can they lock the pressure settings

I finally got my titration number and went to the DME. Told him why I wanted a RESMED airsense autoset and to my surprise that is the machine they normally give. I told him I wanted to be able to see and track my data and he said I would be able to see and adjust everything but the pressure setting. gave me some speech about the pressure setting being like I quote "a pill" I didn't say anything about how silly that sounds because I haven't made up my mind if ill buy the machine outright or go thru the DME. With insurance the price will still be about the same.

My question is on the RESMED S10 airsense autoset is it possible for the DME to lock me out of the pressure settings adjustment on the machine? don't get me wrong I will be using the prescribed setting but I don't want some bean counter locking me out of an option I might want to tweak down the road, since the DME would have control until machine was payed off.

Im so glad this site exists. it has helped me so much already and im sure once I start therapy it will help even more. thanks to everyone.

wolf911 wrote:My question is on the RESMED S10 airsense autoset is it possible for the DME to lock me out of the pressure settings adjustment on the machine? .

no.

thank you. is it possible for him to know if I did change the pressure setting or could I wipe that clean

wolf911 wrote:.... since the DME would have control until machine was payed off.
....

What makes you think the DME will have control? The odds are that from the time you sign the contract with them the ONLY thing they will show any interest in will be the hours of use. Why? Your insurance will require proof that you are using the machine that they are paying for and the DME will need to monitor usage (e.g. "compliance") so that they will continue to be paid by the insuror.

Even if your change your pressure settings and your DME notices it, the worst you can expect is a tongue-lashing from them and having your pressures set back to those "prescribed" by your sleep doctor. And you would still be able to change your settings as soon as you got home. They won't take your cpap because that would mean they won't get paid any more.

For a laugh, ask your DME to show you where it's written that you cannot change your cpap settings. Hint. There is no such law and there are no cpap police. The only law that governs, I believe, is that your DME cannot set pressures to anything other than those prescribed by the doctor. You are not so-bound.

Don't let the DME bully you. It's not your mom.

Hose_Head wrote:

wolf911 wrote:.... since the DME would have control until machine was payed off.
....

What makes you think the DME will have control? The odds are that from the time you sign the contract with them the ONLY thing they will show any interest in will be the hours of use. Why? Your insurance will require proof that you are using the machine that they are paying for and the DME will need to monitor usage (e.g. "compliance") so that they will continue to be paid by the insuror.

Even if your change your pressure settings and your DME notices it, the worst you can expect is a tongue-lashing from them and having your pressures set back to those "prescribed" by your sleep doctor. And you would still be able to change your settings as soon as you got home. They won't take your cpap because that would mean they won't get paid any more.

For a laugh, ask your DME to show you where it's written that you cannot change your cpap settings. Hint. There is no such law and there are no cpap police. The only law that governs, I believe, is that your DME cannot set pressures to anything other than those prescribed by the doctor. You are not so-bound.

Don't let the DME bully you. It's not your mom.

thanks. I actually got a laugh out of that.
maybe I should just post a new question but if the price was the same what would people recommend , buy the machine thru insurance or buy outright

wolf911 wrote:if the price was the same what would people recommend , buy the machine thru insurance or buy outright

if the cost to you is the same, it would be insanity to deal with insurance and DMEs.

if the cost to you is the same, it would be insanity to deal with insurance and DMEs.

Look before you leap!

You MIGHT still want to buy it through insurance, all things being equal, IF it helps you meet your deductible for the year. Because if that's the case, you won't have to shell out more out of pocket money if you need anything else this year. That may be worth putting up with a little DME nonsense (maybe!).

Is the out of pocket cost the same whether you buy it at the DME or have insurance pay for it? If that's the case, be sure to price it from OTHER sources (our hosts at cpap.com and/or other online suppliers, Secondwind.com and Craigslist). It may be MUCH less expensive to purchase elsewhere, but then you won't have anything going toward your deductible (UNLESS your insurer will count online DME's toward your deductible).

Janknitz wrote:

if the cost to you is the same, it would be insanity to deal with insurance and DMEs.

Look before you leap!

You MIGHT still want to buy it through insurance, all things being equal, IF it helps you meet your deductible for the year. Because if that's the case, you won't have to shell out more out of pocket money if you need anything else this year. That may be worth putting up with a little DME nonsense (maybe!).

