Just got home from Endo appointment...

[butterflykisses]

And I was ready to strangle his PA! I told her I needed a prescription for strips. She asked me how many times I test...which also irritates me since they give me a form to fill out before I go in asking questions like how many times a day do you test.. I tell her 10 times +/- a day. She says "I don't think insurance is going to pay for that many." I told her that they have been paying for that many all along. She tells me that they're really cracking down and that she's getting a lot of requests to justify testing. At this point I start to feel my BP rise! I said again "they've been paying for 300 a month". She said "I know, but that doesn't mean anything. They don't want to pay for that many strips". Now my face is turning red and I'm gritting my teeth trying to keep from screaming at her! I finally said, with great restraint, "look, just basic testing requires 7/8 tests a day. Then there's driving, dealing with lows and highs, snacks, not to mention the error readings. Trust me, I'm using them to test, not selling them on Ebay!!! She says "I know, I don't think you're selling them, its just insurance is cutting back on the amount of strips they'll allow. I'll try, we'll see what happens." Ummm, HELLO?! Why is it she is so sure they're not going to pay for the strips that they've been paying for all along??? GRRR!

Just needed to vent. <sigh>

[foxl]

Are they keeping stats on the script writers? I MEAN ...

Does she win a free cruise if she writes the least? (rolleyes). I feel like asking them that.

[GretchO]

I got the exact same thing when I went to my endo a couple weeks ago (new endo). The PA did write the prescription for the # of strips I wanted, and the script was filled w/out issue. Hope I don't get krap when I try to refill them...it's stupid that this issue even comes up, for any of us.

[butterflykisses]

Are they keeping stats on the script writers? I MEAN ...

Does she win a free cruise if she writes the least? (rolleyes). I feel like asking them that.

I should call and see if she's on vacation next week, maybe she's winning the contest! :D

[jps]

Ya know, that really irritates me. I'm guessing about 90% of T2's that docs see are semi-compliant to non-compliant. When they get somebody that is adamant about testing so they can be in complete control, they should cater to those needs.

[butterflykisses]

I got the exact same thing when I went to my endo a couple weeks ago (new endo). The PA did write the prescription for the # of strips I wanted, and the script was filled w/out issue. Hope I don't get krap when I try to refill them...it's stupid that this issue even comes up, for any of us.

I'm getting ready to take mine to have it filled, we shall see. I doubt there will be an issue. What is so frustrating about it is that the last time I was there we had this same conversation. At the time she was filling out forms for me to get my Ping. How many times to test was on the form. One of the things that really tick me off her even having to ask me how many times I test...they should have that on file, right? Not to mention that stupid form they have me fill out every time I go that asks HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU TEST?! Why fill that stupid thing out if you're not going to look at it?! Anyhoo...I didn't need strips at that point but had to call when I got my Ping to switch from Freestyle to the Onetouch strips. AND SOBE (son of a biscuit eater :D ) if they didn't call it in as "test 5 times a day". :mad: I swear I'm about two seconds from finding another endo...or just going to my GP.

Sorry...more ranting, it just fell out. :cool:

[GretchO]

For me, getting c-rap from the pharmacy tech was what made me wanna scream. I do mail order now, but needed to do an interim prescription until the mail order thing when through and they shipped them out. The pharmacy tech kind of snorted and asked "You're really going to test that many times?" I was sooooooo PO'd I wanted to whack her. When I was over being dumbfounded and could speak again, I told her I was pretty sure it was none of her business. Do other patients get this much c-rap at every turn?

[butterflykisses]

GRRR!!!!! I just got home from CVS. I dropped off my prescription, ran an errand and when I got back to pick it up they tell me that my insurance is saying its too soon, I have to wait until the 15th. The reason being, the old OneTouch script!!! It was that "test 5 times a day". I told them that the prescription was different, test 10 times. She said that they would call the insurance company. I call CVS to see if its straightened out and I'm told that my insurance company has to approve the change with the supervisor! SOBE! Sometimes I just want to freakin give up. Isn't dealing with this disease itself is quite enough all by itself. The stress of dealing with doctors, pharmacies, insurance companies...I wonder sometimes if its worth it.

[butterflykisses]

Well, it only took a day and a half, but I FINALLY got my test strips! GEEZ! I thought after talking to someone this morning that they were going to try and force me into using the "preferred" brand, Freestyle. Our insurance policy doesn't have a tiered plan, its either generic or brand name, so was confused by the pharmacist talking about Freestyle being the "preferred" brand. I thought I was going to end up not just fighting to get my strips, but the brand too! I'm just relieved, all worked up over "nothing" I guess.

