new machine ds220

I have anthem blue cross insurance HMO. We switched to them the first of April and I have been working through the slow process to get approved for supplies. After talking angry on the phone for a while I finally convinced them to set me up again from scratch. They called me this morning and told me I had been approved for a new machine A DS220 Resperonics. They told me it is a data capable machine (i specifically asked about efficacy data) and the person on the phone said it was but I do not think it is.

Has anyone with this HMO been able to upgrade the machine? I may go out of network or online to make sure I get a better machine

My current machine frequently has a moldy smell and I wake every morning coughing like a smoker so it needs to be replaced/repaired. I may go out of network or online to make sure I get a better machine

jacobsbd wrote:A DS220 Resperonics. They told me it is a data capable machine (i specifically asked about efficacy data) and the person on the phone said it was but I do not think it is.

It is NOT a full efficacy data machine. It does record one data point....hours of use...compliance usage. That's it.
The DS220 is this machine
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... chine.html
Basic machine with heated hose option.

In the Respironics line you would want at least the model 460 to have any efficacy data available.
The 460 is the cpap mode (with limited apap capabilities) that has full efficacy data
The 560 is the step up and it has full time apap mode as well as cpap mode available....2 machines in one.

Your insurance doesn't care which model...they pay by HCPCS billing code and not model name/number or brand. It's the DME who wants to supply the brick because it's the cheapest and insurance companies pay the same for a brick as they do the 560 model....so guess which one they want to sell?

The person who told you the 220 was a full data machine either doesn't know what they are talking about or just flat out lied to you.

Google "maskarrayed".
==and read before you accept this POS.
Of course, with an HMO, you may have no recourse unless you can get your doctor to specify
"leak and efficacy data accessible to patient" on the prescription. Good luck!

Thats what I thought. However since I have an HMO they can specify the specific machine. I will call to see If I can bump up quality of the machine.

jacobsbd wrote: My current machine frequently has a moldy smell and I wake every morning coughing like a smoker so it needs to be replaced/repaired. I may go out of network or online to make sure I get a better machine

the resmed s9 autoset is actually easy to take apart, and clean, if you have a long shafted t10 screwdriver.

takes me about 5 minutes to open one up.

however if you're getting moldy smells, I'd suggest first cleaning/replacing the filter, then cleaning out the humidifier tank.

try detaching the humidifier unit and running the machine without it, see if there's any smell from the flow generator, if not, then go over the humidifier well, and make sure it's nicely sanitized, same with hose and mask.

there should NOT be anything moldy smelling in an s9.