@Meowingkitty wrote:
I wish my aunt knew about this before Medicare took the machine away from her because she didn't us it for 22 days straight and a minimum of 4 hours per night. Seems if Medicare okays a machine they also monitor the usage via a chip implanted in it. She could not use it because the mask was very uncomfortable and even after several try it still was not great. If she wanted to try for another machine she has to do the sleep test all over again. I guess if she had bought the thing outright Medicare would not have cared if she used it, but since she didn't use it to their satisfaction she had to return it.
I am so sorry to hear that your Aunt had such trouble. Her Durable Medical Equipment (DME) provider should have and could have helped her. The key to getting the best use of the machine is IF the company who provides you the equipment provides good service.
I am very new to all of this. I had my sleep study done just last summer. I am also on Medicare and their rule is Medicare patients have to go to a completely separate company from the one who performed the sleep study, to obtain the equipment even though the clinic who performed the sleep study also sold and serviced this equipment. Dumb!
I live in a small town, but there are 2 DME companies here. My sleep clinic referred me to the "good" one. My sleep clinic technician said he had heard horror stores about the other company!
So, I am lucky because this company has provided very good service to me. At my first appointment where I obtained the equipment, my equipment technician explained it all to me, showed me the proper useage, and encouraged me to call her with any questions/problems. And I did.
For the first 6 months, I had monthly appointments with them so they could check my progress by talking to me and by checking the "chip" that is in the machine. At first, my volume settings were 24/18 and I really had problems with that. So she contacted my sleep doctor and he authorized a lower setting which she changed on my machine. It is now 21/17 and is so much more tolerable. I also complained about the mask, and she had me try several other types as there are MANY on the market. She also explained that there is no "perfect" mask and just her acknowledging that made me feel better.
At my first appointment, my DME technician also told me that Medicare requires patients to use the machine at a minimum of 4 hours per night or Medicare will not pay for it. But Medicare does give you a "grace period" of about 60 days to work up to daily use of a minimum of 4 hours per night. It took me about 25 days of using it (or trying to use it) every night to accomplish that, even tho leaks would wake me up and I'd need to adjust my mask, but I finally could keep it on all night.
My main complaint were the leaks. But using the Remzzzs liners has been a Godsend to me. I now sleep uninterrupted by leaks. YAY!!!!!!!!
My DME technician never told me about these mask liners, so I am going to talk to her about them at my next appointment. After 6 months of monthly appointments, I now see her every 2 months. I think after a year I'll be on my own, but I need to find out for sure.
Sorry this post is so long....
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