xPAP Relief Program FAQ to treat sleep apnea

Awake In America’s xPAP Donation and Relief Program is the first of its kind, and was developed by Awake In America prior to launch, just like our Sleep Study Relief Program.

Both programs were long overdue in the sleep community, and both should have been conceived and launched many years prior to Awake In America’s launch, but sadly, they weren’t. Because of that, countless Americans have suffered poor sleep, adverse health consequences, and perhaps died as a result of related health issues.

Because the need was not being met, these programs provided a strong basis for pre-launch planning of the organization itself.

Awake In America’s xPAP Donation and Relief Program was designed to meet the needs of individuals without health insurance, with inadequate health insurance, or without the financial means necessary to obtain the equipment necessary to treat diagnosed, yet untreated sleep disorders. For more information, see the question, “Who qualifies for the Awake In America xPAP Donation and Relief Program?” in the Qualifications section of this FAQ.

Awake In America’s xPAP Donation and Relief Program is run, operated, and administered, in full, by Awake In America, Inc.

We are not affiliated or associated with any other organization, nor are we an extension of any other organization or group. Awake In America, Inc. is an independent, Pennsylvania-based national non-profit (501c3) organization. For more information about Awake In America, visit our About Us page.
Equipment for the program is supplied, primarily, by the generous donations of individuals and home health care companies around the country. We have also received equipment donations from a few individuals in Canada. We have, on occasion, had to call on equipment manufacturers to donation specific equipment to meet the needs of our program when we were unable to find specific equipment elsewhere.

Almost all of the equipment, specifically the CPAP and BiPAP machines, are donated by individuals and home health care providers from around the United States, and, in a few instances, Canada.

Funding of the administrative costs of the xPAP Donation and Relief Program come from our general operating funds. We greatly appreciate any financial donations from individuals, businesses, or corporations to help fund our programs and operations, as many individuals who apply for the programs often request waivers for the administrative and/or shipping fees. Donations may be sent to:

Awake In America, Inc.
   Attn: xPAP Relief Program Donations
   P.O. Box 51601
   Philadelphia, PA 19115-6601

All donations made to Awake In America, Inc. are
tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable under law.

For specifics,
please consult with your tax preparer, as we may not offer specific
guidance.

If you were to do that, it would be greatly appreciated! Any funding to help us continue our missions, and even funding for specific programs is always helpful!

We would be glad to speak with you or your employer’s representative about establishing such a program, as well as creating other programs targeted to meet other needs in the sleep community.

Please feel free to contact us via email (see the link further down on this page), or give us a call. All of our contact information is at the bottom of each page. A link to download our vCard is also located at the bottom of each page. A vCard may be used to quickly and easily import our contact information into a variety of programs, such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Time and Chaos, and other personal information managers (PIMs).

In short, without sending in your application, there is no way to determine if you qualify for Awake In America’s xPAP Donation and Relief Program.

When we planned the Awake In America xPAP Donation and Relief Program, we considered many factors and variables. Planning for the program continued all the way up to actual launch, in fact, ensuring as many people could qualify for the program that had a need for the program.

Yes and no.

Yes, income is one factor we consider, but in most cases, it is not the sole deciding factor in deciding eligibility for the xPAP Donation and Relief Program.

First, you have to have a sleep study, as CPAP and BiPAP machines are considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as Class II devices, which require a prescription.

Because a lot of things can change in your body, and with your health over time, Awake In America will only consider sleep studies that are less than three years old at the time you apply to the program. If it has been more than three years since your last sleep study was done, we will require you to undergo a new sleep study, as your pressure needs may have changed in that time.

The list of required documents are just that: documents required for us to consider and process your application for the xPAP Donation and Relief Program.

All applications must be submitted with all required documentation when mailed to our offices. If an tax transcript from the IRS has been requested, using the Tax Transcript Request form on Awake In America’s site, you will need to indicate that on the application; we allow up to eight (8) weeks from the time your application is received for the Tax Transcript to arrive from the IRS. During that time, please note, your application will not be reviewed, but in a “hold” status until we have your proof of income.

Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Many times when a patient asks for a copy of the report on the sleep study, they are given a summary. That summary is generally one page to four pages long, and is basically notes about your sleep study.

A complete sleep study will be several pages long, and most typically has charts and graphs showing your sleep stages, awakenings/arousals, and additional detail, as well as commentary about various phases of your sleep during the actual sleep study.

The best source for obtaining a complete copy of the sleep study report is the sleep lab where you had the sleep study. Patients are entitled to a complete copy of their detailed records, so asking for it is not inappropriate nor uncommon. It is actually encouraged, especially if you ever switch sleep specialists or primary care providers. By having the complete report, it will give other providers a historical view of your sleep issues.

If you’re working, the acceptable proof of income would be a notarized copy of your most recent pay stub(s) from each of your employers. The pay stub(s) cannot be older than four weeks old from the date you mail the application (based on the U.S. Postal Service’s watermark).

In order to have the copy of your pay stub notarized, you will need to take it to a local notary public. A notary public that is local to you may be located by looking in your local telephone book or Yellow Pages. Banks, realtors, and attorneys often have someone who is a notary public, so that may be another option for you to easily find a notary public in your area.

Other acceptable documents for proof of income include:

• Tax Transcript (sent direct to us by the IRS) (see next item for information on how to order a Tax Transcript). The
  Tax Transcript mustbe mailed directly to Awake In America’s offices
  by the IRS for us to consider them.
• Notarized earnings statement provided by your state’s department of employment security (the
  agency in your state that handles unemployment compensation. Simply call the phone number listed in your local telephone directory under “Government,
  (State Name)” to find the listing. Ask for a statement
  of your current earnings. It is a computer-generated form
  that is mailed within two business days.

