reliable approved sources

have a home sleep study with an AHI 4%.
The local CPAP suppliers all have bad reviews.
2 have been investigated for Medicare fraud. Apria and Adept. Both giant squid corporations.
Waiting for call backs from 2 others.
Is there a reliable national option that I can try?

Did you use a local doctor to order the home sleep study? If so, ask their office. They are in a position to know who their customers like.

Are you self-paying or using insurance?

Which model machine has been prescribed?

BTW, AHI is not measured in percent. Can you clarify your results?

Drs office referred the 2 that have been investigated. Disappointing.
No model has been scripted ... so far.

Maybe another member can explain "percent" in the last column. ??

I could make a guess, but it would only be a guess.

The 3% and 4% numbers are related to hypopneas. These are two different blood oxygen desaturation numbers used in the definition. Medicare uses the more strict 4% criteria so fewer events are recognized. If you google hypopnea event technical definition you will find several good articles.

Regarding DME suppliers. I have gone through half a dozen of them. When I retired and started Medicare I found that most didn't accept it. My doctor was always helpful but didn't really know good DMEs, especially ones that accepted Medicare. A year ago I switched to an online provider, Aeroflow Sleep. They have been by far better than any of the local ones. They comminate with my doctor, and manage Medicare efficiently. They are the first DME I've used that I've had no issues with. I'm pretty sure they work with all insurance companies.

thanks for https://aeroflowsleep.com/ I'll look them up. Seems to be a very crooked business everywhere.

Call your insurance company to see whar companies are in their network. In many cases it's the local dealer that is the problem...not necessarily the company itself.

I wasn't given a choice. I sent off the home sleep study result and next thing I knew I was being shipped a CPAP machine. The study people and the DME and my doctor had organized it all but forgot to include me in the loop. Oh well, it's all good, I'm responding very well to the treatment but it is Apria and yes they have been a mixed bag. Some of the counselors have been very helpful but they signed me up for automatic resupply without me authorizing it, I had to get that canceled, their website/billing is a mess, and they nag me about reordering way more often than I need to. But that might be the manufacturer recommended resupply schedule which is insane.

I don't know about outright Medicare fraud, but because so many CPAP users are of Medicare age including me, I feel very certain they max out that advantage. Like they push real hard to replace supplies at the point people who really need to replace them often, for every one. Whereas people who don't need to replace them often could go much longer. Like I don't use the humidifier so I think the hose will last almost indefinitely, no mold buildup or anything, and I do wash it. But they want me to buy a new long hose every couple of months. Nonsense.

So anyway, Apria is fine IF you stay on top of them and don't let them sneak in automatic supply, go over your bills carefully to make sure you aren't being overcharged, don't fall for the pressure to order supplies more than you need. I wouldn't be surprised if most suppliers are similar.

The first rule with Apria or most other DMEs is NEVER GIVE THEM A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD!!!!
I have them bill me, then have my bank mail them a check. That way they have no access to any of my personal accounts.

I recommend keeping one or two spares of everything you use. Stuff is guaranteed to break on Friday evening of a long weekend if you don't have a spare. Yes, I even have 2 spare ASV machines. They have lots of hours on them but they still work.

Crapria has earned their name. If I order 3 items it may take 5 or more deliveries to actually receive the exact items I ordered. They frequently send the wrong item. A mask is a mask. A hose is a hose. A filter.... They don't care if it doesn't match my equipment or my face.

I have used several other suppliers. CPAP.com has been the only one so far that has not messed up, but they do not accept insurance.

I skip the insurance all together and self pay. It's not worth the hassle. I order from Amazon or sometimes I find new unopened parts listed in marketplace. I recently found 5 small N-20 masks for $25 each still sealed in their original packaging. I offered the guy $100 for all 5 and he accepted. The headgear is not as small as the "for her" headgear but I can make it work and that is less than I would pay for a co pay.

www.sleepquest.com has been really great for me. They started as a local Bay Area CPAP provider but now ship all over the country. Stanford referred people to them so they gave people a pretty high level of service, especially getting the mask right.

You might try this one for your supplies. I've not had a problem with it (knock on wood):

Sleep Central a Rotech Healthcare Company
(855) 922-2821