What about insurance? If they find out I'm not going to a doctor other than to order equipment and have sleep tests, would there be a problem? Would they cover stuff when they find out that I'm fiddling with pressure by myself? Just curious, because after today...I don't want to go back to ANY sleep center. The machine (Autoset spirit) is on auto, and still not covering my apneas. Was on 8-18, and she now set it to 11-20. It "told her" that the pressure needed to be 12. then, why was I having apneas??
Huh? I'm going to fiddle with it tonight, setting it from 12.6 to 20 and see what happens. On the other hand, I LLLLLLLLLOVE the ComfortFull2 mask. The most comfortable, leakproof mask I've tried in9 (NINE years)
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): auto
Questions about "going it alone"
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
I don't know all your specifics, but as long as you're going through your doctor for the CPAP prescription and to order sleep tests, I don't see any issues. I started with a straight CPAP and later bought an auto on my own. I still order my replacement equipment - filters, masks, hoses, etc. using insurance and have had no problems. They just check to see they have a CPAP prescription on file, and that's it. I'm using billmyinsurance.com - they're really great to work with. They actually told me about using both filters - the disposable foam and replaceable paper. My original DME only told me about the foam. Gee, what a surprise!!
My doctor is my general practitioner, and knows less about all of this than I do. She's fine with it as long as I keep her updated and am feeling better.
Anyway, I'm not an insurance expert but I don't see any problems as long as you have a doctor at least somewhat involved in your care.
Good luck to you,
Karen
My doctor is my general practitioner, and knows less about all of this than I do. She's fine with it as long as I keep her updated and am feeling better.
Anyway, I'm not an insurance expert but I don't see any problems as long as you have a doctor at least somewhat involved in your care.
Good luck to you,
Karen
_________________
| Mask | ||||
 | ||||
| Additional Comments: Breeze nasal pillows | ||||
Smile - it makes people wonder what you're up to!
Titrated pressure 10, just got auto CPAP using 8 - 12 range
Titrated pressure 10, just got auto CPAP using 8 - 12 range
-
Barb (Seattle)
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:41 pm
Using other equipment & pressure settings
I agree with kikisue....If you get the doctor on your side, the rest of the healthcare community lines right up for you.
From my experience, my Pulmonologist first wrote a script for 4-20 cm--cpap figuring that later, he would send me back to a second sleep study for titration and write a new script accordingly. In the beginning, he told me he was more concerned if I would be compliant than to get the pressure right. I ordered a Respironics Auto-Pap. It was provided by CPAP.COM. I then obtained the My-Oncore software, Derek's software, and a card reader. Ther Pulmonologist wanted me back to see him in a month to get some sense of my willingness to be compliant. When I returned, I presented hard-copy printouts from My-Oncore and Derek's program to show how things were going in APAP mode (yep, I changed the mode & pressure settings). The charts clearly show my titration.
When the pulmonologist saw the charts and heard my rationale for mode/pressure settings, he was impressed. He also said there was no need for a titration sleep study, and that he has never had another patient take so much control of their therapy. Then, he said "how do you want me to write the next script?"
But just as important, the pulmonologist wants me to be able to conclude if I feel better, rather than put 100% confidence in what the "numbers" say.
This is how I dealt with this issue. I'm sure you will find a way, too! Good luck.
From my experience, my Pulmonologist first wrote a script for 4-20 cm--cpap figuring that later, he would send me back to a second sleep study for titration and write a new script accordingly. In the beginning, he told me he was more concerned if I would be compliant than to get the pressure right. I ordered a Respironics Auto-Pap. It was provided by CPAP.COM. I then obtained the My-Oncore software, Derek's software, and a card reader. Ther Pulmonologist wanted me back to see him in a month to get some sense of my willingness to be compliant. When I returned, I presented hard-copy printouts from My-Oncore and Derek's program to show how things were going in APAP mode (yep, I changed the mode & pressure settings). The charts clearly show my titration.
When the pulmonologist saw the charts and heard my rationale for mode/pressure settings, he was impressed. He also said there was no need for a titration sleep study, and that he has never had another patient take so much control of their therapy. Then, he said "how do you want me to write the next script?"
But just as important, the pulmonologist wants me to be able to conclude if I feel better, rather than put 100% confidence in what the "numbers" say.
This is how I dealt with this issue. I'm sure you will find a way, too! Good luck.
-
wolftracker
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Sun May 14, 2006 8:20 am
sounds like me
i did not do well in my second sleep study.
i told my asthma doctor ... who i found was also a sleep
dr to give me an apap machine ... because i was not going back
for a third sleep study ...
he wrote the script for the apap and 4 - 20.
i got the machine from apria ... not as bad an experience
as others have had ... but not the best either ... i can live with
it with the help of cpap.com. i do thing apria over charges.
i saw the monthly bill on my machine as 425 per month
and apria authorized 65.
just had my 45 day follow up ...
have the software(encore and myencore)/reader/machine.
dr was impressed with my compliance and said it was very unusual
for a beginner to be that complaint...
he saw that i had change setting and like the deriek
printout ... had never seen that before... saw i was taking
control and said lets try a little more change and
change my settings to 7.5 from 7 and 12.0 from 11.5
told me i was doing great and to see him again in november
he asked me if i needed a new script for a mask. told him
i would like the hybrid ... and he told me he would write it
for me ...
he did and my next insurance mask is due in nov ...
so will wait to hear from others if i will buy it myself sooner
or wait til nov
my cl2 is doing fine...
anyone want to trade me ... i would like a another medium pillow
and have a never used small pillow to trade
good sleeping
wolf
i told my asthma doctor ... who i found was also a sleep
dr to give me an apap machine ... because i was not going back
for a third sleep study ...
he wrote the script for the apap and 4 - 20.
i got the machine from apria ... not as bad an experience
as others have had ... but not the best either ... i can live with
it with the help of cpap.com. i do thing apria over charges.
i saw the monthly bill on my machine as 425 per month
and apria authorized 65.
just had my 45 day follow up ...
have the software(encore and myencore)/reader/machine.
dr was impressed with my compliance and said it was very unusual
for a beginner to be that complaint...
he saw that i had change setting and like the deriek
printout ... had never seen that before... saw i was taking
control and said lets try a little more change and
change my settings to 7.5 from 7 and 12.0 from 11.5
told me i was doing great and to see him again in november
he asked me if i needed a new script for a mask. told him
i would like the hybrid ... and he told me he would write it
for me ...
he did and my next insurance mask is due in nov ...
so will wait to hear from others if i will buy it myself sooner
or wait til nov
my cl2 is doing fine...
anyone want to trade me ... i would like a another medium pillow
and have a never used small pillow to trade
good sleeping
wolf
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1