One of the acceptable forms of proof of income for our relief programs is a Tax Transcript provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The information below is copied directly from the IRS’ site, so it’s the authoritative word on the Tax Transcript process.

Requesting transcripts (individuals):

You have two easy and convenient options for
getting copies of your federal tax return information — tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts — by phone or by mail.

Request transcripts by calling 1–800–829–1040,
or order by mail using IRS Form 4506T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). We (the IRS) do not charge a fee for transcripts. Allow two weeks for delivery.

Definitions:

A tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes you, your representative or the IRS made after the return was filed. In many cases, a return transcript will meet the requirements of lending institutions such as those offering mortgages and for applying for student loans.

A tax account transcript shows any later adjustments either you or the IRS made after the tax return was filed. This transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income, and taxable income.

If you’re not working, you would need to contact the agency in your state that handles unemployment compensation, generally it is called something like the Department of Employment Security. Ask that the agency mail you a copy of your wages and earnings for the past year.

Once you receive that, you will need to take it to a local notary public to have the document notarized. A notary public that is local to you may be located by looking in your local telephone book or Yellow Pages. Banks, realtors, and attorneys often have someone who is a notary public, so that may be another option for you to easily find a notary public in your area.

NOTE: Statements from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Social Security; local, county/parish, or state agencies that deal with assistance for a variety of programs, including Welfare or Medical Assistance; state Welfare agencies; and other social service agencies are not acceptable, as not all agencies handle the reporting of income in the same manner.

Sorry, but that’s not something we can do.

Because CPAP and BiPAP machines are considered Class II devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a prescription from a qualified, licensed health care provider is required.

If you do not have the financial resources to consult with a doctor, and if you do not have health insurance, you could look in your local telephone book or contact your local city government about free resources, such as community health clinics in your area.

Another option is to contact local physicians, explain your situation, and ask if they would see you on a pro bono or free basis. It isn’t entirely unheard of, and it is a practice that is dwindling for many reasons, so it is another possibility.

This is similar to another question we’ve answered, so be sure to read If I am approved, does that mean I will get everything I requested in my application? in the Approval section of this FAQ.

We try to meet the needs of everyone. In most cases, we go out of our way to ensure individuals receive all the equipment they need. However, because we are a non-profit agency and rely heavily on donations, we do not always have everything requested. For example, one of the most requested items is a heated humidifier. While we do receive donations of heated humidifiers, we often do not get enough to satisfy the demand.

We will try to find one for you, often by calling around the country, asking for a company to donate the required item(s). Sometimes we do come up empty-handed, but many times we can find someone willing to donate the needed equipment.

In terms of specific items, such as a particular mask, a particular make and/or model of machine, no we cannot meet those needs. This is why we require prescriptions for equipment, or equipment with indications of sizes (as in the case of masks), because we do not purchase equipment for you. We have to work with what we have in stock, or we have to call to find equipment that will work for you. If you doctor gives you a prescription, such as the one below, which is an example of an unacceptable prescription that cannot be accepted for our program, as requesting specific brands is not allowed under our program.
       Brand A CPAP @ __
       Brand A mask – size: ___
       Brand B humidifier

For our programs, a prescription should be an “open” prescription, such as the one — an example of an acceptable prescription for our program — shown in the example below:
       CPAP (or BiPAP) @ __ cm/H2O (must state the pressure)
       Nasal (or full-face) mask – size: ___ (must indicate Nasal or Full-Face mask and the size)
       humidifier (or heated humidifier) (humidifier needed? Not always available, and need must be documented)

Your application is scanned into an encrypted, password-protected file in-house, and only specific individuals may access the file.

After all original documents have been scanned and the encrypted file created, the originals are shredded and disposed in a variety of ways and times.

The actual file sent for review contains only your raw information. Anything in the application or supporting documentation that contains personally-identifying information, such as your name; address; any mention of city, state, zip code, area code and/or phone number(s); names of doctors, sleep labs, or hospitals; employer names; names of insurance carriers; and any other information which may indicated anything about you or your location, is deleted in a variety of ways.

The individuals on the review committee never know your name, where you are from, the doctor you see, your employer, or anything else about you. They do see the information you provide about income, symptoms, any comments you make, as well as the “information” in the required documents (with the abovementioned information deleted).

There is one “original” copy of the application that shows all your information. It is encrypted using the strongest encryption algorithms available at the time of original processing. The file is accessible for review by the Board, but is deleted after a specific period of time using a secure wiping algorithm.

The information in the applications is never shared with others, nor is anything in the applications rented, sold, exchanged, traded, or given to others.

If you’re living with a friend, relative, or in a homeless shelter or halfway house, you need to provide a notarized letter — with an original notarization for the application — stating you are living at the specific address; how long you have lived at the residence; the relationship you have to the person/person with whom you reside; that you pay a specific amount of rent or do not pay rent; that you do specific work in exchange for shelter; and any amount you pay for utilties.

Copies of the letter are not acceptable. You must submit an original document with an original (embossed/raised) notarization sealed by a Notary Public who is not a relative and who is not a family member of anyone with whom you reside.

If you’re living in a homeless shelter or half-way house, a notarized letter must be written on the official letterhead of homeless shelter or halfway house. Form letters and copies of letters are not acceptable, nor are letters addressed “To
Whom It May Concern” or pre-printed with blank fields for a person’s name to be added with a pen at a later date. Homeless shelters or halfway houses which are duly licensed and incorporated in the state in which they operate may have the official Corporate Seal, maintained by the Corporate Secretary or other Corporate Officer, may be affixed to the letter in lieu of notarization. In either case, an original, legal, and proper notarization or corporate seal must be affixed to the letter.