[cdngoose]

Gosh I feel for you. I am in Canada and we do not have any of those irritations (yet) but I feel they're coming.

[shiftzor]

I think you should take your bg logs along and ask her which tests you don't "need". I would love to hear her justifications and reasons on which ones where not needed. If she even tries to make a few suggestions ask what would have happened if it all went horribly wrong, if you ended up in A&E would she sign a piece of paper saying she would pick up the bill?

[jer.lawrence]

This brings a question to mind -- I talked to my insurance company before going to the doc earlier this month. The insurance company covers 200 strips per month. I told the doc this, he said I shouldn't need that many, but wrote the prescription for the 200 anyway.

The PHARMACIST asked me how often I tested because she didn't think that I needed 200 a month, and because the insurance company didn't like paying for that many.

I ended up telling her that I usually test 3-4 times a day, but there are days when I need more. They only filled me for 100 of the 200 that the doc wrote.

That's 100 for 25 days, which is 4x a day. I would get all up in arms about it, and I half way still feel like I should, but I actually DO usually only test 4x a day -- it's more than that on weekends though.

100 aren't going to last me 25 days, I don't think. I guess I'll talk to the pharmacist next time.

[Moonglo]

Jeremy, I would have been furious! If the insurance company has said they will cover 200 a month, and the doctor has given you a prescription for them, then it's none of the pharmacist's business. Period. I would have made them go ahead and fill it as written, and then if there was a problem when they processed it I would have addressed it then.

I just don't understand why so many people are having problems getting the strips they need when their insurance policy says they cover them. It's mind boggling.

[sarahspins]

Ha.. and here my CDE asked me on Thursday "are you sure 300 is enough? I can write it for more if you want me to" after I mentioned that my RX was going to run out before I saw my Endo again in two weeks, and I said 300 was just fine since that's all insurance will cover without a pre-auth, and I really wasn't sure I wanted to go through the hassle when I didn't have a problem with what I was getting :)

She did mention that insurance HAS to pay for however many strips are prescribed if it says on the RX to test before driving, especially for anyone who is hypo-unaware (and yes, I always test before getting in the car). I didn't think to ask how many more per day she would suggest, since I seem to do fine with 10X a day.. some days are less, some more, but overall, it seems to work out.

Sorry you had to deal with bean counters, but I'm glad you got your strips in the end :)

[butterflykisses]

I think you should take your bg logs along and ask her which tests you don't "need". I would love to hear her justifications and reasons on which ones where not needed. If she even tries to make a few suggestions ask what would have happened if it all went horribly wrong, if you ended up in A&E would she sign a piece of paper saying she would pick up the bill?

I don't know what the deal is with this woman, but I've just about decided to look for another endo. She's NOT the endo, haven't seen him in so long I don't think I could pick him out of a line up with two to chose from! I guess since I'm in control they don't see a reason to waste his time. I left this last appointment not only upset about the strips but she also cut the appointment short when a nurse came to the door. I don't know what the deal was, the nurse didn't say anything, must have mouthed something to the PA. She said she would be right back. A while later the nurse came back in and asked me if I needed to talk to her about anything else. I was still fuming about the strips ordeal and then flabbergasted when the nurse, and not the PA, came back to the room. I just said I needed prescriptions, which the nurse had in her hand, and left wondering why I drove 45 minutes in rush hour traffic. I completely forgot to ask about Apidra and whether she had got a request for Orbit 90's. <sigh> And then I had to deal with the pharmacy/insurance fiasco. :eek: Yeah, the nerves are still raw.

[butterflykisses]

This brings a question to mind -- I talked to my insurance company before going to the doc earlier this month. The insurance company covers 200 strips per month. I told the doc this, he said I shouldn't need that many, but wrote the prescription for the 200 anyway.

The PHARMACIST asked me how often I tested because she didn't think that I needed 200 a month, and because the insurance company didn't like paying for that many.

I ended up telling her that I usually test 3-4 times a day, but there are days when I need more. They only filled me for 100 of the 200 that the doc wrote.

That's 100 for 25 days, which is 4x a day. I would get all up in arms about it, and I half way still feel like I should, but I actually DO usually only test 4x a day -- it's more than that on weekends though.

100 aren't going to last me 25 days, I don't think. I guess I'll talk to the pharmacist next time.

