Titration study question

I'm going for my titration study this coming Saturday night. I was diagnosed with mild OSA (AHI 13). When I last saw my sleep doc, he said he didn't want to see me until I'd been on CPAP for a month. If this is the case, how do I go from tirtration study to a CPAP machine without seeing him after the study? Does the sleep center write the script for the initial settings?

Also, I'm sure my insurance will try to get the cheapest CPAP available. Is there a way to "upgrade" to a better model with the DME and pay the difference? There are quite a few on-line retailers that seem to have reasonable prices as well. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks!

Go up to the yellow lightbulb (above) and start reading "Our Collective Wisdom".

From what you've written, I've got a bad feeling about your situation (and I gather YOU do, too.)

Den

Since you have insurance forget this paying out of your pocket for an upgrade, etc.!

Call your insurance company and ask them what local DME suppliers they have contracted w/in your area. Hopefully you have the choice of more than one! Also ask them what your benefits are regarding a CPAP machine, humidifier and mask. No need to volunteer any information about what you want or what you've already learned about the CPAP/DME experience. Just get answers to those questions.

Next write a short letter or note to the sleep lab/doctor. In in state succinctly that you will NOT accept anything less than a fully data capable CPAP machine that will supply not just compliance data but also pressure, leak and events data. Ask that the order (script) for your equipment, a copy of the dictated titration results and a copy of the full summary report including graphs be sent directly to you and not to a DME supplier. Mail one copy including in it that date and time of your scheduled titration study. Take one copy w/you to the titration study and insist the tech staple it right to the consent form and other paperwork you will be asked to fill out that night.

IF, despite all this, you get a call from a DME supplier to come pick up your equipment or to make an appointment for them to deliver it, thank them but explain you made it clear to your sleep lab that you would not accept anything less than a fully data capable CPAP and that you had requested that the order be sent to you and not to them. Then play it by ear from there. If they are agreeable to what you want go with it, if not, REFUSE what they offer.

IF, you receive equipment via the mail or UPS as I've read one or two people have, REFUSE it. Ask the shipping company to hold it, get the contact for the shipper and contact them and explain the situation to them as well. Then play it be ear. They should tell you WHAT was shipped and if it is satisfactory it can be redelivered, if not, it can be returned as refused.

Then just contact the sleep lab, explain what is going on, that you have refused what has been offered and that you had made it quite clear how you wanted to handle selection and receipt of equipment.

Good luck, sleep well!!!

[quote="Schnertling"]I'm going for my titration study this coming Saturday night. I was diagnosed with mild OSA (AHI 13). When I last saw my sleep doc, he said he didn't want to see me until I'd been on CPAP for a month. If this is the case, how do I go from tirtration study to a CPAP machine without seeing him after the study? Does the sleep center write the script for the initial settings?

Also, I'm sure my insurance will try to get the cheapest CPAP available. Is there a way to "upgrade" to a better model with the DME and pay the difference? There are quite a few on-line retailers that seem to have reasonable prices as well. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks!