If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Dr_jitsu · Post by **Dr_jitsu** » Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:44 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:33 pm
Enough with the comments about comments and the trash talk and slurs.

Get on topic or STFU.

Agreed. So today I got my sleep test back and it was extremely bad. Didn't have a chance to talk with my ENT. I am meeting with him Friday. However I WAS quoted $1300 by his staff and I CAN get a brand new unit for $499.

So how to proceed? I of course am going to listen to what he has to say. I have a feeling he is likely set in his ways about working through his DME.

Respirator99 · Post by **Respirator99** » Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:56 pm

Dr_jitsu wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:44 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:33 pm
Enough with the comments about comments and the trash talk and slurs.

Get on topic or STFU.
Agreed. So today I got my sleep test back and it was extremely bad. Didn't have a chance to talk with my ENT. I am meeting with him Friday. However I WAS quoted $1300 by his staff and I CAN get a brand new unit for $499.

So how to proceed? I of course am going to listen to what he has to say. I have a feeling he is likely set in his ways about working through his DME.

Don't buy a machine until you get your diagnosis. Sleep apnea is not just one uniform condition - it comes in various forms (obstructive, central, mixed, complex, apnea + COPD etc etc). The wrong machine may be useless or may actually make the condition worse. So ask your doc for a detailed explanation of your apnea and the appropriate treatment for that particular condition.

Dr_jitsu · Post by **Dr_jitsu** » Wed Dec 31, 2025 8:07 pm

Respirator99 wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:56 pm

Dr_jitsu wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:44 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:33 pm
Enough with the comments about comments and the trash talk and slurs.

Get on topic or STFU.
Agreed. So today I got my sleep test back and it was extremely bad. Didn't have a chance to talk with my ENT. I am meeting with him Friday. However I WAS quoted $1300 by his staff and I CAN get a brand new unit for $499.

So how to proceed? I of course am going to listen to what he has to say. I have a feeling he is likely set in his ways about working through his DME.
Don't buy a machine until you get your diagnosis. Sleep apnea is not just one uniform condition - it comes in various forms (obstructive, central, mixed, complex, apnea + COPD etc etc). The wrong machine may be useless or may actually make the condition worse. So ask your doc for a detailed explanation of your apnea and the appropriate treatment for that particular condition.

Thanks! I will wait until I speak with him Friday.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Wed Dec 31, 2025 8:47 pm

Dr_jitsu wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:44 pm
So how to proceed? I of course am going to listen to what he has to say. I have a feeling he is likely set in his ways about working through his DME.

I agree with Respirator99....wait and see for sure what/which sleep apnea diagnosis you end up with.
Odds are it will be plain jane vanilla obstructive sleep apnea and regular cpap/apap machine will address the problem easily but it wouldn't be impossible to come up with a more complicated diagnosis and regular cpap/apap would be the wrong machine for you because you might need a special kind of machine.

$499 is a darn good price....depending on the brand they are offering and the model but it's not a good deal if it is the wrong machine for dealing with whatever diagnosis you end up with.
Exactly which brand and model have you got tucked away in your cart?

As for the ENT supplying the equipment and getting his panties all in a wad if you don't buy from him .....does he actually participate in the ownership of the DME supply side of things? That's really frowned upon because it is considered a conflict of interest and if you had Medicare insurance they would be breaking the law. Medicare won't let a doctor refer you to any supplier that they have any sort of interest in and in fact they can't refer you to any relative that also has an interest in the supplying side.

Dr_jitsu · Post by **Dr_jitsu** » Sat Jan 03, 2026 7:52 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 8:47 pm

Dr_jitsu wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:44 pm
So how to proceed? I of course am going to listen to what he has to say. I have a feeling he is likely set in his ways about working through his DME.
I agree with Respirator99....wait and see for sure what/which sleep apnea diagnosis you end up with.
Odds are it will be plain jane vanilla obstructive sleep apnea and regular cpap/apap machine will address the problem easily but it wouldn't be impossible to come up with a more complicated diagnosis and regular cpap/apap would be the wrong machine for you because you might need a special kind of machine.

$499 is a darn good price....depending on the brand they are offering and the model but it's not a good deal if it is the wrong machine for dealing with whatever diagnosis you end up with.
Exactly which brand and model have you got tucked away in your cart?

As for the ENT supplying the equipment and getting his panties all in a wad if you don't buy from him .....does he actually participate in the ownership of the DME supply side of things? That's really frowned upon because it is considered a conflict of interest and if you had Medicare insurance they would be breaking the law. Medicare won't let a doctor refer you to any supplier that they have any sort of interest in and in fact they can't refer you to any relative that also has an interest in the supplying side.

I hope that my doc does not have a financial relationship with the DME. He is board certified in sleep medicine. Unfortunately he cancelled my Friday appointment so I am waiting until Monday to see him. I am on my wife's insurance, Blue Cross. I wish I could have seen him Friday as there are still some very good prices on CPAPS (Holiday sale). There is also a new BPAP machine on sale for $237! However it is a bit early in the game to see if I need a BPAP.

What I wan't to avoid is having to pay $1300 out of pocket (my deductible) and having to go through my insurance.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Jan 04, 2026 10:23 am

Dr_jitsu wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 03, 2026 7:52 pm
I hope that my doc does not have a financial relationship with the DME.

Ask....they should tell the truth.

Now I do understand the desire to get the best deal and save some money so I don't blame you for buying privately and not going through insurance and I would do the same thing
BUT
if you happen to meet your deductible for other reasons you might want to let your insurance pay their share on the same machine
so that you will have a spare machine.

If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Re: If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Re: If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Re: If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Re: If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Re: If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?

Re: If I purchase a new machine will I still need my doctor (ENT) to set it up?