RE: Medicare compliance
(02-25-2014, 04:54 PM)mjbearit Wrote: Not to over simplify things, but when I go to bed at night, every night, I take my meds, put on my mask (my machine comes on automatically), turn off the light and go to sleep. In the morning I wake up, take off my mask, turn off my machine, get out of bed. That is 100% compliance and that is the most beneficial way to use a CPAP machine. I have data going back 603 days for this machine and I have 100% compliance for 603 days. On the downside, I am so used to the machine that is the power goes out I am awake within a minute or so and I can't go back to sleep until I get power!
Mike
I am not on Medicare (yet), I have a few more years to get there. It seems like the compliance requirement is similar for regular ins. I made my 90 days with 100% compliance a couple weeks ago and got a call from the provider saying the machine is mine. I am posting a little off topic, but I wanted to comment on what mjbearit said in his post about not being able sleep if the machine was off. I find that I cannot get to sleep if I am not hooked up and the machine is running. The sound of the machine lulls me to sleep within 15 minutes. Curious to know if others have the same issue with CPAP.
Sorry for going off topic
Ed
02-27-2014, 12:25 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-27-2014, 12:27 AM by me50.)
RE: Medicare compliance
I could probably go to sleep without my machine but I won't ever test it to see. My machine is one of my security items, at least while I am sleeping. I usually fall asleep right away unless I am trying to sleep on my side and for some reason, I can't fall asleep on my side and I wish I could b/c that is my preferred way to sleep.
EDIT: Some members are not on medicare b/c of age but because of disabilities.
RE: Medicare compliance
I also don't do without as I have documented proof what a mess that is. Lucky for me I took to cpap well and since changing to nasal pillows I don't mind at all. I'm 10 months in and near 100% use. When the DME said they had to check compliance for insurance I tossed it down and said "what's the record". All they would say is I was well within compliance.
On the use of ups backup systems the problem with them is by the time you need them the battery is cooked from sitting and charging. Maybe they have done something with that, or at least your doing something. I'm still gonna rig a system using a deep cycle boat battery for camping that I could use if power was off for too long. At least then I can keep a good battery for the little fishing boat not just sitting there.
RE: Medicare compliance
As with most insurance things, you never know for sure what the answer is, but almost always, if there's a compliance requirement, it's in the first 30 to 90 days and insurance doesn't check up on you after that.
However, if you have a good doctor, he will check your data regularly and at least warn you if you're not using it enough.
If the DME threatens you with compliance requirements after the initial 30-90 day requirement, he's probably wrong.
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software here.
Useful links.
Click here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
RE: Medicare compliance
I was able to opt out of the sleep program. My doctor sent the insurance company a note and I was not subject to compliance monitoring or the rental process. The machine was treated as a straight purchase and was mine from day one. I'm lucky that I was able to use it and had good results right away so I use it every night.
BTW, at least 30 people told me that it HAD to be treated as a rental with compliance monitoring. I kept asking until I found someone that knew about opting out.
02-27-2014, 10:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-27-2014, 10:56 AM by Eleong2.)
RE: Medicare compliance
(02-27-2014, 10:19 AM)JohnNJ Wrote: I was able to opt out of the sleep program. My doctor sent the insurance company a note and I was not subject to compliance monitoring or the rental process. The machine was treated as a straight purchase and was mine from day one. I'm lucky that I was able to use it and had good results right away so I use it every night.
BTW, at least 30 people told me that it HAD to be treated as a rental with compliance monitoring. I kept asking until I found someone that knew about opting out.
I was told it was a rental for 90 days and compliance is > 4 hours 70 % of those days. First week was tough, now it rocks me to sleep, can't sleep without it.
Ed
(02-27-2014, 10:53 AM)Eleong2 Wrote: (02-27-2014, 10:19 AM)JohnNJ Wrote: I was able to opt out of the sleep program. My doctor sent the insurance company a note and I was not subject to compliance monitoring or the rental process. The machine was treated as a straight purchase and was mine from day one. I'm lucky that I was able to use it and had good results right away so I use it every night.
BTW, at least 30 people told me that it HAD to be treated as a rental with compliance monitoring. I kept asking until I found someone that knew about opting out.
I was told it was a rental for 90 days and compliance is > 4 hours 70 % of those days. First week was tough, now it rocks me to sleep, can't sleep without it.
Ed
Forgot to mention, the Dr. ordered a wireless modem to keep track of me for the 90 day period.
Ed
RE: Medicare compliance
(02-27-2014, 10:19 AM)JohnNJ Wrote: I was able to opt out of the sleep program. My doctor sent the insurance company a note and I was not subject to compliance monitoring or the rental process. The machine was treated as a straight purchase and was mine from day one. I'm lucky that I was able to use it and had good results right away so I use it every night.
BTW, at least 30 people told me that it HAD to be treated as a rental with compliance monitoring. I kept asking until I found someone that knew about opting out.
That is how it worked for me with my first machine. Medicare is different though and my insurance company wants to rent it for 13 months.
RE: Medicare compliance
(02-24-2014, 04:46 PM)DNB128 Wrote: Kristen and Peter C,
70% of the days used must be greater than 4 hours for Medicare compliance.
Am not worried so much about compliance, more so all the other gibber-goo and hoops we must go through.
*I* am not a DOCTOR or any type of Health Care Professional. My thoughts/suggestions/ideas are strictly only my opinions.
"Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your Soul, the other for your Freedom."
RE: Medicare compliance
I can second what others have said about the first 90 days being the "compliance period". Medicare requires that you use the XPAP greater than 70% of the days greater than 4 hours a night.
I was also told by my sleep doc that a visit to the doc was required under Medicare annually.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Medicare compliance
(02-27-2014, 07:41 PM)cbramsey Wrote: I can second what others have said about the first 90 days being the "compliance period". Medicare requires that you use the XPAP greater than 70% of the days greater than 4 hours a night.
I was also told by my sleep doc that a visit to the doc was required under Medicare annually.
I hope no one tells Medicare about me. They have been paying for masks and supplies right along, and I never completed the 90 days (or even 30 days) of compliance testing, and the last time I saw my sleep doc was over a year and a half ago.
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