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Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
#11
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
The medical-insurance complex makes a big deal out of everything. And now that we have the Medical-Insurance-Government complex, it's worse than ever. Making insurance compulsory, as they now have, is just one more step to chip away at our freedoms. Ike said "Beware the Military-Industrial complex." Now in addition, we need to beware the "Medical-Insurance-Government complex."

Dude
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#12
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
If I understand correctly, a home study can be done for $300-400 (arranged online), which would be less than the $600 cost of the titration study reported by the OP.

Along with that, the same place provides a $99 prescription service, and then will sell you the machine an equipment you need, probably at a savings over what you would pay to a local DME provider.

I have not tried the online option myself, but I understand that insurance companies are preferring (and in some cases requiring) at-home studies, and studies show better success with a home study followed by 30 days on an auto-titrating machine (I can look for citation if requested).

I'm a noob, so my views are those of someone who has done a bit of online research but with no experience to back it up.
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#13
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
Ughh, I'm in the same boat as you. I just got a call saying I needed to go in for CPAP titration simply because I couldn't fall asleep the first night til the weeeeee hours of the morning, so they couldn't titrate me then. I haven't gotten my EOB in the mail, but I did look online and I have to pay 1,623.00 just for my first night. I wonder if I have to pay this amount again when I go back for titration????? What a ripoff. I don't want a 3,200 bill, but I know I need CPAP...grrrr.....frustrated to say the least.
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#14
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
Shutz1012, you should get a copy of the sleep study and its recommendations. You may ask the sleep center to prescribe and auto cpap and allow you to self-titrate based on your financial concerns. If the sleep center won't cooperate, your primary doctor may write the prescription based on the diagnosis. Many of us never had a separate titration study, but used auto titrating machines and software to optimize our treatment. You can too, but you'll have to express your concerns to the doctors and pursue this (widely accepted) alternative approach.
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#15
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
Some advice: Call your insurance before you do anything. Ask them what they cover and what your share is regardless if it is an overnight sleep study or home study.

Some insurances will only cover a home study, and some won't pay unless you have an overnight sleep study with titration.

Do not take the word of the hospital, DME or provider, call and check on it yourself. Saves a lot of headaches.
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#16
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
Thanks everyone for your advice. I am on the phone with the insurance company at the moment. I am hoping they tell me I can do APAP at home to titrate!! Fingers crossed. Having someone watch me sleep (or not sleep for that matter), is a waste of my time, their time, and money.
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#17
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
I found the citation mentioned above. I'm too new to post clickable links, but the study is titled "Diagnosis and initial management of obstructive sleep apnea without polysomnography: a randomized validation study."
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#18
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
My first bill was $550.00 then 4weeks later I had to do the titration study to the tune of another $550.00 and I am now working on getting the equipment I need. None of this has been easy or cheap or quick!
(10-29-2015, 11:37 AM)shutz1012 Wrote: Ughh, I'm in the same boat as you. I just got a call saying I needed to go in for CPAP titration simply because I couldn't fall asleep the first night til the weeeeee hours of the morning, so they couldn't titrate me then. I haven't gotten my EOB in the mail, but I did look online and I have to pay 1,623.00 just for my first night. I wonder if I have to pay this amount again when I go back for titration????? What a ripoff. I don't want a 3,200 bill, but I know I need CPAP...grrrr.....frustrated to say the least.

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#19
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
After my sleep study they suggested I come in for a CPAP titration test so I did. It turned out to be a disaster as I slept very little and according to them because of a high AHI and intolerance to the CPAP pressure they couldn't determine a appropriate pressure. They wanted me to come in again and with a few more accommodations for me they thought they would be successful. Curiously they said because I didn't snore the auto titration wouldn't be an option. Both the PA sleep specialist and CPAP provider believed that wasn't true. The PA said to skip the second titration study and he prescribed an Auto CPAP machine for me to try. I was very relived at that because I didn't want to face another long night in the sleep lab. Interestingly a new CPAP machine cost less than other night in the sleep lab. It took about a week using the CPAP machine before I got any reasonable amount of sleep so I'm not sure how another try in the sleep lab would have been.

I don't know how accurate the AHI the CPAP machine calculates is but it''s running in the 4-5 range so I assume the CPAP is working.

I'm amused when the sleep lab people say my lack of sleep may be to a first night phenomenon or a sleep hygiene issue not that having a mask strapped to my face blowing air into it along with a dozen electrodes and other sensors attached to my body has anything to do with not being able to sleep.
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#20
RE: Is 2nd hospital stay necessary?
(10-29-2015, 02:42 PM)Jimsp1 Wrote: After my sleep study they suggested I come in for a CPAP titration test so I did. It turned out to be a disaster as I slept very little and according to them because of a high AHI and intolerance to the CPAP pressure they couldn't determine a appropriate pressure. They wanted me to come in again and with a few more accommodations for me they thought they would be successful. Curiously they said because I didn't snore the auto titration wouldn't be an option. Both the PA sleep specialist and CPAP provider believed that wasn't true. The PA said to skip the second titration study and he prescribed an Auto CPAP machine for me to try. I was very relived at that because I didn't want to face another long night in the sleep lab. Interestingly a new CPAP machine cost less than other night in the sleep lab. It took about a week using the CPAP machine before I got any reasonable amount of sleep so I'm not sure how another try in the sleep lab would have been.

I don't know how accurate the AHI the CPAP machine calculates is but it''s running in the 4-5 range so I assume the CPAP is working.

I'm amused when the sleep lab people say my lack of sleep may be to a first night phenomenon or a sleep hygiene issue not that having a mask strapped to my face blowing air into it along with a dozen electrodes and other sensors attached to my body has anything to do with not being able to sleep.

This is my worse fear, which is why I'm trying to just get a script for the machine. Why spend another 1,600.00 to NOT sleep and get the "proper" titration! I just as soon have auto titrate here at home. I also found out today, after talking with my insurance company, that they would have authorized a home study...grrrr...much cheaper and I would have had better results, one's that truly reflected how I sleep! Just waiting for a call back from Dr's office so they can get the ball rolling on the script so I can get the approval from the insurance company for my machine.

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