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fredr500 wrote:I talked to our Finance Mgr and she is willing to order the Autoset if you will do the setup with us.
If we order it we should have it by the middle to end of next week.

Amazing how they will do a little back peddling when you stand your ground...
They want your other mask and other supplies business...that's good.
Win win situation..you get what you want...they make a profit on the Autoset (though not as much as on the Escape) plus any subsequent sales' profits.

Just make sure it doesn't have Escape in the model name.

Likely they will get you the Autoset since you have proven that you know the models and what you want and are willing to go elsewhere if they don't want to supply what you want. They should know that you will know the difference between the Escape Auto and the Autoset.

Do go ahead and get them to give you a copy of your RX in case you need it for something online or traveling and something breaks and the RX is needed for emergency replacement of something.

What I did was tell my doctor that there was a free mask trial available (there was at that time through cpap.com product challenge) and I wanted to participate but they needed a copy of my RX. I didn't tell them it was to buy online a machine or mask, just that I wanted to participate in something that was free.
I didn't lie....there was a trial at that time...I didn't get chosen though...bummer.
But I am all set in case there ever is another one.

That's great! Never know what it will or will not entail unless you ask, right?!

kteague wrote:That's great! Never know what it will or will not entail unless you ask, right?!

I always told my kids -if you don't ask the answer is no.

You narrowly escaped a fate worse than death!

Glad you escaped the escape.

Although they now agree to give you the ResMed S9 AutoSet, they will try to give you a USED one.

Call them now & tell them you EXPECT to get a brand-new one with NO "Run Hours".

Then, learn how to check whether or not it has any "Run Hours".
If it does have any "Run Hours" when you go to pick it up, just refuse to accept it.

DME providers can & do LIE ! ! !

Thanks. I downloaded the manual and now know how to check the usage. I won't say anything until I check it out. If it is used after waiting a week for delivery I'll get my Rx and leave.

Next step: make sure your doctor's prescription states S9 Autoset;
otherwise the DME could still stick you with an upcharge.
We had to pay $460 extra for Hubby's machine because our doctor wasn't co-operative.

fredr500 wrote:Thanks. I downloaded the manual and now know how to check the usage. I won't say anything until I check it out. If it is used after waiting a week for delivery I'll get my Rx and leave.

Only problem with following that procedure is that you will have to start all over with a new DME who will try the same tactics on you.

This DME knows you are serious & if you tell them now that you won't accept a used machine, they won't try to foist one on you.

You can always fire this DME later if they are really bad.
But, since you are so far into the process, sticking with this DME might be best.

Now, if they tell you a used one is what you will get, I would get my prescription & run.

This is why it is always best for "you" to have the "original" prescription in your possession.
OR, at the least, have a copy of it.

I always get the "original" prescription from the Sleep Doctor saying I am not sure which DME I will deal with. That keeps them from just faxing / E-Mailing it to only 1 DME.

When the Sleep Doctor faxes / E-Mails the prescription to the DME, they are only getting a copy anyway.
So, I always give the DME a copy & keep the original for me to make more copies if I need them.

The DME will just scan the prescription into their computer system & then discard the paper version. So, why give them the only original?

I found this great resourse and was able to insure I got a good machine (APAP).

My Rx calls for 10-14 and my data indicates my range varies from just under 11 to just over 13, so my Rx is great.

Knowledge really is POWER!

It pays to research adn learn BEFORE its too late.

Great that you are getting a good machine.

i just checked with them this morning. Everything has arrived and is brand new. Of course I've learned how to check it so in the course of looking it over I will check the hours. Thanks for the advice.

Appointment is for tomorrow to get it all. Finally the beginning is in site.

Hi, TSA has seen cpaps all the time. If you have a problem, have them look on the bottom of it. It will tell them itisa medical device.

Muddpa

I picked up my equipment last night. As the tech was going through the settings he made a point of showing me the hours meter and that it was zero now but would indicate total hours used. Very subtly showing it was new.

Then he showed me how to connect the climate hose. I politely asked if that also connected directly to the unit in case I ever traveled without the humidifier. He said no, then went and got the other hose.

Mask fitting was done seated, another strike against him, but it was the same mask used in my titration and it was a good fit that night so I wasn't concerned.

Finally, I asked if I would get the Clinician's manual. He said No, that would enable me to go in and modify the settings and I shouldn't do that. Then he smiled and said "Knowing you, you'll figure it out anyway and do it, in fact I assume you have already downloaded it." I just smiled and said yes.

Once again, knowledge is power, I never would have gotten the second hose if not for what I've learned here.

If only I'd remembered to enable data last night, but I'll remember to do that tonight. First night's numbers posted in another thread.

Thanks again for all the help and information posted here. I can't imagine going in ignorant.

Glad that you got the machine you wanted/needed! It is great to be educated on your health, needs and wants.

Being a DME provider I want to clear up a few things that concern/upset me. Legally I cannot give you a clinician manual. Your doctor prescribed you a certain pressure, I cannot provide you with a manual to change that pressure. That would be the same as a pharmacist giving you a stronger dosage than what was ordered. It can and will hurt you.

WIth that being said, I am sad to see how many people change their own pressure. This is dangerous and you should speak with your doctor. A CPAP is suppose to help you, but fiddling with your pressure will not help you!

I see many people wanting auto machines. I am assuming these people have not gone through formal titration studies? Medicare standard states that we have to have a sleep study, and a titration. These patients are put on set pressure machines. If no formal titration is done, these patients are put on auto's to determine optimal pressure. I have 500 CPAP patients and only one has ever been left on an auto machine. So it is odd to see so many people wanting autos. We don't get paid more for autos vs. set pressure. And the reason you will almost always get a used auto is because on average patients use them for one month.

I hate to see that so many people feel their DME is lying or misleading them. You have a right to switch! It is a HUGE pain insurance wise but you still have that right! Don't ever stay with any healthcare professional that you feel is not completely honest with you!

If you ever want honest info from a DME manager, let me know! I am an open book!

ChasDME wrote:
Legally I cannot give you a clinician manual. Your doctor prescribed you a certain pressure, I cannot provide you with a manual to change that pressure. That would be the same as a pharmacist giving you a stronger dosage than what was ordered. It can and will hurt you.

Chas, thanks for your insightful reply. I will ask you questions as needed, thank you for the offer.

But I find the above quote hard to believe. I think of it more as a pharmacist can give me the pills, but it is up to me to take them. I can choose to take them more or less often depending on how I feel. My Dr gave me an Rx for insulin in a pen that allows me to dial in the dose. Do I have to use the dose he recommended, no. I monitor my blood sugar and meals and decide how much is needed. I learn over time and adjust. I see auto CPAP the same way. There are many factors that effect how much pressure I need. Basing the next 5 years of treatment on one night's worth of sleep with wires stuck all over my body and in a strange bed may have made sense 5 years ago. But with the auto machines available today, why not let the body ask for what it needs?

And if it was really going to harm me I think the tech would have spent time with me explaining why I shouldn't change it, instead of acknowledging that I would be doing it with a wink and a nod.

But now I'm curious. Is there really a law that says you can not give me a Clinician manual? Did the person that emailed it to me break the law? If I email a copy to someone else am I subject to prosecution? The version I have is marked Clinical Guide. No where does it say not for patient use or illegal for a patient to possess. In fact most of the manual appears to be written for the patient. The only real clinical coverage is how to get into the Clinical Setup Menu and the 8 screens available there. It's hard to believe knowing to hold the [double checkmark button] and the [round button] for 3 seconds is illegal.