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

Thu Mar 27 14:43:50 UTC 2014

Just to give an update on my BG strip re-order problem.

Yesterday afternoon, I wrote one of my state senators through his on-line 
contact us form.  Gave him a description of what was going on and asked if 
there was anything he could do to help fix the problem.  Other than a 
confirmation email letting me know they got my message and that his staff 
would sort through all posts, I did not hear back from anyone in his office.

This morning, I put in my call to Ariva to check on the status of my 
prescription and if they got what they needed from my doctor's office.  I 
was shocked since the first customer service rep told me the initial form 
the doc sent back was incomplete and their Medical Records department was 
handling it and then she said, "I'll transfer you to Medical Records so you 
can speak with someone there."  Yesterday, I was told they did not transfer 
people to medical records that it wasn't done.

Once on the line with a rep in Ariva's Medical Record department, the woman 
I talked with there told me that 5 attempts of them faxing my doctor did not 
go through!!!  I asked her what could be done and she told me she could call 
the doctor to get the omitted information and asked if I wanted to hold 
while she placed the call.  Of course, I held on.  By the end of this call 
the problem seems to have corrected and my supply order should according to 
them post and be processed by tomorrow.  Why wasn't it this easy 2 days ago, 
and why when they see a fax failed don't they know enough to do followup. 
I'm wondering if my email to my senator had any impact even though I have 
not heard back from the Senator's office.  I was not expecting a positive 
result and was preparing for having to ask my doctor for yet a third time to 
send a prescription to a different company.  Still, I will call Ariva again 
tomorrow to double check that the order has processed.

Eileen

-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Freeman
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 1:08 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering 
TestingSupplies Through Medicare Approved Providers?

I suggest calling the local offices of your Federal representative (membrer 
of Congress) and Federal Senator. This sort of thing is right up their 
alleys. If they refuse to ehlp or don't have any viable alternative 
suggestions, please let me know and perhaps we can put a bit of pressure on 
through our Governmental Affairs people. But it strikes me at the moment 
that your senators and representative making a judicious inquiry would get 
faster action.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
Tara M. Carty
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:00 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Anyone Else Having Problems Ordering Testing 
Supplies 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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> _______________________________________________
> Diabetes-talk mailing list
> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Diabetes-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/sugarfreet%40gmail.com
>

_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Diabetes-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com

_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Diabetes-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/etscrivani%40verizon.net 