If the pharmacist didn't fill your prescription as written then you should go back and get the rest of them. It's not up to them how many you use!!! It's one thing if your insurance company won't pay for that many...although they could still fill it with you paying the difference...but its not up to the pharmacist.

[butterflykisses]

Ha.. and here my CDE asked me on Thursday "are you sure 300 is enough? I can write it for more if you want me to" after I mentioned that my RX was going to run out before I saw my Endo again in two weeks, and I said 300 was just fine since that's all insurance will cover without a pre-auth, and I really wasn't sure I wanted to go through the hassle when I didn't have a problem with what I was getting :)

She did mention that insurance HAS to pay for however many strips are prescribed if it says on the RX to test before driving, especially for anyone who is hypo-unaware (and yes, I always test before getting in the car). I didn't think to ask how many more per day she would suggest, since I seem to do fine with 10X a day.. some days are less, some more, but overall, it seems to work out.

Sorry you had to deal with bean counters, but I'm glad you got your strips in the end :)
Thanks Sarah, I'm glad I got the strips worked out too!!!

My doctors PA acted like it was inconvenience for her to have to write letters to justify "extra" strips. I'm not sure at what point they become "extra", but I wasn't asking for more than normal or more than what my insurance pays for. I don't always test 10 times, sometimes it might be 8, sometimes 14, and like you, it all just works out. I've been getting 300 strips for a long time now and the prescriptions have been coming from THEIR office. That is why its so perplexing as to why all of a sudden she's giving me all this resistance? I'm just frustrated with them and not sure I want to go back, especially with the negative feelings I have about them right now. You're lucky to have people who understand the need for test strips.

[sarahspins]

That is why its so perplexing as to why all of a sudden she's giving me all this resistance?

I really do wonder if some insurance companies aren't sending out form letters to physicians suggesting that they limit their patient's use of strips.. it really does seem like there have been a LOT of people complaining of this lately.. it does make one wonder.

Of course, my insurance sent me a letter last week, suggesting I switch from Apidra to a "less expensive" option to save ME money. As if they don't have in their records that I was ON the insulin they suggested? It's stupid...

[khewell]

My insurance co pays for 100 strips a month. Doc says I need 175. What are you to do??? Looks like the insurance co would be happy to pay for a few extra strips a month and maybe prevent complications and more expensive cost down the road. Keeps us happy and puts more money in their pockets down the road since thats all their looking at anyway.

[Josselyn]

The PHARMACIST asked me how often I tested because she didn't think that I needed 200 a month, and because the insurance company didn't like paying for that many.

I ended up telling her that I usually test 3-4 times a day, but there are days when I need more. They only filled me for 100 of the 200 that the doc wrote.

That's 100 for 25 days, which is 4x a day. I would get all up in arms about it, and I half way still feel like I should, but I actually DO usually only test 4x a day -- it's more than that on weekends though.

100 aren't going to last me 25 days, I don't think. I guess I'll talk to the pharmacist next time.

SHE didn't think you needed 200 strips???
I'm unsure why the pharmacist feels it's her business to step between what you and your doc have agreed is the appropriate number of strips to have. Is it even legal to interfere in the quantity of any med or supply that your doctor deems appropriate? I'm pretty low key, but I'd have been insistent on the prescription being filled as written with no interference from her. You'll now have to go back for what should have been yours in the first place (nuisance) and pay another co-pay to do it. Someone's benefitting from this, and it isn't you.

I had a doc who told me to test AM and PM...and before and after each meal (I count SEVEN tests per day there)...and then wrote a script for 100 strips...:(

I've discovered strips on eBay for not much more than my co-pay is in the first place...thank goodness.

Not everyone got A's in medical school. :eek:

[foxl]

Josselyn, those strips most likely WERE on EBay because someone else was buying them up and re-selling them, and THAT was why the pharmacist was intervening (which obviously defeats their purpose in doing so ... DUH).

I would have said I tested 10 times/ day and then you'd've gotten the full supply.

That is clearly not the way to restrict the black market though ... wonder if this was Pharma propaganda on how to cut it back?

[butterflykisses]

I know that a lot people are getting their extra needed strips through Ebay and I hope I don't offend anyone...but they need to address the issue of those committing fraud, selling test strips paid for by the government or private insurance and stop trying to ration them to those who need them! It shouldn't be that hard to track down where the strips are coming from. They could ban the sale of them "through authorized dealers only". Put a stop to it like they did pump supplies. If the government and insurance companies were not losing money over test strips fraud they might be less restrictive for those who don't abuse them.