"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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I'm really confused
I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and just yesterday was contacted by a DME representative's secretary. She wanted to tell me which CPAP machine my sleep doctor had suggested they bring for me. I asked if I could have a particular brand, model etc. and she said "Well, I guess I can try to get that one for you".
Can any of you explain in simple terms how getting a machine is supposed to work. I had so many phone calls between the sleep doctor's office, the DME's secretary etc. that I'm totally confused. A particular brand has been recommended to me by someone who is a sleep center director in Las Vegas, NV and this person is also my friend.
Kathy
Can any of you explain in simple terms how getting a machine is supposed to work. I had so many phone calls between the sleep doctor's office, the DME's secretary etc. that I'm totally confused. A particular brand has been recommended to me by someone who is a sleep center director in Las Vegas, NV and this person is also my friend.
Kathy
Views: 68
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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What brand did your friend suggest? I could be wrong, but I believe that your insurance company will have a list of machines that they will purchase for you. As long as you don't stray from this list you should not have a problem. If you are purchasing the machine out of pocket then it does not matter.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Keller on
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She recommended the Respironics REMStar Plus M Series with CFLEX. I am going to call my insurance company this morning to see if I can get a list from them of which machines they will purchase or how much they will cover toward the cost of the recommended machine.
Rock Hinkle said:What brand did your friend suggest? I could be wrong, but I believe that your insurance company will have a list of machines that they will purchase for you. As long as you don't stray from this list you should not have a problem. If you are purchasing the machine out of pocket then it does not matter.
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How do I know I am getting a 'new' machine and not a used one or one that has been refurbished?
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Someone else is going to have to give you the answer to that one Kathy.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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Okay Rock, on this one I disagree with you about the Plus being a great machine.
It is one of the cheapest models that Respironics puts out (there are a few even lower -- but not many). Most DMEs give out this cheapy unit to patients that do not know any better.
What if she has trouble adjusting to her therapy? How will she determine if she is leaking? How is she going to determine or troubleshoot problems?
Kathy, I suggest that you get a data capable machine. Do NOT accept the Plus model!! Insurance companies pay by code -- not by type of machine. You might as well get a good machine from the get go. I don't care if your friend is a director at a sleep clinic -- the PLUS machine does not provide any USEFUL data that will help you in your therapy. The Plus model only provides compliance data (meaning how many hours and days the machine was used). So just because it has a "Smart Card and module" doesn't mean that it is indeed providing any other data besides useage.
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So what kind of a machine do I ask for then..............I was confused before and now I am even more so :(
sleepycarol said:Okay Rock, on this one I disagree with you about the Plus being a great machine.
It is one of the cheapest models that Respironics puts out (there are a few even lower -- but not many). Most DMEs give out this cheapy unit to patients that do not know any better.
What if she has trouble adjusting to her therapy? How will she determine if she is leaking? How is she going to determine or troubleshoot problems?
Kathy, I suggest that you get a data capable machine. Do NOT accept the Plus model!! Insurance companies pay by code -- not by type of machine. You might as well get a good machine from the get go. I don't care if your friend is a director at a sleep clinic -- the PLUS machine does not provide any USEFUL data that will help you in your therapy. The Plus model only provides compliance data (meaning how many hours and days the machine was used). So just because it has a "Smart Card and module" doesn't mean that it is indeed providing any other data besides useage.
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If possible ask for an M series apap with your pressure range. It can be run in straight cpap mode with a single pressure OR used as an apap with a range of pressures -- example my pressure range is 9 to 15. My pressure needs vary during the night and the machine can sense when an apnea is about to occur and make the necessary changes. The newer model has what is known as A-flex and is supposed to be much better than C-flex, but my machine only has C-flex and so I have no experience with the A-flex. It records useful data such as snores, leak rate, apnea rate (how many are occuring), your pressure, etc. so that if you need adjustment to your therapy the doctor, DME or yourself can pinpoint what areas are causing issues. Especially useful if changes occur that may affect your treatment pressure, such as weight loss, weight gain, etc. You can use this machine to determine pressure changes by these changes without having another full blown sleep test.
If your doctor will not prescribe an apap, ask for an M series Pro machine. It is a straight cpap and operates on a continous pressure determined by the sleep lab. It only is available with c-flex at this time. It records the above mentioned useful data as well.
The Resmed machines include the Vantage and the Elite -- I hope Judy sees this and can give you more info on the REsmeds.
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