[Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having ProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

Wed Mar 26 18:08:29 UTC 2014

With A-1, I was just told the supervisor went to the bathroom. I said, 
"Fine...I'll wait!" The rep said I couldn't do that and I asked, "Why not?"
----- 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 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having 
ProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?


> Mike,
>
> I don't think you realize how truly bad these companies are.  The customer 
> services reps are less than helpful and I suspect are only there to 
> process orders as quickly as people phone in.  They don't want to hear a 
> thing about problems and it is like pulling teeth when someone asks for a 
> supervisor or someone in charge.  This morning with Ariva I was told there 
> was no supervisor on duty!
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Mike Freeman
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:51 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having 
> ProblemsOrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
> Hey! Don't leave messages. Even if it takes hours, stay on the phone. And 
> call them every day at a specific set time. I'd bet after a week of calls 
> at the specific time, always asking for a supervisor, you'll get some 
> action.
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> eileen scrivani
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:34 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems 
> OrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
> I had left messages asking A1 Diabetes to have a supervisor return my call 
> regarding the problem having my test strip prescription refilled and not 
> once did they return a call.  I also tried selecting the option for 
> complaints on their 1-800 number and got disconnected.  This is horrible.
>
> Try not to stress ... I know its difficult but for what its worth I feel 
> your pain & upset over this.
>
> Eileen
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tara M. Carty
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:21 PM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems 
> OrderingTestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?
>
> 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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>
>
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