Getting a copy of CPAP Prescription?

[morrigan]

I recently called my sleep doc's office to get a copy of my APAP prescription and they told me they could not send it to me. I reminded the nurse on the phone that it was part of my medical record, but she said, no, it is a prescription and can only be sent to a pharmacy (or DME) and "that is how the medical field works these days." Even if I did have the prescription and tried to purchase a machine or supplies, the company would still have to call my sleep doc to get "permission" to sell me anything.

Since the doc wants to see me every year ($$$) and I havent been to see her in 2 years, that might be a problem.

The nurse also told me if something happened to my machine while traveling, my options were to go to the Emergency Room or just wait to fix it when I returned home.

To her credit, she also mentioned I could request the RX from my DME (haven't done this yet.... not really hopeful they will give it to me) or I can get a note from my primary care doc stating that I can travel (especially overseas) with the CPAP, but it wouldnt allow me to purchase a machine or supplies.

I thought I read somewhere on the forum that I could also take my initial sleep study with me (I do have a copy of that) and an out-of-town doctor could write me a prescription off of that. Is this true? How are the rest of you getting your prescription, for example, to upload to cpap.com?

[Stormynights]

I had to get mine from DME. It wasn't easy though.

[StuUnderPressure]

DME might give it to you, but they may think you just want it to start buying from someone else.

So, tell them you need the prescription to have with you in case an emergency arises while you are traveling.

For those of you who are NOT yet up to this point:

Do NOT let your Sleep Doctor just fax the prescription to the DME.
Tell him you want him to give it to you so that you can take it the DME who will work best for you.

[Pugsy]

Do you have a regular family doctor? He/she can write the RX for cpap and associated equipment. Tell him you have spotted some really great deals on masks online and you need the RX. It doesn't have to be a RX from the "official" sleep doctor.

[ughwhatname]

I was ver fortunate in that my doc made a point to give an original signed copy of my rx and told me it was
Y right to have it. They then sent it to the only DME my insurance covered. Love my doc!

[LaurieRenz]

I guess that I got really lucky with my DME. When I went to pick up my machine, they gave me a folder that had my RX from my doc plus copies of both of my sleep studies and a bunch of paperwork about my machine, cleaning schedule, covered supplies, receipts, etc.

[Jimster]

Morrigan, I would think that unless your DME was paying for your Doctor's Visits that your Doctor should hand you a signed prescription. My Doctor handed me my prescription and told me to go where I wanted to go to get my PAP equipment.

Morrigan, could it be that your Doctor is part owner in the DME that he Faxed your prescription to?

We had a Optometrist here that would send your prescription' that he wrote for you' to his own Optical Company; He's no longer in Business.

Now understand this I'm no lawyer, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express Last Night.

Jim

[fredr500]

My DME is associated with my sleep doctor, so there is no incentive to give me my Rx. When I asked the DME tech for a copy, he said my sleep study, signed but the dr, was my Rx.

I think I will go to our host and print off their Rx form and get my CGP to sign it next time I see him. Then I'll be covered.

[DannyP]

What a Crock of BS that is. Sleazy DME isonly wanting you Business. I just got a new script from myDR for the s9 auto and My Dr placed it in my Hand for me to purchase the Machine from whom I choose--Not who they choose Stand your Ground and demand the script be given to you. Not a copy but the Original

[chunkyfrog]

Federal law!--Health documents are YOUR property! Including your prescription!
Your state licensing board may have something to say about this crooked little game.
--unless they are crooked, too.
Journalists are always hoping someone will give them a good story
(but they are generally too lazy to go looking)

[LinkC]

HIPAA applies to medical records. A prescription is NOT a record. It is a communication between your doctor and a supplier. The record of what was prescribed is usually his written notes saying what was prescribed. And a copy of the notation is not a valid "prescription" to be filled.

We go thru this every time this topic comes up. Ask your doc to explain it if need be. Or read HIPAA.

That being said, I have never had a problem getting a copy of my CPAP-related script for travel purposes, but there is no legal requirement. You gotta ask.

[morrigan]

thanks everyone, for your comments and suggestions

@Stu: I told her I wanted it for traveling and that is when she said I could visit the ER if something happened. That seems a little extreme to me.

@Pugsy: I do have a GP and was planning on asking him at my next checkup. I will take a copy of my sleep study and the sample prescription off cpap.com so that he can put the correct information on it (autotitrating, full data efficacy, etc).

@Jimster: unfortunately the sleep doc is part of a big hospital system that also has its own DME. I think I have complained about them here before! When I first started my therapy over 2 years ago, they kind of swept me along and this was well before I knew about this forum.

There is another DME nearby and I will be making switchover soon. One of my colleagues goes to them and he is very happy with their services.

In general: I have to agree with Link that the actual RX is not part of my medical record and I am not surprised that the sleep doc won't hand it to me personally. I have stopped going to doctors at this hospital system altogether, since all they seem to want to do is send me for tests that are on the extreme end of my symptoms and never address what ends up being relatively simple problems like exercise-induced asthma and lactose intolerance.

[purple]

Pls remember that your doc RX is not usually valid outside of your state. Get a copy of the sleep study summary, which another doc, in another US state can use to write a prescription.

Might also ask your doc to send the RX to our sponser cpap.com, and if you are in a bind, they can ship anywhere in the US.

[quietmorning]

You can go to cpap.com and have them request your prescription, then when they have it, you can down load the copy of it. This is how I now have mine on file.

[morrigan]

Quietmorning, that is an excellent solution and one that I will pursue tomorrow!

Thanks