Who is Responsible for Your CPAP Prescription Renewal? A Patient Guide

Quick answer: How long a CPAP prescription stays valid depends on how it's written, some specify a number of refills, some carry an explicit expiration date, and some are written as "lifetime" or 99-month prescriptions that don't expire. Managing renewal is a shared responsibility: you track your documentation and initiate renewal, your doctor confirms therapy is still clinically appropriate, and your supplier verifies the prescription before filling orders.

How Long Does a CPAP Prescription Last?

Unlike a fixed universal rule, CPAP prescription validity depends on how your specific prescription is written:

• A set number of refills: valid for that many equipment dispensations, however long that takes.
• An explicit expiration date: valid through that date, whatever period your doctor specified.
• "Lifetime need" or "99 months": effectively doesn't expire and can be used to obtain prescribed equipment as needed to continue therapy.

Because of this variation, the only reliable way to know your prescription's status is to check the document itself or ask your supplier to review it, rather than assuming a standard timeframe applies.

Medicare's Specific Requirements

Medicare has its own structure, separate from state prescription law. Medicare may cover a 12-week trial of CPAP therapy after an OSA diagnosis. To continue coverage after that trial, you must have an in-person visit with your doctor, who documents that you meet Medicare's continuation criteria and that therapy is helping (Medicare.gov). For the machine itself, Medicare typically pays a supplier as a rental for 13 continuous months of use, after which you own the equipment. Ongoing supply orders (masks, filters, and other supplies) generally require your supplier to have a current prescription and documentation of continued use on file, ask your supplier directly what they require to keep processing your orders without a gap.

The Patient's Responsibility

As the one receiving therapy, you're ultimately the one who has to keep documentation current.

Track your documentation. Know what your prescription actually specifies, refills, an expiration date, or lifetime validity, and set a reminder well before any expiration date if one applies.

Initiate renewal. Doctors and clinics manage many patients and won't proactively track your individual expiration date. Call your prescribing physician or sleep clinic to schedule the follow-up needed for renewal.

Confirm validity before ordering supplies. Insurance and Medicare require current documentation to cover replacement masks, tubing, and filters, items that need replacing far more often than the machine itself. See our CPAP supplies guide.

The Physician's Responsibility

Renewing a prescription is tied to confirming therapy is still appropriate and effective, not just paperwork.

Reviewing compliance data. Modern CPAP machines transmit usage data wirelessly, letting your doctor see average nightly hours and your AHI.

Conducting follow-up visits. Many clinics require periodic follow-up to check whether weight changes, other health changes, or medications have affected your needed pressure.

Adjusting pressure or ordering a new sleep study. If your data shows AHI creeping upward, your doctor may adjust your APAP settings remotely or recommend a new titration study.

The Supplier's Responsibility

Your DME provider or online CPAP supplier handles the legal and logistical side.

Verifying prescriptions. Suppliers must confirm any prescription submitted is current, signed by a licensed physician, and complete, orders can't legally proceed on an expired or incomplete one.

Bridging communication. Suppliers often reach out to your prescribing physician directly to request a renewal signature once you've scheduled your follow-up.

Managing equipment replacement. When it's time for a new machine, typically after its useful lifetime is reached, your supplier will need a current prescription, which in many cases is a lifetime or long-term prescription covering the equipment itself once compliance is documented.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out how long my CPAP prescription is valid?

Check the prescription itself for an expiration date or refill count, or ask your supplier to review it. There's no universal default, it depends entirely on how your doctor wrote it.

Does Medicare require a new prescription every year?

Medicare's structure centers on an in-person follow-up after your initial trial period and ongoing documentation of medical necessity, rather than a fixed annual renewal date, your DME supplier can tell you exactly what they need on file.

What happens if my prescription expires and I need new supplies?

Most suppliers, including The CPAP Shop, can help you navigate renewal, often by reaching out to your physician directly once you schedule a follow-up visit.

Submit your CPAP Prescription here. 

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or insurance advice. Prescription and coverage requirements vary by state, insurer, and individual prescription, confirm your specific requirements with your physician, insurer, and supplier.

This post was updated with the latest information in October 2026.

References:

1. Medicare.gov. "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy." Available at: medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-positive-airway-pressure-devices