[EeyoreButterfly]

I transferred my prescription to the CVS today in town and was shocked at the price when I went to pick it up. I asked them why it was so much higher than normal (shouldn't copays be the same?) and they told me it was a 90 day supply! I am supposed to get 200 strips a month, and they wanted 200 to last three months! I have no idea how it got transferred that way, but I'm not overly pleased. The other pharmacy trasnferred it as testing 2x a day.

That's frustrating. If you test a 5x a day for a month (fasting, bedtime, and after meals) that is 150 strips roughly. Most of test more than that (before meals too, so add another 30.) Then of course there are the inevitable errors, retests due to wonky results, and of course the fun nights when you use an insane amount because you are on a roller coaster. Can you tell I'm frustrated?

They are calling the other pharmacy tomorrow morning, so hopefully it will get straightened out.

[Moonglo]

Very frustrating indeed...

When I go back to the doctor in two weeks, I am going to ask for a new prescription for test strips for the same reason. I thought I was getting 100/month on my prescription, and the pharmacy interpreted it as 50/month. Ick.

[Dis-N-Dat]

I know what you mean. I finally contacted my insurance carrier on line (they have an rx link)and they'll send me 90 days worth (520 strips, testing 6x per day).The co-pay at the local pharmacy would be twice as much.

Check to see if your insuance carrier has a similar program.

Hope this helps.

[notme]

Crazy how strips are rationed. I think it is totally insane. Take good care of yourself, keep your numbers down. If you don't keep your A1c in check you will go blind or lose a leg. Only test once a day.

What the in the world are they thinking?

[sarahspins]

I'm currently fighting with walgreens and my insurance over my insulin again... they're trying to tell me that I have to pay TWO co-pays on 3 vials of insulin (I'm trying to get back on a pump) because it's more than a 30 day supply. It's stupid.. I'd need barely over 2 vials a month.

What's really lame is that they don't do this with a box of pens.. my Levemir is easily a 2 MONTH supply and they only charge me the standard co-pay for that.

My solution with the insulin is simply to try to get it transferred to mail order.. not that it's ideal here in TX, but if it will work that way, I'd rather pay $75 for 3 months worth than $60 for just one!

[butterflykisses]

I mailordered my insulin one time and I guess the way the script was written wasn't good enough for the pharmacist so they called my doctor to get specifics. The doc's office gives them my basal rate ONLY, no other specifics, and so they fill my script accordingly. When I get the package I can not believe it! I really didn't even have enough to cover my basal. When using a pump there's a certain amount of insulin that is "wasted" in the tubing and the cartridges. I called the pharmacy and was met with "that's what your doctor ordered". i told them that there was a mistake, that it was only my BASAL insulin, and even that was not sufficient because of the tubing/cartridge changes. She kept telling me that was what was prescribed. I asked her to call my doctor and have it changed. She said that "you can't change a prescription"!!! I spent 30 minutes arguing with her, she would not budge! Could not get it through her thick head that I have to EAT too!!! I finally got her to give me a partial co-pay credit since I wasn't getting a 90 day supply...but she would NOT call the doctor and change it. I had an appointment that day with my doctor and told the nurse what had happened. She said that she would call them. The next time I went in she asked me about it, said that she called to correct it and was told "we have already taken care of it". yeah, whatever.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm hitting my head against a brick wall at the moment. I called my endo's office since that is who I have seen most recently. They would not call it in since it came from another doctor. I called that office and got a call back that while they do have it as 200 a month, they have it down that I only need to test once per day! I explained how often I test (morning, bedtime, and after each meal plus extra when I'm low). They're going to call it in, but I'm worried that they will still have on there only two times per day and then insurance won't cover it! This is why I miss Kirksville. The pharmacy there just went into the computer and changed how many times a day I tested, but the CVS here won't do that.

I'm just very frustrated today. I was also trying to make appointments for my other issues (IBS) and am resigned to the fact that my insurance for my job doesn't kick in til October and my current insurance will not cover anyone closer than a 2 hour drive. I was able to make the IBS appointment, but I can't keep taking off of school for other things, so the endo appointment is cancelled and this means my blood work will not be done when it is supposed to. I will have to wait until my insurance for school kicks in. I'm just not having a good day and am very frustrated right now with this whole thing. I'm honestly getting to the point that I feel like if they don't care, why should I? I know that's a dangerous way of thinking, but with all the info being thrown at me for the start of school and then this on top of it, I am just incredibly overwhelmed and ready to cry. Thanks for letting me rant!

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm throwing in the towel. The doctor did call in a new prescription for 200 a month- but it now says to test once per day so of course my insurance won't cover it. I am just going to get the 90 day supply and be done with it.

I switch over to my new insurance in October. I am going to find an endo and make an appointment for October 1 and then get them to call in the new script. The 90 days won't be up, but since it is new insurance completely it won't matter. The one good thing is that I don't use quite 200 a month (normally I wait until I am close to out to refill) and I haven't been testing like I should so with what I have now and what I will be getting, I think I can stretch it. I will just have to be more judicious about my testing. I'm still frustrated, but it isn't worth the fight.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I finally picked up the stupid script last night. They gave me 100 for 30 days (better than 200 for 90.) I've been running very low all week, so have been testing more than normal, and that has me worried. I know this doctor will not call the script in properly, and since my endo's office did not call in the original they won't do anything. I had to cancel my appointment with them because of teaching and will not be able to make another one.

