How to Cheat CPAP Compliance (or How to Meet Your Compliance Requirements)

Before you go searching for hacks on YouTube and accidentally void your CPAP machine’s warranty, heed these words...

A sleep study is conducted if a patient snores loudly, gasps for air in the middle of the night, or experiences a sense of sleepiness during the day. These are just a few of the possible signs of sleep apnea, and CPAP therapy is the life-saving medical intervention used to treat it. At Aeroflow Sleep, we are committed to getting your CPAP supplies covered through insurance at little to no cost; however, your insurance company may not pay for your CPAP therapy unless you demonstrate that you’re actually using your CPAP machine. So, how do you cheat CPAP compliance? Well, we’re here to help!

CPAP compliance is determined by how often your CPAP machine is used. Most insurance providers require a minimum CPAP use of 4 hours per night for 30 consecutive days within the first 3 months. This is to ensure that you are actually in need of a CPAP device; otherwise, insurance won’t cover the cost. Simply put, you must comply to qualify.

Compliance data is collected two ways; older CPAP machines use SD cards, while newer models use cell modems or WiFi. Healthcare providers will have the opportunity to access compliance data either way, but one is faster and more reliable. Where older models will need the data obtained manually, newer models send your data directly to The Cloud, providing you and your doctor with customized reports on your sleep health. Some even share tips and advice!

Today’s models offer extensive reports when calculating your CPAP compliance. For example, the ResMed Airsense 10 Auto CPAP measures your Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), continuous positive airway pressure, mask leak rate, and overall breathing pattern through myAir™ – a free online support program and app. All of this information can tell your doctor if your CPAP treatment is working.

In fact, your own CPAP machine can sense minute changes in air pressure, indicating whether or not you’re awake, or if your mask isn’t being worn. Obviously, you want clear answers when there’s the possibility you’ll stop breathing during the night, which is why the only surefire way to cheat CPAP compliance is to wear your CPAP mask as it was prescribed.

Regular use of your CPAP device leads to increased wakefulness, increased cognitive function, and it may even prevent some high risk conditions; like heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and hypertension.

1. Increasing your CPAP compliance starts with your CPAP mask. From nasal masks to full face masks, and even some in between (hybrids,) it’s important to choose the right mask type for you. 
2. When testing if your mask fits you properly, try wearing it while reading or watching TV. Not only will this acclimate you to the feeling of wearing your CPAP mask at night but it will also tell you if the mask is comfortable, since you’re awake and alert.
3. Next, look into your CPAP device’s unique settings; such as the ramp feature or exhalation relief. The ramp feature literally “ramps up” your continuous positive airway pressure as you fall asleep, beginning at a lower airflow setting and then gradually increasing as you enter the REM Cycle.
4. Exhalation relief is another literal setting. Fixed-pressure CPAP machines only provide a steady stream of pressurized air, which may make it difficult to follow your body’s natural breathing rhythm. If you try to exhale while air is continually being forced into your lungs, it feels like you’re suffocating. To fix this, try the exhalation relief (may be called EPR, C-Flex, A-Flex Smartflex, etc.)
5. Finally, consider adding a humidifier attachment to your CPAP setup. Humidification can assist sleep apnea patients who complain of several environmentally-driven respiratory systems; like sinus pressure, nasal congestion, and increased mucus or phlegm. 

If none of these feel right for you, schedule a follow-up with your doctor. You may need to try some different Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Maybe your particular sleep disorder would be better treated with another FDA-approved medical device; such as an APAP or BiPAP machine. And of course, call your dedicated Aeroflow Sleep specialist for any new opportunities for insurance covered CPAP supplies.

By now, you’ve probably figured out there is no way to cheat CPAP compliance. Instead, we’ve explored how to make the best of it. You are in control of your CPAP compliance, and now that you know how integral it is, we hope its part in your sleep apnea journey keeps your CPAP treatment as effective as it can possibly be.