment between you and your insurance company ... fire the DME already as they are clearly out to screw you.

[Lugus]

I have been using the PR 560 for a couple of weeks and love all the data it can provide. So far the machine has performed well but obviously it has only been a short time. Take the bull by the horns and tell your doctor to give you a prescription for an auto cpap, humidifier, mask etc You might find, as I did, it was cheaper to purchase without the insurance than through a DME.

[Pugsy]

The 560 PR S1 is a full data Auto CPAP machine...it has both cpap and apap mode capability...the S9 Elite only has cpap mode capability.
The 560 now has a heated hose option...same as S9 machines.

There are minor pros and cons in general with both brands but none are deal breakers.
The 560 is the equivalent of the S9 AutoSet so a step above the S9 Elite.
If you are bound and determined to get the ResMed S9..then shop around but the 560 isn't a piece of trash machine by any means.
I have used both brands and in fact own both brands in the bilevel models. Both are excellent machines and both go about their designed goal very effectively. Minor difference in algorithm but again..not a deal breaker.

ResMed machines cost a LOT more even at the wholesale level. They aren't that much nicer if they are nicer at all.
Resmed users here will tell you the ResMed is better.
Respironics users here will tell you their PR S1 is better.
In truth not many users here have had the chance to use both machines and compare the quality. A few of us have...and we pretty much say it's a toss up.

[DiverCTHunter]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with moderate OSA about a month ago and did my first titration last week in sleep study.
I am very glad I found this forum with so much help and information.

I did my research and asked my DME (when they called me yesterday to schedule an appt.) to provide me with ResMed S9 Elite w/Humdi. The DME explained me they carry: Resmed, Philips&Paykel, and Philips Respironics units, but could not provide me with the S9 Elite because they lose money if they sold me this unit? What????? Lets take the "care" out of the "Homecare".

So after I spoke to the DME, I called my primary physician and asked him to write me an Rx for the S9 Elite. Physician said he would get back to me and instead I received a call from the DME late last night that tomorrow(today) DME would rectify this problem.

I get a call from the DME this morning and DME tells me they cant provide me with the S9 Elite (did not give me any specific reasons why), but can instead provide me with the S9 Escape Auto. I explained to DME that S9 Escape does not provide all efficacy data and NO Leak data. He said "Alright, I'll give you a deal and you can instead get the Philips Respironics 560 Auto instead. It is just like the S9 Elite and provides full data". Is this a "Lets Make a Deal" game show now???

I have to say, I feel like primary care is not primary for both DME and my physician. Why the hell do I pay my employer insurance?

Question: Does the PR 560 Auto provide full data capabilities or should I stay with the ResMed Escape Auto unit ? Which unit is "better" if they were your only two choices?

I would like to fire both my physician and DME, but I am really suffering every day from sleep deprivation and feel like they are cornering me with few options but to take what they are offering.

Thank you in Advance.

Anthony

RUN don't walk from that DME. If you haven't already, make sure to read the What to Know Before Meeting the DME article.

Also, depending on your insurance, it might be cheaper out-of-pocket to purchase your machine outright from an out-of-network provider (such as our hosts) then it is to fool around with the monthly rental period.

[jencat824]

I encountered this problem when getting my hubby's machine & we took the PR S1 560 & are very happy with it. Issue was not just the DME, but the Doctor wanted the PR, he likes their data better. I got the same machine about a month later & I'm happy with it, the data is comprehensive & if I'm missing something by not having the S9 Elite, well, I'm just to dumb to know what I'm missing.

I would find another DME if I were you, this one tried to screw you with the S9 Escape - it is a brick -- a machine with no data.

Good luck on your search.
Jen

[RandyJ]

If you can get the 560 I would take it. Just make sure they give you the heated hose and appropriate power brick.

Getting a full data auto is a better deal than the Elite, as long as they don't ask you for a supplemental payment of any kind.

[Janknitz]

The PR S1 560 is a fine machine, and--in a way you can appreciate the honesty of your DME for telling you why he would not supply the S9 Elite instead of feeding you the usual pack of lies like "your insurance won't cover it baloney". You have been offered a machine with more capability than the one you want. So I don't think that DME is all that bad.

The S9's have pretty color screens and give you more on board data, but both deliver excellent therapy, and thanks to Sleepyhead you can access the same amount of data with both once you download the card to your computer.

So do you want what you want because you want it (which isn't necessarily wrong) or do you want what you want for the best therapy? If the latter, the 560 will do, but if you absolutely want the S9 Elite, you're going to have to go to another DME.

[Denial Dave]

+1 on all of Janknitz comments very well said!

The PR S1 560 is a fine machine, and--in a way you can appreciate the honesty of your DME for telling you why he would not supply the S9 Elite instead of feeding you the usual pack of lies like "your insurance won't cover it baloney". You have been offered a machine with more capability than the one you want. So I don't think that DME is all that bad.

The S9's have pretty color screens and give you more on board data, but both deliver excellent therapy, and thanks to Sleepyhead you can access the same amount of data with both once you download the card to your computer.

So do you want what you want because you want it (which isn't necessarily wrong) or do you want what you want for the best therapy? If the latter, the 560 will do, but if you absolutely want the S9 Elite, you're going to have to go to another DME.

[jacob006a]

Stick to your guns, have the Dr. write the prescription for the Elite if that is what you want. The DME has to follow the Dr's orders of find another DME.

[Xney]

The 560 is a great machine.

But I would be suspicious of that DME in general. If you decide to get the machine (and it would suit your needs fine), make sure it's a new machine in the box and not some gray-market or used machine. That DME sounds shady!

edit: also check that everything is in the box that's supposed to be, if you get it.

[khauser]

+1 on Xney's comments.

I also have the PRS1 Series 60 Auto (the 560). It's a great machine, and does have more data than the Elite.

As Pugsy said, ResMed machines generally cost more, both to us (those that are uninsured or have high deductibles) and at the wholesale level. But the advantage the machines have are minor. Comparing the ResMed S9 Auto with the 560, the difference is in:
- Exhaust Relief Systems (some like the direct Bi-Pap-like EPR on ResMed, some like Phillips' A-Flex technology)
- the algorithms used by the machines to detect and adjust to events (all of that is proprietary). I've never heard someone say brand 'P' is better or worse than brand 'R' on that issue.

The PRS1 is a little easier to work with on batteries if that matters to you.

The DME isn't the worst out there ... they were half-honest with you. But it isn't that they can't make money on the other units, its that they make LESS money. Their still better than a DME that lies to you and says the machine isn't available, your insurance won't pay, etc.

I wouldn't typically accept or reject a DME on the machine, which is a rare purchase. I'm more interested in their customer service for masks (how many will they let you try, etc).

If you aren't getting this via insurance (have a high deductible, or no insurance) take a look at various online locations instead, such as https://www.cpap.com.

[ChicagoGranny]

could not provide me with the S9 Elite because they lose money if they sold me this unit? What????? Lets take the "care" out of the "Homecare".

Do you expect a company to order a product to sell to you at a price less than what they have to pay for it?

I don't think that is what you mean.

He said "Alright, I'll give you a deal and you can instead get the Philips Respironics 560 Auto instead.

A perfectly reasonable offer.