My GP doctor has said she would write a prescription for what ever CPAP I wanted.

My reading shows a "Respironics REMstar Pro M Series CPAP with C-Flex  w/ Heated Humidifier, smart card  and Encore software"  is probably top as good as any.

I guess I am asking if this is a good call ??

Bob

I have yet to hear of any insurance company paying for CPAP software. Local DME suppliers MAY or more likely may NOT be willing to sell you the software even w/a script. You do NOT need a script to buy the software online and MAY find it cheaper to do so. You will also need the proprietary cable reader.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

I have yet to hear of any insurance company paying for CPAP software. Local DME suppliers MAY or more likely may NOT be willing to sell you the software even w/a script. You do NOT need a script to buy the software online and MAY find it cheaper to do so. You will also need the proprietary cable reader.

If your insurance company does not pay for all the software how about trying the ResMed CPAP and have the DME show you how to access your data?

I have the Resmed CPAP and am very happy with it. It is small and compact for easy travel which I have done twice in the last 6 weeks. It also fits in my bottom draw of my night stand so I can just close it up during the day...well all but about an inch. LOL sure looks better than having it hanging all over the nightstand during the day.

Good luck with your decision.

I talked to my Home Health, which is Cleveland Clinic Home Heath ( I have Cleveland Clinic Insurance as my wife is a nurse at CCF ) anywho my insurance is handled by Antares, who told me I can get pretty much what ever I want, just need to pay the up grade charge from a Fisher & Paykel HC234 Humidified CPAP System.

Now I may end up talking to the two other Home Health (DME's) that CCF deals with.

Thanks for the advice,

Bob

You have to watch these model names by the various manufacturers, they don't use much imagination and tend to repeat model names from series to series as well. You do NOT want ANY Respironics w/Plus in the name. You do NOT want ANY Resmed w/Compact or Escape in the name.

Respironics has the new PR SystemOne Auto which claims to do just about everything but sleep for you. The drawback is that it requires EncorePro v.2.1 (plus proprietary cable reader) which isn't all that easy to get our hands on - yet. Innovative PAPpers will find a way to get their hands on it eventually. Data access via the LCD is not as easy as w/the Resmeds and the LCD data is limited compared to the Resmeds as well.

The Resmed S8 Elite II w/EPR and the Resmed S8 AutoSet II w/EPR are both excellent choices and Resmeds have no equal when it comes to ease of access and amount of data available via the LCD screen which is WHY Resmed is "my" personal favorite brand. The ResScan v.3.7 software (and necessary proprietary cable reader) can be tricky to find BUT it is doable. Many of us have purchased them despite it is professional software and not meant for patient use.

BE careful. There should NOT be an upgrade charge - unless you've had your current F&P more than 30-45 days. AND F&P has recently come out w/a fully data capable autopap which might be something to look into if your current provider does most of their business w/F&P and thus gets bulk prices better than they can get from the other manufacturers.

Insurances do NOT pay by brand and model. Most all insurances contract w/local DME suppliers for a set price by insurance (HCPCS) code and ALL CPAPs from bare bone compliance data only thru fully data capable CPAPs thru fully data capable APAPs are HCPCS code e0601. (Bi-levels, etc. are an entirely different HCPCS code).

Also, Resmed, Respironics and Fisher & Paykel, the leading mask manufacturers, all will replace FREE to the local DME suppliers most all of their masks models that patients have tried and been unsuccessful w/as long as the DME supplier fills out a form and returns mask and form W/IN 30 DAYS. A lenient mask exchange policy is important when dealing w/any DME supplier until THE RIGHT mask for you has been found.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Velroc -

In making a CPAP reccomendation one question would be do you have any special needs.   I happen to be a long hual over the road truck driver using a CPAP in a sleeper berth equipped truck. So for me and other truck drivers there are several other issues we need to look at in what would be a top of the line CPAP.

Are you a trucker, airline pilot, or rail road employee... in a safety sensitive position.... wireless data transfer then becomes an option to look at. It can simplify your regulatory compliance issues in getting your medical certifications..

Will you be using the CPAP on 12-V power in a vehicle?  12-V power options are common but you need to read the fine print about whether or not running the CPAP on 12-V will power the heat-humidification.

Will you be traveling with the CPAP much?  Then size and how robust the carrying case is becomes an issue.

Do you like to sleep in a colder than normal room - do you have problems with "rain out" condensations in the hose? Then the Fisher - Paykel thermorest heated hose system might make sense for you.

I happen to have used Res-Med, Fisher and Paykel and Respironics machines. The Respironincs  I am currently using works GREAT for me..

But what I need or want will be different than you... consider giving some more information on what you are looking for in your post....


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Just a truck driver with sleep apnea

CrohnieToo wrote:

....The drawback is that it requires EncorePro v.2.1 (plus proprietary cable reader) which isn't all that easy to get our hands on - yet....

The part about the "proprietary cable reader" is wrong. The new PR System One machine use an standard SD card and requires no special card reader (or drivers).  True there is no patient software yet... but it does not require a special card reader.

Getting data off the LCD screen is easy, but is in a 7 day/30 day average format. Resetting it daily can help get more meaningful data.

In time, the software will come.

I love my DeVilbiss IntelliPAP.  It is lightweight (great for lugging through airports), quiet, can be easily run off batteries and I can access the data without a card reader or extra software.  It is so cool, the data is converted into a coded number.  I type the code number in at a website and viola! all of my data appears!

Vicki


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Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Yep, that DeVilbiss IntelliPAP is an intriguing device! Have you noticed all the well-known CPAP manufacturers are smartening up, seeing the handwriting on the wall and developing and offering fully data capable CPAPs now? The manufacturers are light years ahead of and one heck of a whole lot smarter than the rest of the sleep medicine field - especially the sleep doctors!!!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.