CPAP Machine Data

RestLessLass wrote: Maybe I should return the rental and just purchase it myself, to be free of the regs hanging over me?

Hate to suggest this road simply from the expense that could be paid my Medicare and your supplement. You wouldn't have any out of pocket expenses. But you are going to face some huge problems dealing with the doctor who wants you to use a certain DME who wants to give you only basic equipment.

You can fire that DME and find another. The doctor cannot force you to use one you don't want. He might try with various excuses, but he can't do it. Not legally. It isn't ethical.

The humidifier will not likely be returnable, it is usually billed out as a separate purchase but the machine is rented and can be returned. So if you go down that road, you need to find DME or other supplier that the PR humidifier will work with because Medicare won't pay on another, so you will need to use it.

Your choice on what you want and how much hassle you can put up with. I fired my first DME too but I did it before I ever took possession of the equipment.

Regarding the 4 day thing. I was just trying to figure out if the compliance use might be showing as days instead of hours. My software does show a "total days of therapy" in one of the columns.
4 days is 96 hours of use, If you missed enough days and had several very short nights, that number might be close.

Thanks. I am going to have to think about this a bit. And meanwhile, just keep trying.

Yes, think about it.

Might also consider simply telling that DME that you do not wish to keep that machine and that you want a different machine. This machine below would work with the humidifier you have, is fully data capable and there is software available. Should they be agreeable to swap, don't let them pawn anything with a PLUS in the name. Should you opt to purchase a new machine out of your own pocket then I would suggest stepping up to an auto unit because it can be used in both straight cpap and apap modes. Educate yourself on the various machines. The difference in cost is not that great and benefits are many.

This one below has CFlex added in and this feature could help getting used to the pressure easier. Your current machine does not offer it.

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... -plus.html

While you are considering your options continue to try to use the machine you have as much as you can. Sounds like you aren't getting many hours of sleep with it. Not unusual though, this cpap journey can be very bumpy.

If you are having lung problems, and especially if you may be facing biopsy or surgery, you should get an Auto-adjusting machine. This will allow you and your doctor to tell what the optimal pressures are as things change with your lung condition.

Please read "What you need to know before you meet your DME" in my signature below. From what I understand of your posts so far you have traditional Medicare Parts A and B and possibly a supplement and you are only one month into your 13 month rental period with the Plus machine.

Talk to your doctor first if you can and ask for a SPECIFIC prescription for a Philips Respironics System One Auto with A-Flex machine. This is not entirely necessary, but with the specific prescription, the DME MUST provide what the doctor orders. You don't need to get this from your sleep doctor if the sleep doctor won't cooperate. Any doctor can write this script.

Before you go back to the DME that gave you the plus, ask around with other DME's to see who is willing to give you an auto with your prescription, knowing that a) they can't sell you a humidifier since you've already purchased that, and b) you've already used up one or two months (by the time things are settled) of your 13 month rental coverage. It's important to find a backup DME that will provide what you need and want before going to your current DME--you don't want to end up with NO machine if you get ticked off at your current DME.

Now go back to your original DME and ask them to give you the auto machine. If they won't return the rental and get it from that second DME.

RestLessLass wrote:But I haven't given up for days at a time. I haven't got a lot of full nights in, but certainly more than 4! (Night before last, I used it all night.) And there were a lot of nights I was able to get the minimum four hours in.

The Days > 4 on the Info menu is for compliance data. Select that menu item by clicking the big round button on the System One. You will then see the total number of days you've used the machine for at least four hours.

As for trying to get a full data machine, read Janknitz's links carefully. They've got lots of useful information.