[Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering TestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Wed Mar 26 17:21:06 UTC 2014

I have ten test strips left. I tested this morning and will test before I go 
to bed. When I tried to complain to A-1, that is when they put me on hold 
for twenty minutes and then asked me to leave a voice mail! As calmly as I 
could, I explained the situation, but never got a call back. My doctor has 
sent them a cover letter explaining the seriousness of the situation too. 
I've been trying to order supplies for two weeks! My sugar is probably going 
up because of the stress and I dread that horrible message of "Insufficient 
blood!"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering 
TestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?


> Tara,
>
> Yes, you are having the exact same problems I had with A1 Diabetes.  It is 
> amazing to me that we have no re-course for submitting complaints against 
> these companies with Medicare.  Medicare told me I could only complain if 
> they did not take my insurance.
>
> And now with the same problem seemingly to be happening with Ariva 
> Medical. With Ariva, when I asked the customer service rep to speak to a 
> supervisor I was told I was asking for something no one else has asked 
> for.  Making me feel like a reasonable request was some how out of the 
> ordinary and above and beyond what my expectations of a well run company 
> should be.
>
> So very frustrating especially when my strip supply is now getting very 
> low and this all started last week and still not resolved!
>
> I have never in all the years with diabetes had this level of difficulty 
> getting a legimate perscription filled.
>
> Eileen
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Tara M. Carty
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:59 PM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering 
> TestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
> I am having the exact problem with the paperwork. I also recently moved 
> and
> every time I call A-1, they still have my old address. I have been on the
> phone with my doctor's office while they faxed the form and got 
> confirmation
> and A-1 still has not received it. I also test six times a day and am
> insulin dependent. The phone system is horrible for A-1 as well. They put
> you on hold for twenty minutes, then ask you to leave a voice mail but 
> never
> call you back. I spent almost four hours on the phone on Monday trying to
> figure out the paperwork and order my supplies.
> I am so frustrated and am afraid if I go to another company, I'll find the
> same thing.
>
>
> Tara
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
> To: "NFB Diabetes Talk" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 9:58 AM
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering Testing
> Supplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I am curious if any one else who uses Medicare Part B for testing 
> supplies,
> insulin dependent and testing more than 3 times per day is having a
> difficult time having their orders filled through Medicare providers?
>
> I was using A1 Diabetes at first and was testing 6 times per day.  Each 
> time
> my doc faxed back their form, they kept telling me they never got it.
> Finally had to physically make a trip to my doctors office, pick up the 
> form
> and snail mail it into A1 Diabetes.  Now am increasing the number of times
> per day I test to 8 and need to have the script updated.  Again, they are
> claiming that they are not getting the fax back from my doctor who is very
> clearly sending it back in.
>
> So I had enough with A1 Diabetes and am now trying to get set up with 
> Ariva
> medical, another Medicare approved provider.  Again, my doctor is getting
> their faxes, sending them back and then when I call to check on the order 
> am
> told by Ariva that they never got the fax back from the doctors office!!
>
> I’m trying not to get upset over this, but it takes about 10 days for
> supplies to get sent through mail, and its taking days for this paperwork
> nightmare to get straightened out.  I called the Medicare 1-800 number and
> they cannot take complaints against these companies except in the case 
> where
> insurance is not being accepted.  Is this an underhanded way of perhaps
> rejecting the insurance?
> My suspicion is that for diabetics testing above the Medicare allotted
> amount of 3 times per day for an insulin dependent diabetic, they may not
> for some reason want to take these orders.  Any ideas on this?  Are others
> having this much trouble with these places?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Eileen
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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