DME Success Story

I've had a Cpap since 2005. I had my two sleep studies in November and December 2004.

I had Cigna insurance. A month after my 2nd study, I got a box of Cpap stuff via UPS. For the two years I had Cigna, I had no follow-up contact.

I bought all my own supplies -- I didn't know any better.

I got a new job last year and new insurance.

On a recent flight, I checked my Cpap as baggage. When I set the unit up in the hotel, it made a whirling noise.

I contacted my new insurance and told them. They said I could get a new machine.

I went to my doctor. He checked my chart and found no record of OSA, Sleep Study, referral or etc, etc.

I located my sleep lab. They didn't have my studies. A couple of weeks later, they reported that they found them in cold storage.

I talked to my doctor and had him write a prescription. When I picked it up, I didn't like the way he wrote it. I sent him another letter and asked that he write it as "Auto Cpap, 8cm, heated humidifier, mask and supplies." After careful prodding, he did.

I contacted a local DME in Richmond VA and asked if they accepted insurance. They said they had a sister company next door that could do this for me. The DME has an online store. Since they are only 2 miles from my house, I thought I would give them a try.

I told them I wanted an Respironics Auto M Series, a F&P HC150 heated humidifier, and a PB Breeze nasal pillow mask. They said fine, that the insurance codes were the same no matter which specific equipment I got. I sent them my scanned prescription, insurance card, and sleep study.

They called back the same day and said they had everything ready. I visited today and had reservations that all would go well.

I wanted A-Flex, but they were against it, I don't know why. Since my prescription said only Auto Cpap, I decided not to fight. I mean, I wasn't prescribed Auto as part of my sleep study -- constant 8cm only.

They did recommend the M Series Auto with C-Flex and smartcard. I was pretty jazzed with this, so I accepted it. They tried to talk me out of the F&P HC150, but I told them I had heard great things about it. They said fine. They had the PB Breeze ready in a box for me.

The lady went over a few details (I told her not to spend too much time since I already had a cpap), and I signed the paperwork and was gone in about 20 minutes.

They even processed the paperwork to have my insurance buy the unit rather than rent -- the rationale for them was that I already had cpap and was not on a "trial" basis.

I don't know what you guys think, but I thought it all went well.

I had to read hours and hours worth of your comments on this forum to be able to put this deal together. I also spent a lot of time tracking down paperwork and chasing doctor prescriptions. However, I feel like it was worth.

Out of respect for the owner of this forum, I won't name the Online DME or the sister Bill My ....com company. If you are interested, though, you can google these three words to find out who it was; SPECTRIM MIDLOTHIAN CPAP.

Thanks for all your comments and topics that helped me understand how to take control of my own healthcare. Also, I am now going to get a new mask every 90 days through insurance -- so, this is cool, too.

What a great success story! Horray for you!! Yes, knowledge is power!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."