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

Wed Mar 26 18:07:42 UTC 2014

Hey! I'd have asked if the company wanted you to tell Medicare that. (grin) In fact, I do understand and empathize. In fact, I prefer to buy my strips direct rather than mess with insurance carriers. But, as I say, talk to your congresspersons.

I'm toying with the idea of seeing if Dr. Maurer might be inclined to invite a high muckety at Medicare to our convention and then having a bit of a tete-a-tete with him/her.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of eileen scrivani
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 11:03 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
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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