Can they take my CPAP MACHINE AWAY???

I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) and I got no warning. I've been struggling with the headgear, too, which the company knew about.

The provider is picking up the machine TOMORROW. My doc's office and medicare both said the same thing.

I was told by Medicare that if I want the machine I can buy it. Does anyone know of a rental company for CPAP machines I can get in the interim because this mess is going to take a while to resolve. Or maybe there's another solution?

Thanks

NEVER buy from the local DME if you are forced to go out of pocket.
Prices are much better online:
New: cpap.com, and some others (Google; then ask around--like here)
"Gently used" or open box: secondwindcpap.com
Craig's list (experts can do fairly well, an innocent not so much--unless you are lucky)

Hi Musica, our host cpap.com has a machine loaner program, it doesn't exactly pertain to your situation, but maybe you could call them and ask -- they always seem to go out of their way to help us out when we need it.

Musica wrote:I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) so Medicare won't pay for the machine. I've been struggling with the headgear, too.

The provider is picking up the machine TOMORROW and will not allow me to keep it any longer. My doc's office verified this. I explained to the office people I don't have a way to get to get there too soon (he's far away) and that's another one of the rules.

I was told by Medicare that if I want the machine I can buy it. Does anyone know of a rental company for CPAP machines I can get in the interim because this mess is going to take a while to resolve. Or maybe there's another solution?

Thanks

If you want to purchase a machine out of pocket, maybe mcdover has one left. See this thread:

viewtopic/t83637/Used-CPAPBiPAPs.html

Musica wrote:I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) so Medicare won't pay for the machine. I've been struggling with the headgear, too.

The provider is picking up the machine TOMORROW and will not allow me to keep it any longer. My doc's office verified this. I explained to the office people I don't have a way to get to get there too soon (he's far away) and that's another one of the rules.

I was told by Medicare that if I want the machine I can buy it. Does anyone know of a rental company for CPAP machines I can get in the interim because this mess is going to take a while to resolve. Or maybe there's another solution?

Thanks

How long have you had the machine? I think you have 90 days to meet the 70% in 30 days requirement.

Do you think you actually failed the 4 hours per night for 30 days, or is it possible they made a mistake?

Musica wrote:I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) so Medicare won't pay for the machine. I've been struggling with the headgear, too.

The provider is picking up the machine TOMORROW and will not allow me to keep it any longer. My doc's office verified this. I explained to the office people I don't have a way to get to get there too soon (he's far away) and that's another one of the rules.

I was told by Medicare that if I want the machine I can buy it. Does anyone know of a rental company for CPAP machines I can get in the interim because this mess is going to take a while to resolve. Or maybe there's another solution?

Thanks

In another post you said that you have an S8 that you used for 5 years before you got this upgrade. What happened to that machine...and...if you have been on CPAP for 5 years why are you having so much trouble with compliance?

Musica wrote:I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) so Medicare won't pay for the machine. I've been struggling with the headgear, too.

The provider is picking up the machine TOMORROW and will not allow me to keep it any longer. My doc's office verified this. I explained to the office people I don't have a way to get to get there too soon (he's far away) and that's another one of the rules.

I was told by Medicare that if I want the machine I can buy it. Does anyone know of a rental company for CPAP machines I can get in the interim because this mess is going to take a while to resolve. Or maybe there's another solution?

Thanks

I had a somewhat similar situation when I first started this therapy. My doctor (a sleep specialist) told me not to be concerned, that she would write a letter of explanation to Medicare. I think she wrote the letter... I'm not really sure... but I never heard anything more about it. I'm surprised your doctor isn't willing to help you out... this is not uncommon.

archangle wrote:

Musica wrote:I got a new Resmed S9 and the provider read the data. Despite trying very hard to comply, my numbers fell short (but not too short) of compliance numbers (they downloaded the data from my machine) so Medicare won't pay for the machine. I've been struggling with the headgear, too.

The provider is picking up the machine TOMORROW and will not allow me to keep it any longer. My doc's office verified this. I explained to the office people I don't have a way to get to get there too soon (he's far away) and that's another one of the rules.

I was told by Medicare that if I want the machine I can buy it. Does anyone know of a rental company for CPAP machines I can get in the interim because this mess is going to take a while to resolve. Or maybe there's another solution?

