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What happens to those returned masks that someone used for a week or two?
The two masks I have received so far were not sealed in their original plastic...and if you read my earlier post, I am sick now. Not only do I have a bad cold but now have laryngitis. Are there state laws and regulations that prevent the DME from reselling these masks someone else may have used?
Views: 270
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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Those mask are tossed out we do not re-use patient mask. Now in the lab we use mask however they are cleaned then gassed.
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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that is an excellent reply but i wonder how many do do that
my advice is should you recieve them not sealed is to wash and steralise them before use
why risk your health they may be ok but you do not know that
D. W. Conn said:Those mask are tossed out we do not re-use patient mask. Now in the lab we use mask however they are cleaned then gassed.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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My DME opens all masks prior to giving them to the patient. They have opened masks for me to look at that I haven't even tried on. Most of the mask manufactures will give them credit for masks that are sent back within 30 days. That is why some DME's are lenient on their mask exchange policy.
I would say that they could be in big trouble if they gave you a used mask, not saying there aren't some that wouldn't.
It is probably just a coincidence that your cold came when it did. This is the time of year for colds, flu, etc.
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Some masks can be purchased in a "kit" that comtains more than one size nasal cushion, or more than one size nasal pillows or more than one size full face cushion. Or they can be purchased w/the one size of any of the cushions.
Some local DME suppliers will purchase the "kit", remove the different size cushions, keep the extra sizes in a "miscellaneous" drawer and provide just the one size cushion to the patient w/the mask. This gives them "replacement" cushions w/o having to special order them for those patients who need them.
Some local DME providers do NOT keep extra mask "parts" on hand, nor do some of them even make the patient aware that the cushions can be replaced instead of the entire mask, just as many do not make the patient aware that they "could" get a new mask every 3 months (according to their particular insurance - policies vary) but the headgear only every 6 months and hand the patient the spiel of horsepuckies that they are only eligible for an insurance paid mask every 6 months.
Since the allowed amount for a mask is determined by the HCPCS code, but the costs to the local DME provider varies whether they buy the "kit" or just the one size cushion w/the mask so they aren't really "ripping off" the patient by retaining the unused sizes of cushions from the kits.
Some then provide those retained cushion sizes to patients who need them w/o charge. On the other hand, some then charge the amount of the cushion (not mask) HCPCS code when providing just new cushions.
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Permalink Reply by Andy on
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Interesting...
I'd expect that the used ones get tossed. The reality is that they don't cost much to make, and would therefore be too costly to send back to the manufacturer. Most manufacturers of similar products will trust their reseller to a point, If there are too many returns (as determined by a percentage of sales) then they'd start to ask for proof. The most that companies I've dealt with over the years will require is that you send them back some essential part of a product, so that they know that it won't be used.
I would also expect that it might be tricky to bill the same unit to more than one person, so from a practical standpoint, I would think the DME wouldn't want to get involved in that sort of thing.
Still, I'm sure there are some low-life DME employees that would try it.
My DME "replaced" a mask for me, and didn't even want the old one back. They just made a claim to the manufacturer for a replacement.
The sleep center I go to also uses the masks one time. If the patients want to, they can take them home. That's how I got an extra one recently. The center will also give me the choice of which one I want to use during a test. If I don't like it, then I can choose another, and end up taking them both home!
But they did say that other sleep centers reuse the masks, after cleaning. Even on reuse, the manufacturer "requires" that certain parts be replaced, and that the mask is not used more than, say, 15 times.
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I always soak mine in diluted vinegar/water solution.
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what percentage of water to vinegar
Sharon Fine said:I always soak mine in diluted vinegar/water solution.
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Permalink Reply by Rock Conner RRT on
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I strongly urge folks to accept for purchase only new CPAP masks & accessories in unopened original manufacturer packaging. I am in the DME business & I have witnessed down rotten practices associated with reissuing used masks.
This is not to say that properly cleaned masks are inappropriate for sleep lab use. There is a process for preparing multiple patient masks for reuse, and you can assume that an accredited lab is following such a process. There is no such process, however, for DME distributors.
Make them give you a new mask in the original packaging that is first opened in your presence.
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Permalink Reply by Amy on
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We only give new masks to patients who are taking them home. In the lab we use special disinfectant to clean the masks.
All my DME companies use new masks. The reason some of them are outside the bags is because some come with more then 1 seal per frame in different sizes.
Question for you. Are you cleaning your mask and water chamber daily and are you disinfecting your eauipment at least 1x a week? Now my suggestion is definitely old school but I am a white vinegar and water girl. Use 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Soak for 20 minutes then rinse well and air dry. You can do it more often.
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there are always risks and mistakes taking place
even observing the openin of what seems to be a sealed bag can be slight of hand
even so it is good to wash all items first
Rock Conner RRT said:I strongly urge folks to accept for purchase only new CPAP masks & accessories in unopened original manufacturer packaging. I am in the DME business & I have witnessed down rotten practices associated with reissuing used masks.
This is not to say that properly cleaned masks are inappropriate for sleep lab use. There is a process for preparing multiple patient masks for reuse, and you can assume that an accredited lab is following such a process. There is no such process, however, for DME distributors.
Make them give you a new mask in the original packaging that is first opened in your presence.
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Permalink Reply by Melinda Hertel on
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YES!!!!!! A mask that is sold for patient use at home is only for the patient to use at home! Multi-use masks are sterilized in medical facilities like sleep labs. I would not accept a mask from a DME that did not come in its original packaging. DME companies will not receive an opened mask as a return, so why should you accept one that has been opened?
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Permalink Reply by Martin on
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I'm sorry but the government has no business intervening here, unless you want to pay 2 to 10 times as much for the equipment.
The instructions that come with the CPAP rig talks about cleaning the mask with vinegar and soap on a regular basis. Additionally, this should happen before you use it the first time as well. Who is to say that is was sterilized when it was packaged the first time!
I clean my mask with a product available on http://www.miraclemineral.org/ called miracle mineral. It is a saturated solution of sodium chlorite which you need to mix just a few drops (maybe 10) with a table spoon of apple cider vinegar. After 10 or 15 minutes add 6 or 8 ounces of water and rinse the mask with the solution followed with a rinse of plain water. Don't forget to do the hose as well.
The solution contains dissolved chlorine dioxide (about 50 to 200 PPM), which is really good at killing bacteria, viruses, mold and spores of all type.
The results of this procedure for me have been no colds or any other type of respiratory illness related to CPAP.
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