Is there success without having a Datacapable machine?

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:48 pm

For sure we can be well treated without have data capable machine and if that is what you have that is what you have to use. It is nice to be able to see some stats but not necessary.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:32 pm

In my opinion everyone needs to have a fully data-capable apap machine at the very least. Why go to the expense of additional sleep studies to tweak settings, etc? In the long run it would probably save insurance companies money -- but the initial cost is greater.

In regards to masks, I think it is silly that they expect the first mask you get to work 100% of the time. In a perfect world we should be able to try out as many masks that we want all DME's should carry all the masks available as each of us is unique.

But we don't live in a perfect world. There are many people without data capable machines that make the treatment work. Some of the reasons are like I mentioned in my above post -- they are just not interested nor care about the data that we find so interesting. Other reasons can be financial. APAPs and data-capable machines cost more. If I didn't have insurance coverage I would have had to purchase a lower priced machine in order to receive treatment in a timely manner. Not everyone has several hundred dollars laying around to purchase the more expensive machines.

I am truly grateful that I do have a fully data capable APAP and wish everyone could have the same luxury.

deepurpleprincess · Post by **deepurpleprincess** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:49 pm

I wish I had a data capable machine. Some days I feel better then others and would like to know the data, but what can you do huh. I think insurance should let everyone have a data capable machine. We have a right to see our data.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:28 pm

I agree with you deepurpleprincess. It is a shame that insurance companies and DME's are so reluctant to let us have data capable machines. At least give us a choice so that those that don't care or want the data capability is given a choice but those that want the data capability is not having to beg and plead for it and for some still can't get it!!

I know that cost is the big reason and that the DME's profits are cut. It seems to make everyone happy that they could bill it like medicine -- a generic machine would be x amount, and the more expensive machines could have another x amount.

Someone with more insurance savy than me could probably tell us if our copays help make up the difference in the price. In other words if a plus is one amount and an apap is another I know that the insurance pays a flat rate -- but does our copays play into it all? In other words the higher the machine the higher the copay?

Mask