Thanks, everyone, for all your information, comments, and suggestions. I will be pursuing this, and I will not give up! Irene

That is great, Irene. Sorry that there was so much bickering on your thread. The important thing is that you do get your prescription. Federal laws do mandate access to it, and the important thing is that it works for YOU.

Update. I did write a very formal letter to my sleep doctor asking for a prescription for both machine and mask. I received a prescription form back in the mail with everything except mask scribbled out. The only part that was my drs writing was the signature. I have made an appointment with him--can't get in until December--and I plan to talk about my treatment, then just chat with him about wanting an rx for a machine also, etc. We'll see how it goes. So far I have liked him, but that was before I got educated by y'all!

Irene P. wrote

Update. I did write a very formal letter to my sleep doctor asking for a prescription for both machine and mask. I received a prescription form back in the mail with everything except mask scribbled out. The only part that was my drs writing was the signature. I have made an appointment with him--can't get in until December--and I plan to talk about my treatment, then just chat with him about wanting an rx for a machine also, etc. We'll see how it goes. So far I have liked him, but that was before I got educated by y'all!

WOW! Everything scribbled out except the Mask RX part of the prescription form!

Sorry you are being treated this way. You are receiving this runaround because your Dr. wants to control your actions (and wants more $$$ from you with repeated and often unnecessary visits). I was successful with two letters (he / his office claimed they didn't receive the first one).

Rather than wait (and stew) for a month until your next visit, I suggest that you write another letter to the Dr. and inform him that you did NOT receive what you requested. Ask him to send you the full prescription. Period.

If your 2nd letter does not get you the full RX, send him a third letter, copy your States Attorney General, your States Health Commissioner (or similar titled officer), etc. (make the list as long as you can with interested parties) and ask again for your full RX. This time, ask him why he is refusing to give you the full RX as you want to provide him the opportunity to explain his refusal in writing for others you will be contacting.

Don't give up and don't stew over this. Write a letter or two or three.

Irene P. wrote:Update. I did write a very formal letter to my sleep doctor asking for a prescription for both machine and mask. I received a prescription form back in the mail with everything except mask scribbled out. The only part that was my drs writing was the signature. I have made an appointment with him--can't get in until December--and I plan to talk about my treatment, then just chat with him about wanting an rx for a machine also, etc. We'll see how it goes. So far I have liked him, but that was before I got educated by y'all!

So.....in essence, he's still denying you your full/complete written prescription?
Turn this jackass in to the regulatory boards. If you go to an optometrist, you'll get a copy of your prescription to take to whichever place you want to get your glasses. A regular primary physician/MD/GP will hand you a prescription to take to the pharmacy of your choice. Same thing is supposed to apply to sleep doctors. Your prescription is good for life (at least with online sellers) and you should be able to have the physical document for all of your CPAP equipment in your possession.

PS I see cinco777 was responding at the same time with a similar response.


Den

The doctor is not complying with HIPAA laws. Pursue it.

I would call every day have others call for me every day (even a child) and basically waste as much of the offices time as possible.Of course going back to that doctor would never happen for any medical needs.My doctor had no problem writing three scripts one cpap one apap for the dme(couldn decide at the time) and one for online apap to fax to who ever I wanted.Traveling, lots of people get an extra one so your doctor stating one machine will do is very weak.When if comes to places like your doctor be the pushiest person you can be.Good luck.

I called my dr's office and told them I needed a new script for a new machine as mine was broken. Never talked to the dr it. his nurse called me and i went in and picked it up, the pressure was set incorrectly on the script, i told the nurse it was wrong. she wrote out a new script for me and stamped his name on it. SInce he had written it but it was written wrong she felt it was ok for her to rewrite it correctly. I took my new script and went shopping for a DME that would provide me with the macine I wanted. Some I talked to about the machines wanted my script first before they would even discuss them with me. So i said sure here is my script, YOU ARE WELCOME TO MAKE A COPY OF IT BUT I WILL NOT RELEASE THE HARD COPY TO YOU OR ANY OTHER DME, i had dme's agree with me that it was my script and that i should not release it . That they all could work with a photo copy of it.. So i now have my new machine and I still have my hard copy script. Just my way of doing business. I will win when i can.

Is this your family doc or sleep doc? I wanted a spare machine. I flat out told my family doc that, told him I wanted script for bla bla bla. He promptly gave me a script.

If you want a script for a spare machine and this knucklehead won't give you one, find a new doc. I'm sure you have plenty of choices in Nashville.

Wow. That's horrible. Maybe try this - tell them that you need a full copy of the prescription to carry with you and the machine when you travel (My DME specifically insisted that I do this to show TSA just in case). I always tuck my Rx into the CPAP bag just in case. Also, tell them you want to keep a copy of all your prescriptions in an accessible place in case of emergency so the EMTs or your family/SO) can locate them to provide to the medical provider ASAP. Also, as others have suggested, call the DME and ask them for a copy of the prescription. (paths of least resistance)

Otherwise, certainly send another, specific written request, certified mail return receipt requested, to the Dr. Reference the scribbled out Rx they sent you and tell them that was not sufficient, and attach a copy of that Rx to the letter to demonstrate why it was not sufficient. Keep a copy of all of this (including the return receipt numbers, etc.) in case you have to pursue it further.

Tell them you travel alot and u never know when u may be out of town or somewhere and you may need something and it may be an emergency.
It is your get it and keep it.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. They have renewed my energy to continue pursuing this. And I will.

Since my previous posts, I have again written a letter to my doctor asking for an rx for both a mask and a machine. There was no response at all. So I made an appointment with my doctor, and I've just returned home from seeing him.

We started out by talking about how my therapy is going, and I ended up telling him I have the software and I watch my progress, and we discussed it and he gave me some advice. I asked pertinent questions, so he knew I was educating myself. Then we talked about masks, and after trying a couple on, he gave me one to take home. (no charge)

Then I took a deep breath and asked for a prescription for both a machine and a mask so I could have it on hand. He said,"Sure, I'll just write you a whole new one." Next, he searched through the file and handed me a copy of my sleep study saying, "Here, you can have this, too." That's when I knew for sure he understands me and we can work together!

So, now I'm sure it's his girl in the office that's been keeping me from getting what I need. I didn't ask, but I feel sure the letter I wrote went in the wastebasket. Today, she switched with another girl temporarily so she wouldn't have to check me in.

Thanks again to everyone who gave me ideas, info, site to look at, and just encouragement. Irene

I probably would write a letter to the Dr. to let him know what happened.

He sounds like he has a very different attitude towards patient relations than the woman working his reception/appointment desk.

In my opinion, he needs to know about this.

Congratulations, Irene!

I'm glad to hear things turned out well in your favor.


Den