POLL: OTC CPAP?

[DreamStalker]

The People should be allowed to build, buy, or sell them from a garage but our fascist government will not permit that as it goes against their corporate handler's monopolistic greed policies.

[Hose_Head]

I voted yes, because I believe it's one way to get some of the greediest players out of the loop,
and give competition a chance.
I do, however have reservations.
Years ago, when my allergy pills were RX, my co-pay was negligible.
Then they were approved OTC, and my insurance no longer had to pay for them,
The net price went down--a little, but my net cost went up by several times.
My cost did not go down again until generics became available OTC.

I'll ask you the same question I asked Stormynights: Would you be willing to pay several hundred dollars more per year than you currently are paying for your xpap treatment just so that others without insurance might get some undefined break on the price that they currently are paying?

BTW, generics as it relates to xpap is likely to mean that you get nothing more than a brick and basic mask. If so, this would be contrary to the collective wisdom on this board that nobody should be using a brick.

[Big fella]

I said no but I think that the supply's should be readily available over the counter

[SleepWellCPAP]

Thanks for starting this one!

I voted yes strickly due to the prevalence of OSA around the world. There was a horrific accident here locally where a trucker plowed over a stopped vehicle at 3 in the morning. Claimed the lives of both himself and the 16 yr old driver of the other vehicle. Though no cause published, it makes a person wonder if the truck driver had fallen asleep.

Will be very interesting to see the final tally on this one for sure.

Jim

[Stormynights]

The only treatment I got was a sleep study. I bought my own supplies and learned how to handle it all here. I have never seen a sleep doctor. If I paid double what I have been out on what I would call treatment it wouldn't help anyone. 0+0

[Goofproof]

The bad thing no matter our poll, the results mean nothing, we have no say, the world is run by the few that control the Sheeples, we see what that is getting us, unless we are Sheeples, Sheeples see nothing as the wool is over their eyes. Jim

[DreamStalker]

The bad thing no matter our poll, the results mean nothing, we have no say, the world is run my the few that control the Sheeples, we see what that is getting us, unless we are Sheeples, Sheeples see nothing as the wool us over their eyes. Jim

The Obama administration has won the latest battle in their fight to indefinitely detain US citizens and foreigners suspected of being affiliated with terrorists under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012.

http://rt.com/usa/obama-ndaa-appeal-suit-229/

to indefinitely detain US citizens ... suspected of being affiliated with terrorists

to indefinitely detain US citizens ... suspected of being affiliated with terrorists

to indefinitely detain US citizens ... suspected of being affiliated with terrorists

to indefinitely detain US citizens ... suspected of being affiliated with terrorists

baaa .... baaaaah .... baaaaaaaaaaaah!

[Big fella]

Thanks for starting this one!

I voted yes strickly due to the prevalence of OSA around the world. There was a horrific accident here locally where a trucker plowed over a stopped vehicle at 3 in the morning. Claimed the lives of both himself and the 16 yr old driver of the other vehicle. Though no cause published, it makes a person wonder if the truck driver had fallen asleep.

Will be very interesting to see the final tally on this one for sure.

Jim

The biggest issue with the case of the truck is first you have to admit that you a problem. For a lot of people denial is a river in Africa. I think making the at home sleep study more available would be the better bet

[jdr999]

I voted yes strickly due to the prevalence of OSA around the world.

Interesting.

So in your opinion, medical supervision should not be required for CPAP therapy?

What if someone has more complex issues than garden variety OSA and decides to try self-treatment? Under the right circumstances too much pressure can actually cause events. For many of us clusters of self-induced centrals are certainly annoying, but not necessarily life-threatening. For others the results could be very different..

"Caveat emptor / Let the buyer beware?"

I'm certainly no expert, just playing devils advocate for a moment..

[chunkyfrog]

Medical supervision, for what it costs, delivers far less than can be justified.
Too often, the "providers" are not bound to ensure effective treatment.
Dataless bricks should NEVER be a patient's primary machine.
Such hardware should only be dispensed as emergency or back-up equipment;
or offered as an inexpensive spare.
Machines need to be tested and reviewed independently, and results made public.
Liberal mask exchange policies need to be mandatory, at least for the first few months.

