Auto Titration, Smart Cards

[levelbest]

Hey All:

Just started my sleep therapy a week ago - and while I am still not feeling great, I think it's starting to make a difference.

After doing some research, I have a few questions.

I have Cigna which uses Apria as their DME. My doctor perscribed at Bi-Pap machine for me and they assigned the Resperonics BiPap Plus. No humidifier just yet. Cigna apparently makes you start with this and then doctor has to request it.

I was looking on cpap.com at the machines and it seems to me that if the purpose of the BiPap is to alleviate this condition we all have, wouldn't treatment make more sense if your sleep was actually monitored? I can't understand why I wouldn't be given the option (even if it was at my expense) of getting a machine that had a smart card reader in it. Otherwise, how do you know if the machine and the pressure assigned in a sleep test (mine was 10/6) is actually working without ongoing data? Why wouldn't this be standard? Seems if keeping me and others healthy, alive and off other medications (blood pressure, anti depressants etc.), then the $300 extra that is the difference between a machine that does monitoring and one that does not seems worth it in the long run.

On another subject, what is everyones experience with the auto titrating machines? It seems to be a logical option (as long as it works well) to deliver only the amout of pressure you actually need at any given time.

Is it worth it for me to pay out of pocket if I have to $1300 to get an auto machine that has a data card port in it?

[Darth Vader Look]

You should consider an Auto BiPAP from Respironics. It is the utmost from Respironics. Check the prices on line at CPAP.com or even here and you'll find them to be much cheaper than from a DME. The challenge is to get your insurance company to agree to pay for this equipment from an online source.

Your doctor specified a BiPAP for you so I wouldn't even consider going the Auto CPAP route but the Auto BiPAP is something I think you will like.