I had a follow up appt with my Dr. regarding my use of the

[Booster]

CPAP machine for sleep apnea. First, they monitor you on the damn contraption; when you put it on it calls and lets them know you're on it, and it you take it off, it lets them know that too. The reason is Medicare won't pay for it if you're not using it. Sensible enough, but I asked my doctor "when you prescribe Viagra for older men, does Medicare make you call up the wives and ask 'how's that Viagra workin' for ya'? My doctor is a stern guy, but he laughed his ass off and said "no, they don't". Now, I want to know why not? That stuff is probably just as expensive as my machine.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Because Viagra isn't necessary for life...

Strictly speaking, of course...

:P

[Monique1]

3. I'm not bright at all on this

but does that mean they monitor the person at home and than know when they get the sexual urge?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. They definitely do NOT monitor the man for sexual urges!

I mean, the government can be intrusive, but not that intrusive!

[Booster]

4. Then Medicare shouldn't be paying for it. Just my opinion.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. They don't pay for it...

They used to. But not anymore.

[Booster]

8. Yeah, they took my advice. LOL Thanks for the update.

[Brickbat]

2. That's crazy shit.

There are some nights I really need my CPAP, and some nights I don't. Some nights I take it off in the night without even knowing it, and sometimes I'll lie in bed in the morning with it on while I'm awake (yes, I'm a freak). That kind of monitoring is crazy.

[iamtechus]

7. You mean that it calls them like a cell phone?

CPAP machines aren't that expensive. If you think that's intrusive you could look for a used one on the web.

[Booster]

9. Actually I think I'm going to do that because I've had it a month

and they are charging Medicare $100 a month to rent it. I wasn't given a choice when I first got it and of course they didn't tell me how much they would be charging Medicare. Thanks, I'll check and see what's available on the web.