CPAP Supplies and Equipment

  There are several ways to check whether your doctor is in network:

• Go to your insurance company’s website to get an updated network list. 
• Call your insurance company. Reach out to your plan’s member services team to get help with any questions about your plan. You can usually find their phone number on your health insurance member ID card. 
• Ask your care provider. Your provider may be able to tell you if they take your insurance plan by looking at your health insurance card. But it’s always best to confirm with your insurance plan.

 Yes, doctors can look up your insurance, but it’s best to touch base with your insurance company for questions regarding your specific coverage. Your doctor won’t have the level of knowledge for your plan or network that your insurance company will. Save time, money and potential conflict by getting clarification on your coverage from the experts at your insurance company. 

 After a primary care visit, your doctor may suggest you get specialized or ongoing care from another provider and provide a doctor – or physician – referral. Having a doctor referral doesn’t necessarily mean your care at the other provider will be covered by your insurance plan. You need to first check if the provider or clinic your doctor recommends is in network. If it is, it will be covered under the appropriate benefit within your plan. If not, you will need an insurance referral.

If needed, your doctor will work with your health plan to submit an insurance referral for your next steps. If approved, this means insurance will cover the cost even though the provider or clinic is not in your network. This can happen in instances where a rare type of care is needed or if your in-network options are too far away. Insurance referrals aren’t always approved, so be sure to confirm before you get your care so you know what is going to be covered.

 To help diagnose if you have sleep apnea your healthcare provider will look at the following: 

 Your healthcare provider will want to know about your sleep and health habits, including how much sleep you get, how long it takes to fall asleep and whether you sleepwalk or talk while asleep. Your medications will be reviewed for their effects on sleep and you may be asked about your family history, because sleep apnea runs in families.  A physical exam will help rule out other medical conditions and will look for anything making your upper airway narrower, such as enlarged tonsils or a small jaw, that may contribute to sleep apnea.   

There are Florida laws and statutes that prohibit a provider from prescribing more than a certain amount of controlled substances at one time. 

Patients must be seen routinely for medication management of controlled medications. Some medications require an office visit every 90 days while others may only require an office visit every 6 months at a minimum. 

Random drug testing may be performed at any time to ensure that controlled medications are being taken as prescribed.

Patients are required to sign a "Controlled Substance Prescriber Agreement" form prior to initiating therapy on a controlled substance.

Congressional Research Service. (2023, January 19). The controlled substances act (CSA): A legal overview for the. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45948 

Dr. Christina Rigas is working hard to get started as soon as she can to start seeing patients September 16th, 2024. Of course, things could be delayed by unforeseen events.

 Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea can vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:

• Frequent loud snoring. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. 
• Daytime sleepiness which may result in difficulty focusing and falling asleep during the day, potentially while driving.
• Pauses in breathing: If you have sleep apnea you may wake up suddenly with jerking body movements after these breathing pauses, often gasping and choking. If you share a bed with someone, they may notice these noises and movements.
• Difficulties with memory and concentration
• Unusual moodiness or irritability
• Frequently waking up to urinate at night
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth
• Erectile dysfunction and decreased libido

When you see your doctor about Sleep Apnea : 

If you or your loved one have snoring that disrupts your sleep, pauses in breathing during the night or have a hard time staying awake during the day you should talk to your healthcare provider. In addition, if you are having a hard time controlling your asthma, blood pressure or blood sugar, you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, if you are having a hard time controlling your asthma, blood pressure or blood sugar, you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. 

Association, A. L. (2024, June 7). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms, causes & risk factors. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Diagnosis | American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/sleep-apnea/symptoms-diagnosis 

If you have been experiencing symptoms related to your breathing or have been diagnosed with a lung disease, it is recommended to see a pulmonologist for specialized care.

The risk factors for developing lung diseases include smoking, exposure to air pollution and toxins, genetics, and certain medical conditions.

There are many programs available to assist patients in receiving medications at an affordable cost. We understand that medications to treat respiratory and sleep conditions are expensive but we will help find a solution during a financial hardship.

Some medications require prior authorization through your insurance company and may take time to achieve.

Many specialty medications have programs to enroll in for the best possible outcome and to provide a support network to assist patients cope with a new diagnosis and/or treatment.