Thanks

How long have you had the machine? I think you have 90 days to meet the 70% in 30 days requirement.

Do you think you actually failed the 4 hours per night for 30 days, or is it possible they made a mistake?

Thanks for your reply. I told them I thought the data was a mistake and they said no. Tonight I asked them to email me the data. Too many mistakes are made along the chain of events. I was never told I'd lose the machine. I told them the headgear was "not working well" and had requested another one when I got the new machine. I still hadn't gotten one when they told me the data wasn't compliant. It seems NO reason helps -- none! Machine goes back tomorrow.

Someone gave me some good solutions using online companies, but I'm so incredibly weary. I've held my breath for 45 seconds during the study. That's abnormal. Can't imagine the damage it's doing to my body but they don't care because of a "printout". Imagine an obituary stating cause of death: CPAP PRINTOUT: MACHINE CONFISCATED. NON-COMPLIANCE -- extenuating circumstances ignored.

If you got the machine mid July and haven't been compliant, I'm not suprised that they want it back.

Thanks for your reply.

I don't know what the doc meant. Maybe there was a leak in the hose since my DME sent me the hose for the S9 when I had the S8. I just got the S9 and used it successfully for 2 days. Nice machine! Now I have to learn how to look at the numbers. Doc set the pressure 5-8 which should cover it (I assume) based on my 5 year old sleep test. I'm going to post about frequency of sleep tests in a message when I get through the current posts.

The above is a quote from another post by OP.

So where is the S8 and why can't you go back to that in the mean time?

I don't know what is going on with the OP, but I had a very nasty experience over compliance with my DME.

I was 75 days into my 90 day compliance period when the DME told me I was not in compliance. I had used my Escape cpap every night except for 5 nights for 6 to 8 hours each night of the 75 days. I came unglued at them. I told them I could prove my usage because the machine had the data stored on it. They told me that "blower time" and "treatment time" was not the same. I ask what was treatment and how did they determined treatment. I got NO answer. i called ResMed and ask them. They told me the only thing that the Escape showed was run time or usage time and nothing else. I still do not know how they came up with treatment time vs blower time on an Escape which has no detail data. I did used my machine as I said, and I still use my machine every night, all night. I told them I would get an lawyer if I had to, and I told them what I found out when i called ResMed. Next thing i know, I'm in compliance.....and I still don't know how they came up with "treatment time" that they were talking about. Now i have a S9 VPAP Auto and am going through compliance again....this time will be different...I down load everything every day....thanks to this site I have learned how to protect myself.

Also I ask for my compliance report and it showed I was in compliance the first 30 days of my usage...when i saw that I wanted to call them... but I just let it go because by then they had agreed to sent me the S9 Autoset and take back the EScape. These DME's are crazy.

allen476 wrote:

Thanks for your reply.

I don't know what the doc meant. Maybe there was a leak in the hose since my DME sent me the hose for the S9 when I had the S8. I just got the S9 and used it successfully for 2 days. Nice machine! Now I have to learn how to look at the numbers. Doc set the pressure 5-8 which should cover it (I assume) based on my 5 year old sleep test. I'm going to post about frequency of sleep tests in a message when I get through the current posts.

The above is a quote from another post by OP.

So where is the S8 and why can't you go back to that in the mean time?

Thanks for the suggestion. The S8 had a water chamber that fell apart. That plus the doc said my S8 was operating at 40% efficiency so because it's over 5 years old he ordered a new one and that's where the problem started --- with my mother's health too. I did my best. If the powers that be don't allow me to work this out, then so be it. I don't have the energy to fight this anymore.

You can always lock your door and not answer the doorbell when they arrive until the issue is resolved. I highly doubt that they will get a warrant to gain acess to the machine.



my guess is that after one or two failed attempts,they will send you a bill for the machine.

Dave

Denial Dave wrote:You can always lock your door and not answer the doorbell when they arrive until the issue is resolved. I highly doubt that they will get a warrant to gain acess to the machine.



my guess is that after one or two failed attempts,they will send you a bill for the machine.

Dave

Haha I suggested that to her also. It's what I would probably do if there were no other options.

Denial Dave wrote:You can always lock your door and not answer the doorbell when they arrive until the issue is resolved. I highly doubt that they will get a warrant to gain acess to the machine.

Dave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhWavua-1FI