Is the out of pocket cost the same whether you buy it at the DME or have insurance pay for it? If that's the case, be sure to price it from OTHER sources (our hosts at cpap.com and/or other online suppliers, Secondwind.com and Craigslist). It may be MUCH less expensive to purchase elsewhere, but then you won't have anything going toward your deductible (UNLESS your insurer will count online DME's toward your deductible).

going thru insurance id end up paying around 580 for the machine the way my deductible is and how they (insurance) stretch the payments. new from cpap.com is around 890 so id save a little, but I travel a lot and im thinking the hassle of having to come back to the dme(when I might be a long ways away) even if they mail the supplies just isn't worth it. also no worries about the cpap police I just thought it be wise to get some opinions since im new to this

wolf911 wrote:thank you. is it possible for him to know if I did change the pressure setting or could I wipe that clean

They can check settings via modem and reset to what the doc prescribed, but if you pay attention, you can change it right back, so long as you know your settings. Been there, done that.

Tatooed Lady wrote:

wolf911 wrote:thank you. is it possible for him to know if I did change the pressure setting or could I wipe that clean

They can check settings via modem and reset to what the doc prescribed, but if you pay attention, you can change it right back, so long as you know your settings. Been there, done that.

i decided to just buy a new machine from a trusted member of this board. thanks for commenting. i guess there really are cpap police or at least want-to-be cpap police

I bought my machine(s) all privately but I do have a DME that I use for masks and misc supplies if I happen to want something. Just because you don't buy a machine from a DME doesn't mean that you can't make use of any mask swapping or trials they might have available. Use your insurance when it suits you if you want to.
While I have also bought masks from cpap.com....I also make sure to get my one mask every 6 months that my insurance allows.

So you do have a choice if you want to use a DME for masks or other supplies if it suits your needs to do so.

Pugsy wrote:I bought my machine(s) all privately but I do have a DME that I use for masks and misc supplies if I happen to want something. Just because you don't buy a machine from a DME doesn't mean that you can't make use of any mask swapping or trials they might have available. Use your insurance when it suits you if you want to.
While I have also bought masks from cpap.com....I also make sure to get my one mask every 6 months that my insurance allows.

So you do have a choice if you want to use a DME for masks or other supplies if it suits your needs to do so.

I guess the dme also lied about that. he said if I didn't buy the machine I couldn't get the mask. straight up lied

wolf911 wrote:I guess the dme also lied about that. he said if I didn't buy the machine I couldn't get the mask. straight up lied

The bulk of the profit is with the machine sale and some DMEs care more about profit than they do patients.
There's nothing stopping a DME from selling you a mask no matter where you got the machine except their on in house stupid rules.

When I went to my current DME I just marched in and said "I have my own machine but I want to use insurance for masks...do you have a problem with that?" and his reply was "no problem at all..we will be happy to help you in any way you need help and if you have a problem with your machine settings we will be happy to help with that also"....that's the way it should be.

Check with your insurance company to find out if there are other DMEs in your area that they work with and then start interviewing them like I did.

I fired my first DME because they didn't want to help me do what I wanted to do...so I found one that would do what I wanted. I have to drive 15 miles to their office but when I lived in town they would and deliver my mask supplies to my front door. Been using them now for 6 years. They don't make much money off of me as I usually only get my 2 masks per year from them and other supplies are cheaper to buy online...but they always treat me like I am one of their best money making patients.

Most people are locked out because they don't have the clinicians manual and don't show the patient how to do it. Fortunately, you can get that or have someone here tell you how to access. As mentioned, there is no rule preventing you from making changes to your own equipment.

The only thing you can't change are the blower hours, which is a good thing for those folks who buy used machines as well as these buying new machines (surprise! Your new machine has 200 hours on it).

Oh...one other thing. The DME that I use actually has a more liberal than the usual mask swapping allowance and I get the same as anyone else gets.
Even now after 6 years on the machine....When it's time for a new mask if I want to experiment with different masks I have 60 days after getting the allowed mask to swap it with any number of other masks until I find one I like.
Most DMEs just do 30 days and only for people just starting out on cpap therapy and not for cpap veterans.

A couple of years ago he had a new mask he wanted me to try just for feedback...I told him that I doubt it would work but he said "that's okay...if you hate it you can bring it back and I will give you whatever you want as many times as you want up to that 60 day thing"....I had thought that the 60 day thing was only for newbies but he said no...they offer it with each mask they dispense no matter how long someone has been on cpap therapy.