I am going to find out on Monday who my insurance covers and I will make an appointment with them for when my insurance kicks in. Hopefully I will have somebody who is receptive to a more aggressive testing approach. I talked to my insurance reps when I signed up and they said they do not cap test strips (the new insurance), it's however many your doctor prescribes.

Does anybody in the KC area know of a good practice or endo?

[dazedandamazed]

I understand it must be very frustrating to have to fight with pharmacies and insurance companies to get you test strips and insulin. I hope this answers some questions some of you have.

This is an actual encounter that occured just a few months ago:

Patient brings in a prescription for One Touch Ultra Test Strips for a quantity of 600 with the directions of 'As Directed'.

The pharmacist calls the doctor's office to obtain a testing frequency in order to fill the prescription.

Doctor replies with 'Test Once Daily' HOWEVER - patient was told to test after every meal and at bedtime.

Finally, the nurse responds with the updated directions of use 'Test 4 Times a Day'

Pharmacy bills the insurance for 150 test strips (these strips only come packaged in 50-count)

Insurance rejects the claim stating that no more than a 30 day supply may be dispensed.

Pharmacy tweaks it a little and changed the day supply to 30 because it just seems silly considering the fact that they are only packaged this way.

Insurance files a chargeback, denying the paid claim, and sends a bill.

Pharmacy staff's jobs are on the line.

As you may have guessed, I do work in a pharmacy. You wouldn't believe how much this is stressed. Most insulins, for example, are 10mL vials. They are calculated as 100 units per mL. This makes each vial 1,000 units.

It use to be where 'As Directed' could be your best judgement as to how long you think it would last. Now it's simply not enough. Who's to blame?

[Granny Shanny]

Excuse me while I laugh!

I think all the docs & drug companies need to make some serious advertising changes. All the commercials say "ask your doctor if (blank) is right for you". Some say "ask your pharmacist". But who's really making all the decisions? Wye of course! The insurance company bean counters! Just who I want to be in charge of my treatment! NOT!

[worm]

Originally Posted by EeyoreButterfly

I transferred my prescription to the CVS today in town and was shocked at the price when I went to pick it up. I asked them why it was so much higher than normal (shouldn't copays be the same?) and they told me it was a 90 day supply! I am supposed to get 200 strips a month, and they wanted 200 to last three months! I have no idea how it got transferred that way, but I'm not overly pleased. The other pharmacy trasnferred it as testing 2x a day.

That's frustrating. If you test a 5x a day for a month (fasting, bedtime, and after meals) that is 150 strips roughly. Most of test more than that (before meals too, so add another 30.) Then of course there are the inevitable errors, retests due to wonky results, and of course the fun nights when you use an insane amount because you are on a roller coaster. Can you tell I'm frustrated?

They are calling the other pharmacy tomorrow morning, so hopefully it will get straightened out.

I would check to see if your insurance has 90 day supply mail in.
I get my 90 day supply of 500 strips for $50 as long as I use the aproved mail in.
They will also give you 90 days for the price of 60 and will let you order every 2 months.
I hate mail in but I love my money LOL

[EeyoreButterfly]

My new insurance does this for sure and I plan to use it. But I am waiting until it kicks in in October (and I can see a new endo and get the prescription changed.)

[Rebecca]

On my paediatric patients that are either pre-d, type 1, or type 2, this is how I usually have them test.
Pre-diabetic: 1-2 times per day, up to 4 tests per day (150 per month)
Type 1 diabetic: 4-8 times a day or 6-10 times a day (depends on if one is on MDI or Insulin pump) (or more if the patient showes that s/he is testing more often due to extream veriations of sugars due to sports, menses, stress, growth spurts, hormones, ect). (150-350 per month)
Type 2 diabetic: 2-3 times a day (if diet/exericize or diet/exercize/orals) or 4-8 times a day (if on insulin). (100-150 or 150-250 per month)

Only 1-2% of my patients have issues with their insurances balking at the amts of strips that I prescribe.

[Funnygrl]

Originally Posted by Rebecca

On my paediatric patients that are either pre-d, type 1, or type 2, this is how I usually have them test.
Pre-diabetic: 1-2 times per day, up to 4 tests per day (150 per month)
Type 1 diabetic: 4-8 times a day or 6-10 times a day (depends on if one is on MDI or Insulin pump) (or more if the patient showes that s/he is testing more often due to extream veriations of sugars due to sports, menses, stress, growth spurts, hormones, ect). (150-350 per month)
Type 2 diabetic: 2-3 times a day (if diet/exericize or diet/exercize/orals) or 4-8 times a day (if on insulin). (100-150 or 150-250 per month)

Only 1-2% of my patients have issues with their insurances balking at the amts of strips that I prescribe.

Yeah, I can't really imagine a pre-diabetic getting approved fo 200 strips per month. As a type 1 on a pump I needed a letter of medical necessity and prior auth to get more than 200 strips/month.