Non existent Doctor follow up

[eastcoastinvest]

Hello,

I have been on Cpap for about a year. I have not seen or spoken to my pulomonologist since my initial diagnosis, as he says there is no reason to follow up as long as i feel the cpap is working.

Do any of you have doctors that monitor your cpap numbers and usage? What are they doing and what should I expect? How often?
It just seems silly that no one cares now that I have been diagnosed, shouldn't there be some sort of follow up?

[BlackSpinner]

Mine said the same thing "Come back when your HI goes up or you feel bad again"
Why waste their time?

[Janknitz]

Medicare requires a face to face follow-up with your doctor (could be the sleep doctor or your referring PCP) within the first 90 days. After that you are on your own unless you have a good doctor. Apparently all the money is made in the diagnosis, not the follow up. Sleep med is one of those specialties that seems like a lot of docs go into it for the money rather than a passion for sleep medicine.

[Julie]

If you're following your progress with software and know how you're doing and feeling, why see a doctor? Lots of us haven't been to any in years and years.

[Bill44133]

I am seeing a neurologist for my OSA and she just asked that I fax her my reports off the machine every month.
She said that since I am new she asked that I come back in 6 months. Said she just wants to be sure everything is going well.

[LSAT]

Hello,

I have been on Cpap for about a year. I have not seen or spoken to my pulomonologist since my initial diagnosis, as he says there is no reason to follow up as long as i feel the cpap is working.

Do any of you have doctors that monitor your cpap numbers and usage? What are they doing and what should I expect? How often?
It just seems silly that no one cares now that I have been diagnosed, shouldn't there be some sort of follow up?

I agree with your doctor

[chunkyfrog]

Never saw the doc until nearly a year after I started.
Now he wants to see me yearly.
This keeps medicare happy and helps him pay his greens fees.

[squid13]

I see mine once a year. It's like chunkyfrog says, you got to keep medicare happy.

[Linus]

After diagnosis, I have never seen my polmonologiest again. I emailed him a few times with readings to see if the numbers were good. No interest on the medical doctor's side. That was five years ago. I keep my primary doctor away of the cpap treatment, but that is it. I would rather have it that way than be forced to report numbers or go in for unneeded visits.

I think many BUT not all people would benefit if the cpap devices where over the counter and did not require a prescription.

[oldie cpapper]

Linus, If cpaps were sold over the counter, no prescription, your insurance would pay nothing..zero. Wouldn't they love that. I admit the prescription part is a nuisance, but cpap and supplies are not cheap and as a long time user........

[sleeplessinaz]

I don't need to see my doctor.i use the Sleepyhead software and monitor myself. I can tell what works for me so no need to go see my doctor. If I need anything my PCP says he would write me a script for whatever I needed. Most of us find out more stuff on here than the doctors know anyways. Lol!

[Wulfman...]

Hello,

I have been on Cpap for about a year. I have not seen or spoken to my pulomonologist since my initial diagnosis, as he says there is no reason to follow up as long as i feel the cpap is working.

Do any of you have doctors that monitor your cpap numbers and usage? What are they doing and what should I expect? How often?
It just seems silly that no one cares now that I have been diagnosed, shouldn't there be some sort of follow up?

NOBODY is going to care more about YOUR therapy than YOU!

I saw my "sleep doctor" a total of three times in 2005......once before the sleep study......once after the sleep study to get my prescription......and once a couple of weeks later for a brief follow-up.
I've always had data-capable CPAP machines and monitor my therapy on a daily basis.......even after nearly nine years.

I wouldn't waste my time and money seeing a sleep doctor when I can tell how well my therapy is working.


Den

.

[sleeplessinaz]

I so agree with Den! Very well said,

[ClayL]

I saw mine once a year for several years until he said I didn't need to see him again unless a problem arose.
But recently I saw a post saying that Medicare now requires a yearly doctor visit or they would not continue to pay for supplies. Is that incorrect?

[chunkyfrog]

The yearly visit can be with your PCP, but he must be able to submit documentation that you are using and benefiting from therapy.
This is for established patients; new patients have additional requirements.