[Stormynights]

I wouldn't mind being stuck with one if they we fairly priced. I look at a mask and it amazes me what it costs. They are just plastic. They are a good grade of plastic but am I the only one that thinks they should be less expensive?

[SleepyCPAP]

I voted yes mostly for the supplies. I can be swayed by the intelligent arguments about the machines themselves, but masks, hoses, filters, humidifier tanks don't need a prescription. I understand that could mean higher out of pocket for some folks, but I'm hoping the cost comes down too. I can imagine a trip to another city, finding my hose has a tear, and I'd really like to head over to the 24-hour drug store and pick one off the shelf. Convenience.

If the machines do get sold over the counter the law should require such machines show AHI and leak data, maybe even be AutoPAPs initially set 4-12 cm or something "innocuous" with instructions how to get it set higher "Caution: excessive pressure may lead to air in the belly, a painful condition which should not be ignored, discontine use and speak with a medical professional if you experience this or any of these other potentially serious side effects:..." "Do not use this machine if you have or think you might have a punctured lung, etc."

I see the announcement for the new PRS1 "SE" machine, and it seems so sad how backwards it is to roll out something like that in this era. You need a prescription for this dumb box with a blower in it? And they are listing it for how much money?!

--SleepyCPAP

[djhall]

Yes, most OTC medication is covered by insurance if you get a doctor to write it on a prescription.

NOT by my drug insurance! ... Having a Doctor write it on a prescription means NOTHING to them. ... OTC means you DON'T need a prescription. ... Having the Doctor write it on his prescription pad does NOT convert it from OTC to prescription.

That is a shame, since that means medically necessary medications and supplies will likely tend to remain prescription only even if for no other reason than to maintain insurance coverage. Of course, that also means that medically necessary medications and supplies will be kept artificially inflated in price and harder to obtain for those who have to pay out of pocket.

My experience with this was based mostly on picking up prescriptions for a friend. Her son suffers from a medical condition that causes his bowel to become easily impacted. The doctor writes a prescription for OTC laxatives and the pharmacist dispenses them and charges the insurance just like any regular prescription. The same thing goes for Prilosec OTC when the doctor prescribes it as part of her treatment for serious stomach ulcers. Similarly, I've purchased diabetic testing meters and supplies OTC just to screen myself for pre-diabetic indicators, and I know those are also covered by insurance when prescribed by a doctor. Perhaps that is a policy that commonly varies by insurer.

[zoocrewphoto]

I am now supposedly covered 100% by insurance and I still think they should be OTC options. It is just air not a dangerous drug. If you lost your insurance I bet you would want OTC supplies. It almost makes me feel like some people think I have great insurance and everyone that doesn't can just do without as long as I get what I need.

This is where I struggle. I think it should be over the counter and easily available. That is the right thing to do.

That said, it would cost me a lot more as I have 85% coverage, and I can pay afterward, not in advance. If I lost my insurance, or it became over the counter (and no longer covered by insurance), I would really struggle to get supplies as the costs, even if they went down, would be a hardship for me. I am still paying off the copay for the sleep study (my share was over $800). And that was over a year ago. If I had been told that I would have to pay for my own machine, it would have taken months to save up for it. And if I had not had such a great night from the sleep study, I probably would have talked myself into waiting until later.

I don't want people without insurance to struggle, but I don't want lose my coverage to make that possible either. And I don't think insurance will pay for many items that are OTC. They sure wouldn't cover a blood pressure monitor, even though my doctor told me to get one and even wrote a prescription. No such luck. They don't require a prescription, so they don't cover it. To get a good one cost me $80. I did it because I needed to, and I am working to improve my health. But it was a big purchase for me.

[Goofproof]

If Wal-Mart is allowed to sell XPAPs, I hear hotels and motels have a plan to install them in each room. The only downside I can see they are going to be coin operated, you have to wake up every half hour and put another quarter in the slot. Jim

They will have a holder by the intake to hold your electronic cigarette.