Rant: why is it so hard just to get a heated hose?

[reader2580]

I don't understand why it requires a prescription or a written order just to buy a simple heated hose for a Dreamstation. I was going to order one from Amazon to get it quicker, but you have to have a business account and be a healthcare provider to order that particular item from them.

I called my DME and someone answered the phone, but when I said I wanted to order supplies they told me they are out of business. I asked why they answered the phone if they out of business and they said they are winding down operations. (The CEO/Owner is in federal prison Since December 2022 for two years for not paying $6 million in company taxes to the IRS.) It seems like every other DME requires a whole pile of paperwork just to sell me a simple hose. By the time I get the paperwork and find a new DME to ship me the hose it will be a couple more weeks.

I found that CPAP.com says a prescription is not required for a CPAP hose. I ended up spending the $42 from CPAP.com rather than waiting a a couple of weeks to get set up with a DME and get the hose sent to me from a DME.

[chunkyfrog]

Have you tried cpap.com?
If they need a prescription too, ask your DENTIST to write one.
You do have a dentist, right?

[reader2580]

I have a sleep doctor and I can get in touch with his office on Tuesday to have them send the information to a new DME. I talked to one DME and they could sell me the hose for an inflated price without insurance, but to go through insurance requires a prescription. It will probably be the end of next week by the time I will be set up with a new DME.

I scheduled my yearly follow up with the sleep doctor yesterday and the earliest appointment is August 1st which I took. They told me if that day and time didn't work the next appointment is in late August.

[chunkyfrog]

Oops! Missed the cpap.com.
Too bad they won't let patients buy wholesale.

[SleepGeek]

I don't understand why it requires a prescription or a written order just to buy a simple heated hose for a Dreamstation

Often you can find heated hoses (or masks) for sale right here, in this forum. Also check Craigslist, Marketplace, I'm willing to bet even ebay. I know I have several here I can part with too.

[palerider]

I don't understand why it requires a prescription or a written order just to buy a simple heated hose for a Dreamstation.

Well, it doesn't.

I found that CPAP.com says a prescription is not required for a CPAP hose. I ended up spending the $42 from CPAP.com rather than waiting a a couple of weeks to get set up with a DME and get the hose sent to me from a DME.

See? it's not 'so hard', is it?

[reader2580]

See? it's not 'so hard', is it?

The hard part is spending $42 instead of getting the hose at no charge through insurance.

[Julie]

And some people make (or find others to make) their own 'hose cozy', kind of a knitted tube that they fit on the outside of the hose for the winter (or summer with A/C).

[Grumpy48]

I believe the 'business account and be a healthcare provider' requirement on the Amazon site is that of the current seller and not specific to Amazon. I looked at a Resmed branded hose for the AS10 on Amazon and it seemed to have no similar requirement.
Has the hose actually failed and in need of replacement? If it still heats and doesn't leak, just keep using it and do the DME paperwork so insurance pays for it.

[edatlanta]

I just lucked out on my heated hose. I received my recall replacement Dreamstation 1 "head" yesterday "finally", and when I removed my Dreamstation 1 from storage I found a heated hose with I had forgotten about. I cleaned and quit using the Dreamstation 1 when it was first announced of the foam issue and managed to talk my DME into letting me buy a Dreamstation 2 before they ran out which happened within a couple of days.

So now I have a refurb Dreamstation 1 sitting in the wings.

I did file a claim with medicare for the purchase of the Dreamstation 2, but they declined it since I wasn't a DME. My DME had changed hands at the time they sold me the Dreamstation 2 and they didn't have a record that I existed. Such a deal.

[chunkyfrog]

. . . at no charge through insurance.

Nothing is free.
If the paid claims exceed the premiums, you are in luck.
Since insurance companies are not charities, this is not usually the case.