Can't get a machine

[jshuler43]

I have sleep apnea and my son does as well. He just got diagnosed, and fitted for a BiPAP and is doing well on it.

I on the other hand, can't seem to get any momentum going to get a machine. I have been dx'd with OSA for 15 years. I had sleep surgery to try to do without a CPAP. But it did not work, and now my apnea is even worse. I was tested last fall and then ran into a road block, as my insurance was being done away with and I was switched to Medicaid. So just as I was going to get a machine, it was all shut down. So, the new year I had a new primary care dr and was dealing with getting my records transferred. It took a bit of doing, but I think that is taken care of.

Now I am looking for a DME to supply me with a machine. I asked my Primary care dr for a reference, but they never got back to me. I asked my contact person with my insurance to help, but they did not get back with me. I have called several DME's that are listed with my insurance, but for some reason, they never get back with me. It's hard for me to figure out who would be a good company to go with. I would like a company that would be very supportive, and one that would help me get the machine I want. But it's hard to figure that out as I'm having trouble even finding one that will call me back. One company had a form they wanted me to fill out with about 7 pages of info. They wanted all my sleep data from the testing and I don't have that information. It was very confusing. Any suggestions?

[Cowboy Casey]

jshuler43,

I just went through this... Dont call, get a list of all the DME's near you and go to each 1 with your prescription, sleep study and the machine your looking at/for... You are interviewing who you want to work with.. Look at the store, talk to the people there... you will find a local DME who is willing to work with you doing it this way... it may take you some time, maybe even a couple days, but you will be working with them for a long time and you want someone who will support you, not the share holders...

I found one that is excellent, they have done everything for me, they ordered the machine I wanted, got the doctor to change the prescription to what it needed to say, sent it into the VA... basically took care of everything... I went to them and asked questions on 3 differant occasions before I did anything with them.. all 3 times they were helpfull.. They are a local DME, not a chain, so major differance, but they are out there... If more of us go to these smaller DME's and support them if we can, maybe the big chain stores will get a clue.... one can hope

[JDS74]

The first thing to do is get your information organized.
I assume you had a sleep study done. Get a copy of the full report either from the sleep center or the physician who ordered it.

Since you had surgery to control your apnea, get the surgical report and the hospital records associated with it.

Do you have a prescription for a CPAP machine? If one exists, get a copy, otherwise ask your current doctor for one.

That will get you ready to speak to a DME about a CPAP machine.

All of those documents are available to you so don't give up in your requests.

[jshuler43]

Great advice! Helps me get off indefinite hold. I am going to get Rx and sleep studies from my dr and visit the DME's personally. Hopefully I will find one who will really work with me as I will be a Newbie and need some hand holding.

[purple]

I believe the part of the sleep study you need is a summary, only about two pages. Full seems a bit misleading. At the time of the sleep study, used to be, that a huge computer listing was created, you do not need that. Just the summary. You are legally entitled to it. When I told the staff at my sleep docs office I wanted a copy in case I traveled and I needed something, they directly, easily mail a copy to me, with the script. On another occasion I got one (from another sleep study) from my DME, which may not be possible for you, but just saying not all DME's are resistant to being helpful.

If you are rolling in money, (and I am not) you could use the docs script to buy a machine from our sponsor cpap.com (no relation) or second wind,

http://www.secondwindcpap.com

Most sleep docs/sleep clinics have a list of DME's, usually with a patient rating of who is good and bad.

In truth, to get a machine, you need the script. Get that into the hands of a DME, who will want a whole list of questions answered. They can talk to the insurance company as to what the insurance company will pay for. If you are using insurance, The DME's hands are tied until you give them all those pages of information they say they need. Nor will the DME tell you what your portion will be. The individuals of a DME who will put the machine in your hands know nothing about billing (and all insurances are different) nor do they care. They are supposed to be about helping you. That is after you have jumped through all the hoops to help them bill your insurance company.

I am guessing you have read the blog, what you need to know before you meet your DME?

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/what-y ... me-part-i/

[palerider]

Now I am looking for a DME to supply me with a machine. I asked my Primary care dr for a reference, but they never got back to me. I asked my contact person with my insurance to help, but they did not get back with me. I have called several DME's that are listed with my insurance, but for some reason, they never get back with me.

why don't you just order one online? you'll probably spend less.

is that a medicare restriction?