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DME vs. CPAP Wholesaler
Replied 4 hours ago
j n k's Page
Here is my list of the TOP FIVE things I consider important information for anyone starting out on positive-airway pressure (or, PAP) therapy:
1. DOCUMENT AND RESEARCH: It is your life, so get complete copies of your sleep tests and your prescription so that you can study them and research the specifics of your condition.
2. FIND THE RIGHT MASK: The mask is the key to successful therapy, so either use mask insurance if you buy online or only deal with a local durable medical equipment company (or, DME) that will let you trade in a mask that you can’t make work for you within 30 days, at no cost to you. The first mask you get may not necessarily be the perfect one for you, so don’t judge the therapy based on your first mask. Even with the right mask, you may need to practice putting it on, and it may take several nights for you to get comfortable with wearing it all night.
3. GET A FULL-DATA MACHINE: Your having a machine that can give you leak and apnea-hypopnea index (or, AHI) data will allow you and your medical team to make sure your therapy is as effective and comfortable as possible. Your local DME may not understand that concept (or may pretend not to, for financial reasons), so be sure to get a list of in-network DMEs from your insurance before you speak to any DME. That may allow you to push for a full-data machine, or perhaps allow you to shop around in the interests of fostering healthy competition among businesses. Some users have found it cheaper for them in the long run, and less frustrating, simply to buy their own equipment online instead of paying their insurance co-payments at local-DME prices. Some users have even found ways to get reimbursed from their insurance for online purchases.
4. GET THE RIGHT KIND OF MACHINE FOR YOU: Straight pressure as delivered by a regular continuous positive airway pressure machine (or, CPAP) does fine for most people with obstructive sleep apnea (or, OSA). But many have found great benefit in the use of an APAP (auto-adjusting machine), and many with high-pressure prescriptions (over 15 cm H2O, for example) have benefited from the use of a bilevel machine (also called Bi-PAP or VPAP). Machine users with a high number of significant central apneas may do better on specialized machines designed to deal with that problem.
5. DON’T THINK YOU HAVE TO GO IT ALONE IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES: Your doctor works for you. Your DME works for you. They can’t help you if you aren’t being sufficiently vocal and specific about your needs. Furthermore, online forums exist for you to get quick help from fellow patients any time you need it. Please don’t give up without reaching out to (1) the professionals you have paid to be there for you or (2) the fellow patients who pride themselves on being helpful to other patients in the forums. Online, you can find helpful hints such as this one: “Don’t set your ramp setting too low (or set your starting minimum pressure too low on an APAP), since that might make you feel starved for air or even keep your machine from taking care of your apneas as well as it otherwise could.”
1. DOCUMENT AND RESEARCH: It is your life, so get complete copies of your sleep tests and your prescription so that you can study them and research the specifics of your condition.
2. FIND THE RIGHT MASK: The mask is the key to successful therapy, so either use mask insurance if you buy online or only deal with a local durable medical equipment company (or, DME) that will let you trade in a mask that you can’t make work for you within 30 days, at no cost to you. The first mask you get may not necessarily be the perfect one for you, so don’t judge the therapy based on your first mask. Even with the right mask, you may need to practice putting it on, and it may take several nights for you to get comfortable with wearing it all night.
3. GET A FULL-DATA MACHINE: Your having a machine that can give you leak and apnea-hypopnea index (or, AHI) data will allow you and your medical team to make sure your therapy is as effective and comfortable as possible. Your local DME may not understand that concept (or may pretend not to, for financial reasons), so be sure to get a list of in-network DMEs from your insurance before you speak to any DME. That may allow you to push for a full-data machine, or perhaps allow you to shop around in the interests of fostering healthy competition among businesses. Some users have found it cheaper for them in the long run, and less frustrating, simply to buy their own equipment online instead of paying their insurance co-payments at local-DME prices. Some users have even found ways to get reimbursed from their insurance for online purchases.
4. GET THE RIGHT KIND OF MACHINE FOR YOU: Straight pressure as delivered by a regular continuous positive airway pressure machine (or, CPAP) does fine for most people with obstructive sleep apnea (or, OSA). But many have found great benefit in the use of an APAP (auto-adjusting machine), and many with high-pressure prescriptions (over 15 cm H2O, for example) have benefited from the use of a bilevel machine (also called Bi-PAP or VPAP). Machine users with a high number of significant central apneas may do better on specialized machines designed to deal with that problem.
