How do you sterlize a trach for reuse?

[IzzyB]

Susan - I would check again. We have Medicaid, but I thought the rules were similar for Medicaid as they are KidCare and we were told they pay for one a quarter. We were originally getting one a month on Medicaid, but then later they said the Bivona's have been changed to once a quarter. Also, you are in CMS, right? I have been told they sometimes pay for extra.

Check eBay, we found some on there cheaper, but they don't always have them. Especially that small.

[Sweet Harrison's mommy]

Originally Posted by IzzyB

Susan - I would check again. We have Medicaid, but I thought the rules were similar for Medicaid as they are KidCare and we were told they pay for one a quarter. We were originally getting one a month on Medicaid, but then later they said the Bivona's have been changed to once a quarter. Also, you are in CMS, right? I have been told they sometimes pay for extra.

Check eBay, we found some on there cheaper, but they don't always have them. Especially that small.

Awesome ideas! Thank you!

We never had an issue before the downsize because we had sooooooo many extra 3.5's. Harrison was admitted to the hospital (for procedures and such) quite a bit his first year trached, and we came home with an extra 3.5 (or 2) almost every admission. Now that he is healthy and has downsized, we are running into the issues.

We did just check with our insurance and they are claiming that they only cover 1 a year, but I didn't think to check with CMS. I know that they often help with travel costs for out of town appointments, gas cards, hotels, flights, etc., so I can imagine they might be able to give us an extra trach or 2 Great idea! I'm also going to check with the ENT's office to see if he has extras. Checked with the pulmo..no luck, but the ENT might have some lying around.

Thanks again

[Bodie's Dad]

Originally Posted by Sweet Harrison's mommy

Isn't it ridiculous?!? Harrison is on Florida kidcare (basically, a medicaid HMO), but florida is notoriously bad with special needs funding. Nursing hours, medicaid, supplies, etc...they are one of the worst states to provide support for those who need it.

Harrison is in a Bivona, 3.0, PEDS. He cannot tolerate Shiley for some reason. I put a post on the medical supply page on facebook, hoping someone has extras. If not, we are just going to suck it up and buy a couple full price, I guess. No other choice. I do have 1 trach mom friend who is sending me some 2.5's, so at least we will have the size smaller in case of an emergency.

What kind of HME does Bodie user? We have about 8-10 Humid-vent mini's that Harrison doesn't use. He never tolerated an HME.

Bodie uses a Bivona 3.0 NEO. We have the T-shaped HME's with the green sponge filter (unsure of the name). We are re-using after cleaning but I am supposed to be getting a fair sized re-supply from another forum member soon.

[Livi's_mama]

Originally Posted by Momoffive

Ditto as per Davidsmom - that's the process right from the Bivona insert that we have done for years, (apart from the fact that they say to do the cleaning first, then later, i.e. just prior to use to use the boiling water). We've never had any kind of trach infection or stoma irritation etc. from this method!

Exactly. Going on 6.5 yrs of being trached.

[cheetahmk7]

I'd just like to point out that all the methods already mentioned are forms of disinfection, not sterilisation.

We follow the TRACOE procedure with our child, which is basically just cleaning with the aid of an enzymaticic solution. After all the the upper respiratory tract isn't a sterile environment.

http://www.tracoe.com/download/18/ho...oe-larynx.html