Prescription Request

[CPAPUserDave]

Seeing sleep doctor on tuesday. Going to request hard copy of prescription for CPAP machine and mask. I like the machine and mask presently using but in case of future breakdowns/changes would like a copy of prescription in my hands.

Planning on taking over my own therapy without doctors/insurance hassles. I will pay for everything out of pocket. Anything i should have written into prescription to help me in future to make things go smoothly if the need arises?

how long are these prescriptions good for?

Thanks,

Dave

[Stom]

I don't know what the possible limitations are. In my case, my script specifies patient choice of mask. I haven't read of anybody on the board having trouble ordering the mask they need, so I don't know if doctors ever prescribe certain masks or mask types that limit your choices at DMEs, but there is a spot on my script to allow them to do so.

[OpalRose]

You can use this as a guide.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...escription

[groggygirl]

How long a prescription is good for is set by state law, but 30 days is what I have usually heard (less for narcotics, of course). However, talk to your primary doc and ask if he/she would be willing to write you a new Rx when you need a new one. Assuming you have a sleep study on record and maybe even specs set by your specialist, he/she should be willing to. Also, there are a lot of machines and supplies you can get without a prescription, often at a better price. That is the route I went after the @$#% sleep doctor refused to write me an Rx unless I came in and paid for another visit. (He also refuses to give me a copy of my sleep study report without a visit, I need to report him to the medical board for that but I've been busy.) Anyway, I bought a new Apex ICH Auto on ebay and a FFM and nasal pillows on Amazon without an Rx, at considerably lower prices than the online DMEs I looked at. My model isn't popular with the knowledgable people here but it seems to be working for me and has the features I thought I need - APAP/CPAP switchable, built-in humidifier, ERV, and exports data to be analyzed by their software although it isn't compatible with Sleepyhead. So you do have options even if you don't have a script as long as you are paying yourself. I don't know of any insurance that will pay for anything CPAP-related without that script.

[Hydrangea]

I've ordered everything I've wanted from Amazon, without showing my Rx.

The one Amazon retailer who requested my Rx was a total flake and never followed through with me.

Unfortunately, the mask I want to try next is not available on Amazon. So now I need to see how it works using retailers that require Rx. I don't see how it can be a problem *at all*.

[Hydrangea]

By the way, you'll want to request both a paper copy of the Rx as well as a paper copy of your sleep study.

I was surprised that my DME requested a copy of my sleep study. (I wouldn't provide that to just anyone, though.)

[MitchS]

I don't know what the possible limitations are. In my case, my script specifies patient choice of mask. I haven't read of anybody on the board having trouble ordering the mask they need, so I don't know if doctors ever prescribe certain masks or mask types that limit your choices at DMEs, but there is a spot on my script to allow them to do so.

My sleep doctor does specify the particular mask which means he has to write a new one to buy different masks. It really doesn’t matter when I use my DME because they just contact him directly to get the script.

I've ordered everything I've wanted from Amazon, without showing my Rx.  

The one Amazon retailer who requested my Rx was a total flake and never followed through with me.

Unfortunately, the mask I want to try next is not available on Amazon.  So now I need to see how it works using retailers that require Rx.  I don't see how it can be a problem *at all*.

If it does become a problem some of the suppliers on the forums suppliers list have “mask kits”. You buy the mask and headgear separately on the same order, which doesn’t require a prescription. The last time I looked the price of the complete mask and the mask kit were the same.

[SkiSmuggs]

My first CPAP prescription lasted 10 years before Supplier #1 requested a new one. I did another sleep study, but in retrospect, taking my biPAP in for a report would have been a better idea, but didn't think of using my old one instead of the brick I was using at the time. That was a case in which a brick ended up costing me more as I had to pay $800 out of pocket after insurance.

[CPAPUserDave]

Got hard copy of written prescription. says patient preference on "agency" I use. also says length of need = lifetime (hope that means prescription good for lifetime??)

list my pressure for machine to be set at but since i know how to change that...

also specifies other supplies as needed and how often to replace so i think i am set whether i use a DME and/or insurance or I just purchase outright from amazon

Question: how long do these machines last nowadays? Using ResMed AirSense10 Autoset for 1 1/2 years now. purchased brand new. sleep doc says should be good for 10 years or so but what are other peoples experiences?

[Sleeprider]

I have run machines to 20,000 hours, which I consider the outside range of reliability. Most insurance and Medicare will not consider replacement before 5-years. I think 10 years is pushing it unless you have a backup. Once you hit the 5-6 year mark, you should start the replacement process and retire the old machine to backup duty.