First Time CPAP Buyer Question

My Dr. set me up with Medical Supply Company located about 40 minutes from my house to buy my first CPAP. Is it important that it be closer to my home? I don't mind driving their once to get the unit and mask, but will I be going back there often for support? Do you think I should find a closer location?
Thanks

Well, I think more important than that is to do some reading before your go get your machine so that you know what kind of machine they are trying to pawn off on you. Most DMEs are going to give you the cheapest machine they can get away with. You want one that is data capable at a minimum.

Perhaps if you call them before you go they will tell you the model the expect to give you. Then post back here and people will make suggestions as to whether that is a desirable machine or not and if not, what to ask for.

It would also help to know what your prescription says---straight CPAP, bilevel, etc.

I live in a somewhat rural area so it is a half hour drive to just about any place I need or want to go. Of course, not a lot of it is city driving which makes that half hour drive less daunting than if it were city driving all the way.

I would suggest that you call your insurance company (or secondary insurance if Medicare is your primary) and ask them what local DME CPAP providers they are contracted with. Hopefully you will have the option of more than one as that gives you more bargaining/negotiating room to ensure that you get a fully data capable CPAP. It also gives you the opportunity to shop the various local DME providers your insurance is contracted with to find one w/a lenient mask exchange policy and staff that you feel comfortable working with and that you feel you can rely on. Distance is much less important than either of these two issues. Once you get acclimated to CPAP therapy and have a comfortable, relatively leak-free mask, your contacts w/the DME provider become minimal. Generally you can call for what supplies you need and they can mail them to you once you and your PAP and mask are on comfortable, friendly terms.

Thankyou, this is helpful. I guess I was being rushed into this by my Dr and his key DME provider. Choice is important.
I am going to shop around models and providers. I am glad I found this great Website.

Just keep in mind that to get your full insurance benefits you MUST use a local DME provider that your insurance is contracted with - and quite likely you will have NO insurance benefits if you "go out of network" and select a provider not contracted w/your insurance.

And in all fairness to your doctor, he may have referred you to this one particular provider only because his office staff determined that the one you were referred to was contracted w/your insurance, not necessarily because he has any "sweetheart" deal w/that provider.

My sleep lab wisely asked me if I had a preference of local DME providers and when I said I didn't have the slightest idea of one or the other - except one I KNEW I would NOT do business w/due to my mother's experience w/them. My sleep lab told me my insurance was contracted w/three locals and told me the name of the three. It was my choice but I did ask if they had any recommendation amongst the three.

Lenny514 wrote:My Dr. set me up with Medical Supply Company located about 40 minutes from my house to buy my first CPAP. Is it important that it be closer to my home? I don't mind driving their once to get the unit and mask, but will I be going back there often for support? Do you think I should find a closer location?
Thanks

fwiw - My DME comes right to my house. I have no idea how to get to their office about 45 min away.

But more important is how they treat you. Their policies on trading masks and esp. the intitial machine MUST have data.

Welcome to the forum, Lenny!

You've had excellent advice here regarding insurance, machines, etc. Be sure to get copies of your complete sleep study results (both diagnostic and titration) and your prescription. And here's a very helpful post that will get you started in the right direction regarding which machines are capable of reporting full data (AHI, leak rate, etc.) and which are only capable of reporting the hours the machine was used (compliance only): viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168. You want to stay away from the machines typed there in red, as they are compliance-only machines and can't give you (or your doctor) any useful information if your therapy isn't as effective as it could be.

Be sure to explore the CPAP Wiki (at the top of the screen). And feel free to ask any questions if you can't find the answers there or by searching past forum posts.