Over the counter CPAP comment from doctor

[yrnkrn]

Kitchen knifes and work tools (angle grinders come to mind) are far more dangerous than CPAPs and unregulated everywhere.

[allanri]

CHanlon, I’m also in Ontario ... my doctor had no problem prescribing APAP ... but he’s been hopeless at getting me to a place where I’m getting good results. Maybe we have the same quack as a doctor?

[allanri]

See... when I started therapy, I knew for a fact that I needed an APAP.  

I’m curious what made you certain that APAP was what you needed?

[DaveL]

Good observations.

There should be no need for prescriptions.
Prices are too high here in the Ontario area; I bought my last machine used without a prescription.

[snorybob]

DaveL,
It's all about $$$! In Ont. I believe healthcare to cover the sleep study then if you're eligible ADP pays for 75% of the machine. You can get it online from Papsmart , - resmed air sense 10 auto ( complete kit ) and mask for $749. In Qc., healthcare will cover a sleep study( hospital or DME ).  

In Qc., healthcare will cover a sleep study (hospital or DME ) & if you don't have insurance, you're on your own. Since DME's stick together & that most people don't know where to buy, the same machine & mask will cost you $2000. at the DME.( barely or no follow up included ), so don't feel too bad.      



                                                           snorybob.

[DaveL]

DaveL,
It's all about $$$! In Ont. I believe healthcare to cover the sleep study then if you're eligible ADP pays for 75% of the machine. You can get it online from Papsmart , - resmed air sense 10 auto ( complete kit ) and mask for $749. In Qc., healthcare will cover a sleep study( hospital or DME ).  

In Qc., healthcare will cover a sleep study (hospital or DME ) & if you don't have insurance, you're on your own. Since DME's stick together & that most people don't know where to buy, the same machine & mask will cost you $2000. at the DME.( barely or no follow up included ), so don't feel too bad.      

e.

                                                           snorybob.

Thanks. I know.

Dr Inouye was my sleep doc. He worked at Credit Valley Hospital. Toronto area. Ontario Canada.
I bought my second cpap machine humidifier and mask from the company he referred me to.  No substitutions. Buy what you're told to buy
Turns out the Hospital owned 1/2 the clinic franchise. Who owned the other half? Doctors?
Single Source. Clearly a kick-back.
That cpap machine cost me more out of my pocket than the best equipment I could have bought from a US vendor. An autopap would have cost lots less.

Follow the money. It's always the root caus

[Hydrangea]

DaveL - Wow. What a con. :-(

[Mosquitobait]

I had an interesting conversation with my primary care doctor yesterday. We were talking about my CPAP and he mentioned that there's a group of physicians (himself included) who think standard Auto CPAP devices should be available over the counter without any prescription. It kind of blew me away since I hadn't ever heard of any doctors promoting that idea before.

Just wanted to share... 


Cheers! 
Alshayed

It was doctors who pushed OTC availability of certain drugs as well as Blood Glucose Monitors. There is no reason to restrict access when most people have reasonable use of the product. On the other hand, once it is available OTC, insurance/Medicare will no longer cover it.

[Kyteflyer]

Here in Oz a prescription is not necessary. The sleep doctors' union has tried to get this changed, but so far without success - thankfully. I agree with the earlier comment - it's all about the dollars.

In NSW it seems to be required for a fixed pressure machine.  After all, how do you know what your pressure requirement would be, unless you have had a study and been told?  For an auto machine, no, doesnt seem to be needed.

[DaveL]

DaveL - Wow.  What a con. :-(

He was no help.

He made me stay on my first machine for 8+ years.

Then I got my second machine under his watch. He had me come in to show him that my machine was on enough hours to confirm that I was wearing a mask, and compliant.

I asked him that visit what was new with OSA treatment? He said nothing.  Oh, humidifiers. Heated hoses.  I had discovered this forum and new better.

I asked about monitoring my own performance? 
Indication of AHI and mask fit?

Sleepyhead?

He cautioned me about praciticing medicine without a license.  He said he was expert and had 3000 patients diagnosed and under treatment.

He retired later. Hallelujah! 
My replacement sleep doc was fired by the hospital before my appointment. I never returned for a sleep treatment there.

What I like about this forum is it gives me tools to take control of my own wellness, rather than lingering in dis-ease.

Dave