Do I need a DME?

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:52 am

Slinky wrote:Well, you must understand that unless the scripting sleep doctor indicates on his script that you be given access to the Efficacy Data menu the local DME can NOT give you access to it.

The Efficacy Data menu can be accessed two ways: via the Advanced Menu for patients (I'm not even sure most sleep docs are even aware of or even think about allowing access to this) or via the Clinical Menu which the medical profession does NOT want you to have access to as this is the menu in which you can change your pressure settings.

The impression I've been getting is that MOST sleep doctors don't have the foggiest idea of what information the various manufacturers make available via the menus on the "smart" machines and/or which is which. I've also gotten the impression that most sleep doctors aren't interested too much in anything but the compliance data. UNLESS the patient contacts them w/problems or complaints and then it is often the sleep tech who has the answers rather than the sleep doctor. I got the impression from one sleep lab that the sleep tech or the person doing the actual scoring pretty much determined the pressure needed and the sleep doc didn't do much more than sign the script.

Well you know ... after she told me it was not possible to get data from my machine ... she did say that even if my machine was capable of providing such data that it was against the law for me to have access to such data as you have implied. In any case she lied to me about my machine not having the cpability which I knew it did have. Yes I now know of all the ways to access my data ... thanks to great members of this forum.

Back in August when the situation arose I did a fairly extensive internet search of the Texas State statues and found no law prohibiting such data access.

Could you please provide me the link where you found this law?

Thanks,

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:19 am

As many times as this has come up, I don't recall ANYBODY being able to come up with any "laws" that prohibit what these people are alleging (using scare tactics) is "illegal".

This is not to say that it's not "illegal" for a DME/RT person to change a person's pressure without a prescription.......but all of the other BS is just THAT.....BS.
Actually, it'd be interesting to see THAT law, too. (making it illegal for a DME/RT to make a change without a "prescription")
I think Tomjax has made excellent points on the issues of "prescriptions" (orders) being filled by DMEs.

Den

gregnga · Post by **gregnga** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:42 pm

Does anyone know if United Health Care (Georgia) will reimburse for cpap.com purchases?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:06 pm

gregnga wrote:Does anyone know if United Health Care (Georgia) will reimburse for cpap.com purchases?

Call them and ask. But instead of phrasing it that way, ask them if they will reimburse YOU for out-of-pocket DME purchases. Also, ask them if YOU are considered "in-network" for reimbursement. (you should be)
You MIGHT be able to go through billmyinsurance.com, but you'd have to initiate the call to BMI to have them contact your provider.

Best wishes,

Den

dataq1 · Post by **dataq1** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:09 pm

Maybe I was told a falsehood, but here goes:

Less than a month ago I was told by CPAP.COM that they are a licensed DME.

I'd say that ebay is not a DME.

Can you do without a DME? Probably, it just depends on your needs and expectations. But anything is possible.

Do I need a DME?

Insurance question

Re: Insurance question