+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: Prescription Request (/Thread-Prescription-Request)
Pages:
1
2
Prescription Request - CPAPUserDave - 08-12-2018
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
RE: Prescription Request - Stom - 08-12-2018
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.
RE: Prescription Request - OpalRose - 08-12-2018
You can use this as a guide.
http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sample_CPAP_Prescription
RE: Prescription Request - groggygirl - 08-16-2018
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.
RE: Prescription Request - Hydrangea - 08-16-2018
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*.
RE: Prescription Request - Hydrangea - 08-16-2018
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.)
RE: Prescription Request - MitchS - 08-16-2018
(08-12-2018, 11:56 AM)Stom Wrote: 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.
(08-16-2018, 12:37 AM)Hydrangea Wrote: 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.
RE: Prescription Request - SkiSmuggs - 08-16-2018
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.
RE: Prescription Request - CPAPUserDave - 08-19-2018
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?
RE: Prescription Request - Sleeprider - 08-19-2018
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.