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For those who feel that sleep apnea doctors and equipment providers are charging too much, just use your primary care physician who can execute referrals for equipment, etc.  I have had no sleep apnea related problems, so when the equipment people say I need to go back and see my sleep specialist, I tell them to talk to my health care doctor and he can tell them to sell me the materials, etc.,  If I do not need to see the specialist, then he serves as my apnea doctor and when we agree I need to see a specialist, he can make a referral.  I am not wasting medicare dollars to see a specialist that I don't need to see or because the equipment people say I have to get back to see my sleep apnea specialist.

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i think this is a valid approach to dealing with simple OSA.
If the PCP is educated in sleep I believe this to be a good practice with most users.
The problem is that most Primary care physicians have very little training in the area of sleep medicine and how to treat. Medicine is much more complicated than is used to be and it is difficult to stay current and up to date on all areas. Would you have a general surgeon perform your triple by pass?
My point has been missed by some. The issue is not to make the PCP your expert on sleep disorders nor would you expert a generalist to work on specific needs. The issue was using your PCP as your backup when the specialists or others in the sleep field want you to spend your money on meetings with them that you don't need. If you are not experiencing any problems, use your PCP as your contact to avoid extra expeditures. Your PCP will refer you back to the sleep disorder specialist when you and he feel it is warranted. We have to begin to find ways to reduce costs in the health care industry. There are entirely too many extra tests, visits, etc. that are not necessary.



bkp said:
The problem is that most Primary care physicians have very little training in the area of sleep medicine and how to treat. Medicine is much more complicated than is used to be and it is difficult to stay current and up to date on all areas. Would you have a general surgeon perform your triple by pass?

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