Learning curve in helping my mom with CPAP - update.

I purchased my mom and dad both machines from second wind as their DME provided bricks for them. My mom returned both machines when my father passed away, so I repurchased her machine back when I went out for my Dad's funeral and to take care of my sister. In calling everyone that I needed to call to find out how to set up a DME for her through medicare, I learned a few things.

The receptionist for her doctor was not very helpful, kept telling my mother that Medicare would not pay for my mom's equipment. **grrrrr** I got her insurance card info, called the insurance company that handles her Medicare plan and they were quite appalled that the receptionist would tell her that as they will bend over backwards to make sure she has what she needs - to include the mask that she wants -whatever that mask is. (My mother was told that they would only pay for one type of mask).

I called West Pharmacy in Huntington Beach and had a long chat with their resident DME - very very nice lady - and am now in the process of getting everything set up for her, to include them going to her house and educating her further on the use of her machine and her apnea, as my father handled all of this. I taught her how to clean her equipment while I was there.

Medicare upped the standards of DMEs so that if they do not allow trials for masks and fittings, they will not use that DME. Many of the DME's lost their bids due to not providing the fittings for the masks. (In this, I have to agree, a poorly fitting mask without the choice of mask that works the best is miserable and ineffective).

I'd like to have a few rounds with this receptionist. She really didn't impress me at all. I told my mom's new DME to expect a lot of run around from this receptionist - she said that she was used to it, not to worry.

I"m relieved.

I'm hoping my mom will get back on her machine and do well. She's been missing a lot of words in her sentences (before dad died) and is has not been sleeping well due to her not using her machine.

Hopefully your mom has an ally there now thanks to your intervention. It's hard to take care of these things from a distance. My condolences on the loss of your father.

kteague wrote:Hopefully your mom has an ally there now thanks to your intervention. It's hard to take care of these things from a distance. My condolences on the loss of your father.

I hope so. And I hope my mom speaks up when she has needs. She's more of the type to live with things that aren't going well. . .

I understand what you mean.
My wife and I are trying to take care of her 78 year old brother, who would rather tell world war 2 stories than talk to his doctor about his health. We occasionally sit in on his doctor visits. between the doctors attitude and brother in law's attitude it is very difficult to make any progress.

My doctors office staff is very pleasant, but their desks seem to be all cracks. I make a request for a referral for sleep doc or DME etc they say fine. I check a week later with the medical group that must approve the referral, they never got it. After 2 or 3 requests it finally happens. I wonder if they hate me as much as I do them.

Quiet,

I hope you are going to write a letter to the doctor telling him/her what the receptionist said and that without your intervention your mother would not have pursued treatment. A receptionist has NO business saying something like that--it jeopardized your mother's care!