5. DON’T THINK YOU HAVE TO GO IT ALONE IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES: Your doctor works for you. Your DME works for you. They can’t help you if you aren’t being sufficiently vocal and specific about your needs. Furthermore, online forums exist for you to get quick help from fellow patients any time you need it. Please don’t give up without reaching out to (1) the professionals you have paid to be there for you or (2) the fellow patients who pride themselves on being helpful to other patients in the forums. Online, you can find helpful hints such as this one: “Don’t set your ramp setting too low (or set your starting minimum pressure too low on an APAP), since that might make you feel starved for air or even keep your machine from taking care of your apneas as well as it otherwise could.”
Profile Information
- My Interest in Sleep Apnea
- I have Sleep Apnea
- Treatment Being Used, if any
- Auto-Adjusting Bi-Level
- If Machine Being Used, What Type? (e.g., Respironics M Series with A-Flex Auto-Adjusting CPAP)
- VPAP Auto
- If Mask Being Used, What Type? (e.g., ResMed Activa Nasal Mask)
- LT
Latest Activity
Yup, if you've got insurance, your insurance dictates which local DME providers you can use.
Just because you bought your CPAP elsewhere does NOT mean that your insurance contracted providers can't or won't provide your masks and other accessories.…
Linda, thanks your your help. When I call Apria, I wil ask them why they did not offer me a payment plan.
Good luck!
Hi Candace,
Apria is giving me a payment plan for 10 months, after that I will buy it if I still need it. In the mean time, all of the folks here are so helpful they told me the best cpap to get and low and behold, Apria did not give me a newer mode…
Linda, I read your question re: CPAP Machine and Apria. I also am not impressed with them. I have Kaiser and Kaiser will not pay for my equipment. Apria says that I have to pay all costs up front. Are you on a payment plan with Apria. I have severe…
First, let me say, Thank you for going to bat for us. I think you are doing a fantastic job in spreading OSA awareness and providing us with OSA a place to go for support. Apparently there is no connection between a college degree and intelligence,…
You hit the nail on the head. I had a similar experience last year with another organization, The Alzheimer's Association. I ask for permission to pass out a flyer, "Does Sleep Apnea Cause Alzheimer's Disease?," at one of their annual meetings regar…
Then she should say that... Say anything other than the falsehood that the connection between OSA and heart disease isn't sufficiently proven.
"Respironics recommends that new patients purchase their devices, masks and initial accessories from a homecare company that can provide an individualized patient equipment set-up, clinical and after-sale support, and a program to assist patients wi…
Maybe you should be the communications director for the AHA ;-).
I believe that individuals should be free to make decisions for themselves. This goes for the patients and the providers. The patient is free to decide what to do and who to pay for what services. The provider is free to decide what services he offe…
I'M NOT A 100% SURE OF THE NAME OF MY MASK I THINK IT'S CALLED A PROFILE LITE IT HAS A THICK GEL CUSHION ON THE FORHEAD PIECE AND THE ALL AROUND THE MASK. I STILL END UP WITH RED MARKS ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE AND FOREHEAD BUT THEY FADE IN AN HOUR O…
by no means am i suggesting that this one person believes one thing or another. rather, she is the director of marketing and communications for the AHA. it is her job to communicate the organization's viewpoints to the public, and that's what she wa…
HEY, I read the funny e-mails! HAH, I'm heading north tomorrow...
I received my machine in March with a nasal pillow mask. I switched to a full face mask because I was breathing thru my mouth.I was struggling with getting used to wearing the mask, finally got to the point of wearing it every night.I could not get…
Ah ha, BirdShell!!! You can ignore me, but we managed to lure you out of your hiding place w/this thread, eh??
Too bad too. Danielle, Ashley, Nicole and I are all meeting at La Placita in Saginaw for lunch tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!!!! Nico…
I agree with your advice,Mike.Once I was treated for a sinus infection,I had replaced everything .Also, it is a good idea to use saline to cleanse the sinuses at least twice daily . You may look into the use of a Nettie Pot,,,,that can throughly cle…
I tried wearing a band aid on the bridge of my nose the other night and it helped, but not enough. Most of the "solutions' that I've found end up causing to much air to leak. I started wearing the bandana (folded in several layers and tied like a he…
I have to comment! I ran Jump Rope for Heart (JRFH) activities/fundraisers in my classes for years. (For more information: http://www.aahperd.org/jump/ and http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360 This is a good condensation of t…
I've beeb using Sleep Strip for years. It's a good screening test that correlates pretty well with formal sleep studies. It won't give you a number, but rather ranges from none, to mild, moderate or severe. You still need a doctor's prescription. Ty…
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