Medicare & ASV prescription

I have just completed my third sleep study and finally have a prescription for a Resmed ASV w/humidifier. I have "complex" sleep apnea.

Has anyone gone through medicare to get a machine? There seem to be many DME providers, how do you choose one, what to look for?

Thanks, AA737

Most local DME suppliers accept Medicare and Medicare is often the bulk of their business so finding one that accepts Medicare shouldn't be a problem. Just call and ask. HOWEVER, if you have secondary insurance converage then you are going to want to call your secondary insurance to see if they pick up your 20% Medicare copay and if they do, you will want to ask THEM what local DME suppliers THEY are contracted with. Hopefully you will still have the option of more than one.

You''re best bet is to call to see if a local DME supplier accepts Medicare just to be sure. If you have secondary insurance coverage you can narrow the field to those your secondary insurance is contracted with. At that point, forget any further phone calls unless they require an appointment. GO to the DME supplier's facility, TALK to their RT, get an idea if you will be comfortable working w/that person and how knowledgeable and helpful they seem to be, ask if they usually handle Resmed xPAPs. Be sure to ask about their mask exchange policy as you will most surely want a lenient exchange policy. Keep your equipment order (script) in your pocket until you are confident you've found the local DME supplier you will be comfortable working with. If they do usually provide Resmed xPAPs, or even if they don't except as special orders, the ASV would most likely have to be a special order either way. Its a high end xPAP not that commonly needed or scripted.

Thanks alot for the help, I'll be checking my supplemental insurance.

Here is Medicare supplier I use-------------------

http://www.billmyhealthinsurance.com

Best I've found so far

There is also cpapforseniors.com who are experienced working w/Medicare. But first time around, given the mask issue, you're often (not always) better off working w/a local DME supplier if you can find a good one w/a lenient mask policy SIMPLY BECAUSE of the common problem w/finding the right mask.