medical suppliers

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:36 am

Hi,

Does my medical supplier know what their talking about? I called my supplier today to see if my prescription is in and to see if they carry the remstar pro 2. I was informed that to get the pro 2 my prescription needed to specify the pro 2 and that they supply the remstar plus. The person I was speaking to said they manage the "compliance" that I would need to bring the machine in every 90 days and they would download the data to see how i was doing. The restar plus description doesn't even list this feature. Are they correct can it do this? Should I speak to my doctor and get him to specify the pro 2 or the auto?

Thanks
Liz

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:43 am

Is this DME apria or kaiser?
or are you in an HMO?

Compliance is such an exciting piece of information - hours you used the machine - WOW

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:51 am

Is this DME apria or kaiser?
or are you in an HMO?

Compliance is such an exciting piece of information - hours you used the machine - WOW

Okay, that is a good question. If only I knew what you were talking about! I should probably add that I'm a Brit trying to manage my way around the American health system. So forgive my ignorance. If I was in England they would give my a system for free althoug I would have to wait 20 years and the system would still be using valves.

To answer the question I think you are asking I have medical insurance (Blue shield of Idaho) although i'm not in what I understand an HMO to be. The supplier is called Maag Medical http://www.maagmedical.com/default.asp

Hopefully that answers your question.
Thanks
Liz[/u]

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:19 am

Lizz, I too am from Idaho( an assumtion that you are as well because of the insurance) and I just started cpap 2 days ago. I went to Lincare and had no problem getting the Remstar pro 2. My prescription just stated cpap and pressures along with all accessories. I have CCN insurance if that helps at all. I would check with other providers and see if they would give you the machine that you want. DME is the company that provides your cpap equiment. (Durable Medical Equipment). As far as compliance, my provider did not tell me I had to come in every 90 days but my machine does keep track of compliance by tracking the hours I use it. I hope this is helpful.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:22 am

I would suspect that the Plus is on the shelf collecting dust. They will bill your insurance the same amount for a Plus as for a Pro 2 but they won't make as much money for a Pro 2 and might have to special order it. If you script indicates CPAP at pressure x cm then they can fill that with a Plus.

What do you want? Do you want to obtain data? If you want data and the Pro 2 is the non-auto - no-bipap that will do that with encore pro then you need to get a script that indicates Pro 2 in order to use this DME so they can't substitute, or take the prescription for CPAP (no brand need to be specified) and buy a machine online or try another DME.

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:08 pm

Lizz, I too am from Idaho( an assumtion that you are as well because of the insurance) and I just started cpap 2 days ago. I went to Lincare and had no problem getting the Remstar pro 2. My prescription just stated cpap and pressures along with all accessories.

I live in Pocatello, Idaho. Lincare doesn't have an office in Pocatello, but does in Blackfoot. Since I went all the way to Idaho Falls for the doctors and sleep test I'm sure Blackfoot isn't to far for me to go.

Thanks for the help.
Liz

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:36 pm

Hi Liz,

http://www.billmyinsurance.com is part of cpap.com and both are ourstanding places to find cpap equiptment.

Bill My Insurance will actually bill your insurance and allow you to pick the machine and mask YOU want as opposed to the DME picking it for you.

You can also buy the gear YOU chose from https://www.cpap.com out of pocket and submit an invoice for reimbursement.

I think the key to both websites is the fact you get to pick what you want, be it a cpap, or autopap.

Titrator
https://www.cpap.com

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 6:34 pm

Listen to Titrator, He knows what he is talking about.... 1 thing he forgot to say......... Beware of the EVIL DME

:twis ted:

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:58 pm

Be forceful, stand your ground, demand what you want, and don't take no for an answer. You nare the consumner that pays the bills, use this power. I have yet to lose a battle on something I want but I have had to be a real jerk and literally bulldoze my way. Now I do this for a living so it's easy for me but it works and will for you too if youj can summon up the courage.

hecate · Post by **hecate** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:34 am

I called my pulmonologist today to try and get him to change the prescription to auto PAP. I neve got past the secretary because she told me that the prescription already stated auto PAP.

I should have no problem with the DME now.

Thanks
Liz

ScottGA · Post by **ScottGA** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:27 am

My experience has been that they are all liars and will tell you anything to et you to take what they have cheapest or an overstock of. They will try to send you back to the Dr. for a new prescr. if you ask for diff. equipment because they knwoyou don;t want to do that.
I am verydown on them and the ins. companies regarding cpap because I assume the suppliers aren;t accustomed to those of us who research online and know we can buy online. I'm presently saving for a top of line Remstar apap to replace the standard Remstar they 'rented' and then I'm turing that one in. I just hate being talked to like I have no brains and like I can't get online and figure this stuff out. I assume that most people the suppliy stores deal with are elderly or in ushc poor health they don;t challenge the suppliers about what they tell them.
As I have said here before, there seems to be alot of overcharging in this arena by supliers/ins. companies, and I think we knwo who pays the overcharge -- us! No way is Blue Cross/AEtna, etc. paying $2000 for what little me can buy online for $500! I say, don't accet what they tell you, demand what you want, and if you can't get it, order it fro cpap.com; you will come out cheaper in the long run even if you pay for it out of pocket and you will have full control of it.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:13 pm

Re the Remstar Plus being able to deliver compliance data even though it has no datacard.

Yes I believe it can but I am not 100% sure how they access the data.

Most xPAPs (even very old models have some form of comms link. I have seen these in many models even a 10 year old Malinkrodt (PB) 318 (these are so old that it is believed Noah used them on the Ark )

Inside the Plus is a serial comms port just near the air exit nozzle.
I am guessing that this comms port is used by the factory to communicate with the machines.

But most Remstars also have a fibre optic link that is used to communicate with the heated humidifier module and I have wondered if that is also used to communicate with the Remstar central processor for accessing whatever data is held within. This would mean that Respironics suppliers place the unit on a special module similar to the h/h and that module uses the fibre path to request a download of data.

The fibre comms port can be seen under almost all Remstars (hold one bottom up and with the filter cover away from you) and at the top right between the rubber foot & a screw mounting hole is what looks like a clear plastic window - this is actually the end of a fibre optic rod used to send data & receive data.

As said at the top. I am not stating known facts, just my very educated guesses.

Cheers

DSM

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:19 pm

I'd say that the DME (or anyone) could just look at the therapy setup menu in the display window on top of the Plus and see the compliance info. No download needed.

Mask

Additional Comments: cpap pressure: 12