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I disagree on the machines. The settings are VERY straight-forward for anyone to program a machine, and online stores are already offering 50% off or more on t

I disagree on the machines. The settings are VERY straight-forward for anyone to program a machine, and online stores are already offering 50% off or more on the machines. The pain point is that online stores are required to get a prescription, even though the end user will need to manually configure the machine after receiving it. I do agree that the accessories are annoying as heck. It really makes competition almost impossible, since trying to price compare medical suppliers is painful to say the least.

nobody9999 4y ago
>The settings are VERY straight-forward for anyone to program a machine, and online stores are already offering 50% off or more on the machines. The pain point is that online stores are required to get a prescription, even though the end user will need to manually configure the machine after receiving it. You're right, setting up a CPAP machine is pretty easy. The reason I think a prescription for the machines is worthwhile is for people newly diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Because it's useful to actually interact with a medical professional not just to get a "prescription," but to confirm that the issue is actually OSA rather than some other issue that a CPAP sleep regimen won't address, as well as to identify other health issues that can impact overall health and sleep. What you don't want is someone self-diagnosing themselves and not engaging a health care professional (in this case, a pulmonologist) and deciding they have OSA, buying a machine and its associated accoutrements and not actually having OSA -- rather something else that may be causing the issue -- perhaps something with a higher risk of serious illness or death. All that said, once you have such a diagnosis, it's stupid to force folks to get new prescriptions to buy a new machine and incredibly stupid to require that for accessories like masks. >I do agree that the accessories are annoying as heck. It really makes competition almost impossible, since trying to price compare medical suppliers is painful to say the least. Another good point. I find that, for me, most masks are uncomfortable and leaky. Over the years (almost 20 now), I've found the accessories that work best for me. As such, I know what I want, so price checking is a bit simpler, but it's not something that has a lot of price sensitivity to me -- I'm more concerned with making sure I get what I actually want/need rather than some cheap knockoff.

nobody9999 4y ago

>The settings are VERY straight-forward for anyone to program a machine, and online stores are already offering 50% off or more on the machines. The pain point is that online stores are required to get a prescription, even though the end user will need to manually configure the machine after receiving it. You're right, setting up a CPAP machine is pretty easy. The reason I think a prescription for the machines is worthwhile is for people newly diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Because it's useful to actually interact with a medical professional not just to get a "prescription," but to confirm that the issue is actually OSA rather than some other issue that a CPAP sleep regimen won't address, as well as to identify other health issues that can impact overall health and sleep. What you don't want is someone self-diagnosing themselves and not engaging a health care professional (in this case, a pulmonologist) and deciding they have OSA, buying a machine and its associated accoutrements and not actually having OSA -- rather something else that may be causing the issue -- perhaps something with a higher risk of serious illness or death. All that said, once you have such a diagnosis, it's stupid to force folks to get new prescriptions to buy a new machine and incredibly stupid to require that for accessories like masks. >I do agree that the accessories are annoying as heck. It really makes competition almost impossible, since trying to price compare medical suppliers is painful to say the least. Another good point. I find that, for me, most masks are uncomfortable and leaky. Over the years (almost 20 now), I've found the accessories that work best for me. As such, I know what I want, so price checking is a bit simpler, but it's not something that has a lot of price sensitivity to me -- I'm more concerned with making sure I get what I actually want/need rather than some cheap knockoff.