Attn: people in the US who use CPAP

[delight]

This doesn't apply to Medicare/Medicaid, because believe it or not, CMS wouldn't allow this.

But other than that ...

You Snooze, You Lose: Insurers Make The Old Adage Literally True
Millions of sleep apnea patients rely on CPAP breathing machines to get a good night’s rest. Health insurers use a variety of tactics, including surveillance, to make patients bear the costs. Experts say it’s part of the insurance industry playbook.

Comments

[recessional]

It continues to be really odd to me that literally everything that the Repugs held up as Horror Stories of Obamacare/Socialized Medicine is already literally happening with, you know. Private insurance.

[delight]

And is actually against regulations for the current public plans! Isn't that charming all around.

[recessional]

It just kind of makes you want to scream.

I mean the one article I skimmed was also a Foucaltian exercise in the Absurd: "You haven't used your CPAP enough to warrant it!" "You haven't sent it to me." "Correct, because you haven't used it enough." "YOU HAVE NOT PHYSICALLY PROVIDED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT."

Just. I am so sorry.

[delight]

That kind of thing happens to my patients with their continuous glucose monitors, which I (my program) actually manages, but. I have this conversation all the time, as do some of my diabetic friends.

Insurance company: This patient's blood glucose is too steady to continue meriting the use of CGM.
Me: That's ... because they're using it. The range is small because they're using the machine.
Company: The range is too small to merit use of it so we're not going to continue to pay it.
Me: *sigh*
Patient's glucose range: *gets bigger*
Insurance company: NOW you qualify for CGM.

Around and around and around and around. Yes, they always take it away when it works.

[recessional]

This is why we invented "lolsob", because I have no more intelligent comment.

Other than "wow no wonder the brain-drain docs who had souls came home."

[worlds_of_smoke]

Thank fuck I use mine 9-10 hours a night. -sighs- I still have to bring in my card whenever I see my sleep specialist, just so they can read it and prove I'm compliant.