1st time APAP purchase, what else do I need to buy???

I believe that the CDL medical certificate requirements are the same for someone who drives over the road or drives local and is home every night in terms of the physical for the signing off on the medical card.

It was spring of 2015 when I read in the DOT guidelines about effectiveness as well as hours of use being needed to be documented.
I was referred to it by a sleep doc who was familiar with DOT medical cards and all the rules and regulations. He was complaining about "more paperwork the gov't makes us do" Truck drivers aren't the only ones annoyed by all the red tape that DOT keeps changing and wanting more of.
At that time when I read it the new rules were supposed to go into effect in April or May of last year I think.
Now this is something I read just in passing interest because my husband also has a CDL and medical card and is local also...he doesn't have sleep apnea but sometimes he asks me questions usually because of another co driver.
So I don't know if the rules about effectiveness were thrown out or implemented.. I didn't have a need to dig deeper or follow up later. You know how the government is...they change stuff all the time.
The Concentra doc should be up to date on whatever the DOT requirements happen to be at this time...you are going to have to ask him what their policy is.

The "clearance letter"...yes, the Concentra doctor can do that if he will do that. Not all docs who do the medical cards for CDL/DOT will do it...some docs (not just Concentra docs) want a "letter" from a board certified sleep doc.

The thing about in Georgia the docs can't write Rxs for cpap machines...first I have ever heard of it.
I think you were just given the run around because no one wanted to be responsible.

@Pugsy, thank you so much for taking the time to respond.

I have signed up for email alerts from regulations.gov and will set up some type of google alert. Right now I don't trust Concentra "policy", not until FMCSA makes a decision.

As far as the prescription, I was told urgent care centers cannot prescribe Class II DME in the state of Georgia. I will have to do some research on that. I have another doctor in mind that does DOT physicals, and he is NOT associated with Concentra.

'I think you were just given the run around because no one wanted to be responsible.'

ha,ha,ha, yes, you are absolutely right.

"letter" from a board certified sleep doc.

Don't know if we can afford a sleep specialist/ pulmonologist.
I'll make some calls and get some pricing.

Hubby's equipment should be here tomorrow!!! He's at the store now getting distilled water and baby wipes.

You may not need a "letter" from a sleep specialist...it's all up to the doctor doing the DOT physical as to whether he/she wants to sign off on the therapy without an "official" letter. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out compliance has been met or for that matter if the therapy is effective or not...on paper the AHI is what they would go by if they want/need proof. Remember...it's the government that we are dealing with here and what they require doesn't always equal reality but that's a topic for another discussion.

"that's a topic for another discussion"

I agree, and would rather discuss hubby's apap therapy!!!

(I purposely did not mention CDL until people asked about the compliance)

moving on....
I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Anxious to see how he does tomorrow night and see the results on Tuesday.

NormagiJoy wrote:"that's a topic for another discussion"

I agree, and would rather discuss hubby's apap therapy!!!

(I purposely did not mention CDL until people asked about the compliance)

the *why* of 'compliance' is a factor, generally, if you're using your own machine, you don't have compliance issues, just when insurance is paying for it, and since you're new, you might not have known that.

"the *why* of 'compliance' is a factor"

@palerider
You are absolutely right.
There's a lot of drama going on right now regarding the FMCSA sleep apnea "policy" and Concentra.
I hate drama.
*smile*