New sleep study after 17 years?

[Jim1952]

I had my initial sleep study in October 2006, followed by a titration study in November which was inconclusive as to pressure needs. The first machine I was given was a 'dumb' CPAP at 14 cm pressure. (Can you say 'aerophagia?' Good. I knew you could.) When that was a no-go, I was given a ResMed S8 autoset set at 4 - 20 cm pressure. (Never saw a sleep doctor.) Ordered the ResMed program from a shop in Australia, looked in detail at the data, and established pressures at 6.4 - 10, where they remain. I've managed my treatment with orders from two family practice physicians since.

At the end of January, my physician left the practice which has been owned by a hospital for several years. The office was not allowed to tell me whether she was still practicing or any other information. I had a first visit with a new physician this month; when I asked for order renewal for CPAP supplies / treatment, he instead sent a referral for a sleep study.

Question here is what, if anything, can be gleaned from a new sleep study as opposed to the information available from the APAP via OSCAR? I have my doubts as to the benefits of the former over against the APAP data, but am willing to be convinced. I'd appreciate any insight which can be provided here.

[BoxcarPete]

If it's not a requirement from your insurance for coverage, push back on that. I know Sleeprider has put together a piece about how to deal with physicians and DMEs that includes quite a bit of Medicare-specific advice if that applies to you.

I got a prescription for 99 months/lifetime need from a PA at the sleep clinic where I took my in-lab PSG three years prior with a 20-minute telehealth call. I told her I'd been trying non-CPAP options but now decided that none of them are working out for me, I am still tired all the time and want to buy a machine. She got me a prescription that I can take anywhere I want now for at least 7 more years, maybe longer if the supplier is comfortable with the "lifetime need" timeframe on it. I've had good luck with PAs and NPs lately; they often seem to take patient-driven care with a more open mind than MDs, can diagnose a wide variety of ailments, and write prescriptions for all the basics including CPAP.

[Jim1952]

Thanks. Kind of what I thought. I've gotten along fine with my previous physicians; will have to see whether this one works out. Not yet relying on Medicare, but will soon be.