BiPAP repair / replacement options?

Almost exactly four years ago I got my first CPAP / BiPAP after being diagnosed with sleep apnea. The improvement was huge sleeping with the machine and I have used it literally every night since. Until the machine died last night.

Machine is a Respironics System One BiPAP. Respiratory therapist examined the device and determined it could neither be repaired nor replaced. Said they need a new prescription to order a new one.

Physician who wrote me the prescription four years ago is "no longer there." The practice says I need to re-establish care with another physician including waiting three months for an appointment before they can write a script for a new machine.

Surely replacing a broken BiPAP isn't a 3+ month process? At least there is no reason it should be.

welcome to the zoo!

i'll type at you for a bit until someone more knowledgeable comes along.

but two questions-

are you paying via insurance or out of pocket?

do you have a copy of your original prescription?

it seems to me that the prescription life should be longer than a few short years. also, you don't really need a sleep doctor to write it. hell, even your DENTIST could write one for you.

good luck!

I don't think I every physically had the prescription. It went straight from major healthcare chain to major healthcare equipment provider. I know they have all of the information (pressure settings and such).

In theory, my insurance *should* be paying for this but apparently these BiPAPs are expected to be replaced on a 5 year cycle and they aren't equipped to deal with one dying after 4 years. To be honest, the amount I paid out-of-pocket for the original unit wasn't substantially less than the cost of buying one online without insurance.

Thanks for the suggestion, I do have a call pending with my primary care PA to see if they will write / renew my prescription on behalf of the departed physician.

acbio.com repairs CPAPs.....If you are still dealing with the DME that sold you the machine, they may give you a loaner while you send it away. You can call Acbio and tell them the problem and see what they say. They are good about that.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HEgzFb5dSwLKpyBR6

I think I found the problem.

I will look up acbio. That sounds like what I need. Fwiw, medical equipment company doesn't do loaners but I just bought a similar unit on Craigslist locally that should get me by. Respiratory therapist kindly set it up for me. Seems to work nicely.

edit: image post fail but the power connectors to the circuit board are burned and melted.

H.E.Pennypacker wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 13, 2018 6:37 pm

I think I found the problem.

I will look up acbio. That sounds like what I need. Fwiw, medical equipment company doesn't do loaners but I just bought a similar unit on Craigslist locally that should get me by. Respiratory therapist kindly set it up for me. Seems to work nicely.

Oh, that's a known issue, there's a thread around to fix it.

viewtopic/t102275/Fix-Respironics-Syste ... blems.html

Thank you. That looks similar to what I see except symptoms were total failure of the machine.

I had noticed that the humidifier was using little water.

I stink at soldering. Will likely send it off for repair.

I notice with Medicare the original DME must provide a free machine if the other completely fails at less than five years. I think this rule may actually turn out to work against us in that a DME is motivated to not want to provide a free machine to anyone.